News

Freight rate trends, Korean customs and quarantine updates, trade and customs guides, and quote and shipment cases.

• 2026.11.02Quarantine

  HPAI in California — imports of poultry, poultry meat and table eggs from the state banned

  Following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in California, Korea has banned imports of poultry, poultry meat and table eggs from the state shipped on or after Oct 29 (local time). Twelve US states are now under a poultry import ban.
• 2026.11.02Trade data

  October exports reach USD 115.28 billion — chips make up half, USD 1 trillion year in sight

  Korea's October exports rose 93.7% year on year to USD 115.28 billion, the second-highest month on record after September. Semiconductors accounted for about half, at USD 56.44 billion.
• 2026.10.30Air freight

  Air cargo rates up 4.7% in a week as peak season nears — Shanghai outbound +8.4%

  The global air freight index (BAI00) rose 4.7% in the week to October 19. Shanghai outbound jumped 8.4%, and rates remain more than 20% above a year earlier.
• 2026.10.30Freight rates

  Container freight index rises for a third week — Shanghai–South America West Coast up 12%, Korea–SAWC up 5%

  The Shanghai index (SCFI) rose for a third straight week, with the South America West Coast rate jumping 12% in a week. Korea's export index (KCCI) also rose, led by South Africa, South America West Coast and the Mediterranean.
• 2026.10.30Shipping

  HMM and ONE switch two Asia–Mediterranean services to the Suez Canal from mid-November

  Premier Alliance members HMM and ONE will route their Asia–Mediterranean MD1 and MS2 services via the Suez Canal from mid-November Asia sailings, aiming to shorten Asia–Mediterranean transit times.
• 2026.10.30Ports

  Strike threat at LA–Long Beach ports, and the Vincent Thomas Bridge closes for 16 months from Nov 7

  Terminal security guards at LA–Long Beach say they may strike from the afternoon of Nov 1 (local time) if talks fail. From Nov 7 the Vincent Thomas Bridge, a key access road to the Port of LA, closes for 16 months, so truck traffic around the ports is also expected to slow.
• 2026.10.30Customs FX

  Customs exchange rates for Nov 1–7 — US dollar at KRW 1,328.56, down 1.96

  The customs exchange rates for import declarations filed from November 1 to 7 have been set. The US dollar is KRW 1,328.56, down 1.96 (0.15%) from the previous week, and the euro (−8.96) and pound (−4.60) also fell.
• 2026.10.29Quarantine

  HPAI in the Netherlands — imports of poultry and poultry products from non-free areas suspended

  Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has broken out on poultry farms in the Dutch provinces of North Holland and Groningen, and imports into Korea of poultry and poultry products from areas that are not HPAI-free have been suspended.
• 2026.10.29Ocean freight

  China–Korea ocean rates climb 4.4% in the fourth week of October

  The Korea service of the China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) rose 4.4% week on week to 800.86 on October 23, moving against a 2.4% fall in the composite index.
• 2025.04.04Customs & tariffs

  US reciprocal tariffs (April 2025): what shippers needed to know

  The April 2025 US reciprocal tariffs at a glance — as announced, with exemptions.
• 2023.12.08Logistics basics

  Why Hong Kong has no postal codes

  Hong Kong addresses have no postal code — why, and what to write on your documents.