1. Statement from the International Chamber of Shipping following reports of a suspension of the recently imposed section 301 port fees. ICS welcomes the agreement that appears to have been made between President Trump of the United States and President Xi Jinping of China. ICS has been involved in consultations with the United States Trade Representative since the beginning of the Section 301 investigation, and the government of China, and we look forward to receiving confirmation on these reports and further details.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/11/03/statement-from-the-international-chamber-of-shipping-ics-following-reports-of-a-suspension-of-the-recently-imposed-section-301-port-fees/
2. DP World pledges $5 billion infrastructure investment in India. DP World has pledged to invest an additional $5 billion in India to strengthen its integrated supply chain network, which supports both exports and domestic trade. This is in addition to the $3 billion that DP World has already invested in India over the past three decades. These investments are focused on strengthening India’s infrastructure backbone, advancing multimodal connectivity, and enhancing the nation’s competitiveness in global trade.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/11/03/dp-world-pledges-5-bn-infrastructure-investment-in-india/
3. Baltic Exchange and TAC Innovation launch extended FCA-compliant daily air cargo spot price benchmarks to strengthen market risk management. Baltic Exchange, in partnership with TAC Innovation, has officially launched the extended Baltic Air Freight Spot Indices to include a comprehensive set of routes originating from Hong Kong, India and Korea.
https://cyprusshippingnews.com/2025/11/03/baltic-exchange-and-tac-innovation-launch-extended-fca-compliant-daily-air-cargo-spot-price-benchmarks-to-strengthen-market-risk-management/
4. Splash Wrap: Deals, diplomacy and disruption. Donald Trump’s tour of Asia provided the biggest shipping news of the week. His meet-up with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, yesterday saw the tit-for-tat port fees shelved for a year, and panamaxes surging as China committed to resume buying large amounts of American grain. Trump’s earlier meetings this week with the leaders of Japan and South Korea had received significant shipbuilding commitments from the two East Asian industrial powerhouses.
https://splash247.com/splash-wrap-deals-diplomacy-and-disruption/
5. India nets $7bn in fresh investment from DP World and Maersk. India’s ambitions to become a global maritime powerhouse have gained major momentum, with Dubai-based DP World and Danish group APM Terminals announcing fresh investments worth more than $7bn combined to expand port and logistics infrastructure across the country.
https://splash247.com/india-nets-7bn-in-fresh-investment-from-dp-world-and-maersk/
6. COSCO unveils $1.75bn shipbuilding spree for 29 new vessels. COSCO has unveiled a sweeping $1.75bn newbuilding programme covering 29 ships, as the state-controlled group continues to refresh and expand its fleet across key sectors.The investment package includes 23 kamsarmax bulk carriers and six very large crude carriers (VLCCs), all to be built at domestic shipyards and scheduled for delivery between 2027 and 2028.
https://splash247.com/cosco-unveils-1-75bn-shipbuilding-spree-for-29-new-vessels/
7. Brazil Offers Free Cruise Cabins As Poorer Nations Struggle For Rooms At COP30. Dozens of countries have yet to secure accommodation for their delegations at the COP30 climate summit just a week before it opens, with host Brazil offering free cabins on cruise ships to poorer nations in a last-minute bid to ensure they can attend.
https://gcaptain.com/brazil-offers-free-cruise-cabins-as-poorer-nations-struggle-for-rooms-at-cop30/
8. Russia Denounces US Military Force In Caribbean Sea. Russia’s foreign ministry denounced on Saturday “excessive military force” by the United States in the Caribbean Sea deployed as part of a drive against drug trafficking and reaffirmed its support for Venezuela’s leaders.
https://gcaptain.com/russia-denounces-us-military-force-in-caribbean-sea/
9. MARPOWER Project Makes Progress in Cleaner Maritime Tech.
It should be noted that maritime transport is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise because of its reliance on heavy fuels, long asset lifespans, and high energy demands.
https://www.seanews.co.uk/technology/marpower-project-makes-progress-in-cleaner-maritime-tech
10. Tripartite Reaffirms Support for IMO.
By working closely with classification societies and shipowners, shipbuilders can ensure that the ships of the future are not only compliant with new regulations and fuels but are also designed to operate safely, efficiently, and competitively.
https://www.seanews.co.uk/maritime/tripartite-reaffirms-support-for-imo