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Long Beach is still running ahead of its record 2024 pace, even though October delivered a sharp cooldown. The port moved just over 839,000 TEUs for the month—well below last year’s historic high—showing how softer demand continues to hit U.S. gateways. Imports slipped 17.6%, exports fell 11.5%, and empty containers dropped 12.6%, a sign that future inbound traffic may stay muted. Yet through the first 10 months of the year, Long Beach remains up 4.1% compared with 2024 and is still on track to break last year’s all-time record of 9.6 million TEUs. Port leaders said operations remain steady, but warned that the tariff environment could finally start hitting consumer prices in 2026. With paused port fees and shifting trade policies, they’re pushing for pragmatic solutions that don’t drag down demand further. Despite the uncertainty, Long Beach says its coordination with carriers and logistics partners is helping keep freight moving and avoid bottlenecks before they form.   Source : https://www.freightwaves.com/news/container-imports-off-17-6-at-leading-us-port

Australia and Indonesia are entering a sharper, more strategic phase of economic cooperation as trade and investment ties deepen at the fastest pace seen in over twenty years. Austrade CEO Paul Grimes says both nations are now building long-term joint capabilities, with Australia pushing for stronger regional influence through partnerships in climate adaptation, risk mitigation, and renewable-energy development. Official Australian data shows two-way trade has surged from AUD 12.91 billion in 2020 to AUD 35.38 billion in 2024 — nearly triple in just four years. The Indonesia–Australia Comprehensive  Economic  Partnership  Agreement  (IA-CEPA)  has  been  the  catalyst,  unlocking  wider market  access  and  boosting  business  confidence.  As  a  result,  Indonesia  is  now  Australia’s ninth-largest trading partner, while Australian exporters increasingly see Indonesia as a major growth market. Investment  flows  are  also  strengthening.  Australian  FDI  into  Indonesia  rose  30  percent  in 2024 to reach AUD 1.36 billion, with active expansion in energy, education, agrifood, and technology. Indonesian investment in Australia hit AUD 1.42 billion, excluding regional-center chan- nels, with companies like Traveloka, BNI, and BUMA Group expanding their presence. Around 179 Australian firms now operate in Indonesia, while about 50 Indonesian firms operate in Australia.   Source : https://english.kontan.co.id/news/australia-indonesia-trade-enters-new-phase-soaring-threefold

Alpha Pacific Transportation Group has successfully completed a delivery of a coil winding machine from Hamburg, Germany, to Dumai, Indonesia, for an oil exploration company client. The shipment requires ex-work pick-up in Germany followed by ocean freight leg from Hamburg to Belawan port in Medan. The final leg is perhatps the most demanding segment that requires more detailed preparation as it involves a nearly 600 km and more than 24 hour journey over relatively narrow mountainous and often challenging road condition. Finding  trucking  unit  and  truck  driver  with  certification  that    meet  an  oil  exploration  company’s  strict  safety checklist, something often taken for granted in developed nations; is not an easy task in this remote point of Indonesia. We are happy to report that the customer is satisfied of the delivery and Alpha Group can tick-off this delivery as successfully completed. Just another day in the life of a freight forwarder some may comment; on paper it may look like a straightforward delivery, but only when one has to carry out the task that one realizes that there are so many elements that need to be carefully planned, checked and ensured for the smooth delivery to take place.

There are more than 100,000 vessels categorized as merchant fleet – ships carrying passengers and cargo – that are sailing the waterways around the world. These vessels constantly require maintenance and repair. While much of this is planned, emergencies demand instant solutions—where the absence of a single part can halt a multi-million dollar operation. The core challenge is mobility: delivering critical parts to a vessel at a specific port, within a narrow window of time, anywhere in the world. Alpha Group was recently tasked with delivering a crucial equipment box to a tanker arriving at Singapore anchorage. For such technically demanding and time-sensitive deliveries, we rely on trusted specialists. We partnered with FS Freight System, our long time trusted partner Singapore-based ship spare logistics expert with a team on 24-hour standby, to execute the urgent on-board delivery. The vessel was anchored 1.5 hours from Penjuru Wharf. Despite a changing arrival time, our team and partners seamlessly coordinated complex customs clearance and launch boat arrangements, ensuring the spares were delivered on board without delay. This operation exemplifies Alpha Group’s capability in managing urgent, mission-critical marine logistics, reinforcing our commitment to turning complex challenges into seamless solutions. With  a  proven  track  record  in  meeting  tight  deadlines,  Alpha  Group  stands  as  a  trusted  partner  in  global  logistics—where reliability, speed, and precision are the cornerstones of every mission.

