Maersk North America has released its October 2025 market update, highlighting mixed signals across global trade lanes and offering guidance for clients preparing for fourth-quarter demand, reports Saint Petersburg's Port News.

The company noted slowdowns in Asia due to Golden Week, uneven flows amid ongoing tariff reviews, and service adjustments across key trades. However, Far East Asia's S container volumes remain strong, driven by continued Southeast Asia exports.

Inland networks are sensitive to capacity and regulatory changes. Maersk�� update outlines actions on ocean services, less-than-container load options, customs readiness, inland planning, warehousing strategy, and ground freight capacity.

Ocean services include routes from Europe, the Indian Subcontinent, Middle East, and Africa to North America, as well as Asia-Pacific to North America. The East-West Gemini network continues to show strong reliability.

Effective October 14, the US will begin phasing in new service fees for Chinese-owned and Chinese-built vessels calling US ports. Maersk said it will not apply surcharges or alter port rotations, and will monitor developments.

New US tariffs of 10 to 50 per cent on imports, including copper, auto parts, and goods from India and Brazil, are already affecting supply chains. Maersk advised clients to expect higher landed costs and potential delays.

To support clients, Maersk launched the Trade & Tariff Studio, an AI-powered platform offering product-level insights on tariff exposure, compliance risks, and duty-saving opportunities. It includes pre-screening for forced labour and sanctions, and tariff management tools to restructure import flows.