U.S. container imports remained virtually unchanged in October 2025, signaling a slowdown in global trade momentum. According to the Descartes Global Shipping Report, total imports reached 2.31 million TEUs, down 0.1% from September and 7.5% lower year-on-year. Despite the decline, imports from China rose 5.4% month-over-month, though still 16.3% below last year’s level. China’s share of total U.S. imports climbed to 34.9%, up from 33% in September, making it the main driver of limited growth. Other countries that saw notable increases included Japan (25.2%), Italy (13%), and South Korea (8.2%), while imports from India, Thailand, and Vietnam dropped. Descartes noted that delays at major U.S. ports increased slightly during the month, reflecting continued supply chain congestion. The company attributed the flattening trend to cautious importer behavior amid shifting tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and volatile regulations. For  the  first  ten  months  of  2025,  import  volumes  were  just  0.9%  higher  than  the  same  period  last year—a sharp slowdown from the nearly 10% growth seen in January. The data suggests that earlier frontloading of goods, slower consumer demand, and ongoing trade uncertainty have eroded the year’s early momentum. “Despite the modest rise from China, U.S. importers are still acting conservatively,” said Jackson Wood, Descartes’ Director of Industry Strategy. “Persistent global friction and regulatory changes continue to inject uncertainty and complexity into supply chains.”   Source : https://www.marinelink.com

Indonesia’s  trade  surplus  remained  strong  as  rising  manufacturing  exports  offset  a  drop  in coal shipments caused by falling global energy prices. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported that total exports climbed 11.41 percent year-on-year to USD 24.68 billion, while imports rose 7.17 percent, producing a USD 4.34 billion surplus — the country’s 65th consecutive monthly surplus. The growth was driven mainly by non-oil and gas exports, which increased 12.79 percent to USD 23.68 billion. From January to September, non-oil and gas exports reached USD 209.8 billion, up 8.14 percent compared with last year. BPS deputy Pudji Ismartini highlighted that the manufacturing sector — particularly in palm oil, base metals, jewelry, organic chemicals, and semiconductors — remained the key engine of export growth. While coal exports fell sharply by 20.85 percent amid softer energy prices, palm oil exports surged 32.4 percent year-on-year, and iron and steel shipments rose 11.81 percent. The data reflects Indonesia’s ongoing shift toward higher-value-added exports as manufacturing continues to outpace raw commodity performance.   Source : https://www.thejakartapost.com/business/2025/11/03/manufacturing-exports-drive-trade-surplus-as-coal-price-remains-low.html

China’s exports to the United States fell 27 percent in September compared to the same month last year, marking the sixth consecutive monthly decline. Despite this slump, China’s overall global exports rose 8.3 percent to USD 328.5 billion — the strongest pace in six months and well above forecasts. Imports also grew by 7.4 percent, showing slight recovery from August’s 1.3 percent increase, though domestic consumption remains weak due to the ongoing property slump and slower economic growth. Officials warned that the external trade environment remains “severe and complicated” as tensions with  Washington  intensify.  U.S.  President  Donald  Trump’s  renewed  tariff  threats  —  including  a proposed 100 percent levy on Chinese goods and new export controls on critical software — have further strained relations. Beijing has retaliated with new port fees on American ships and tighter controls on exports of lithium batteries and rare earth materials. While  exports  to  the  U.S.  continue  to  drop,  China  is  offsetting  some  of  the  loss  by  expanding  shipments to other regions. Exports to Southeast Asia grew 15.6 percent, while those to Latin America and Africa surged 15 percent and 56 percent respectively. Economists warned, however, that the greater threat lies not just in tariffs but in expanding export controls that could disrupt global supply chains for the long term   Source : https://jakartaglobe.id/business/chinas-exports-to-us-drop-in-september

China’s Chery is accelerating its bet on Indonesia’s electric vehicle market, pledging more than USD 330 million (Rp 5.2 trillion) in investments by 2030. Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said the funding will boost local production capacity and position Indone- sia as Chery’s main EV export base in Southeast Asia. Agus lauded Chery’s participation in the government’s Low Carbon Emission Vehicle (LCEV) program,  calling  the  investment  a  clear  sign  of  long-term  confidence  in  Indonesia’s  green automotive shift. The company has been asked to submit a five-year plan detailing its production expansion and export strategy. Chery, now Indonesia’s fourth-largest battery EV brand, began local assembly in 2022 through its partner Handal Indonesia Motor in Bekasi, which has an annual capacity of 10,000 units. Its Omoda E5 model became Indonesia’s top-selling EV in early 2024 and meets the 40% local content requirement for government incentives. Other Chinese EV makers are following suit. BYD is building a USD 1.3 billion factory in Subang, West Java, slated to open in early 2026, while Neta started assembling cars in Indonesia in 2024. With rapid growth pushing EVs to over 10% of total car sales in 2025, Indonesia is fast becoming a regional manufacturing hub for electric mobility.   Source : https://jakartaglobe.id/business/chinas-chery-commits-over-330-million-to-indonesia-minister-says