Brisbane | Fisherman Islands Terminal Shutdown 1st September 2026
Panama Canal transit capacity reductions announced for September
CHRISTMAS ORDERS - Get them in now to avoid missing out or delays!
Australian Biosecurity Compliance: Key BMSB and Khapra Beetle Updates for Importers
Italy Rates Increase Due to Ongoing Volatility
Reminder | Check your overseas fumigation provider's approval status
DAFF Export Assurance Reform
Shipping Charges & Fees
Significant Weather Disruptions | China
We would like to advise clients of significant weather disruptions currently affecting several regions across China, which may impact freight movements, port operations, and transport networks over the coming days.
Chinese authorities have issued severe weather warnings as multiple tropical systems affect the country's southern and eastern coastal regions. Typhoon Narra has already brought heavy rainfall, flooding, and transport disruptions across Hainan, Guangxi, and Guangdong provinces, while Typhoon Saudel is forecast to approach the eastern coastline, with potential landfall between Zhejiang and Fujian later this week.
Authorities have implemented emergency measures, including evacuations, closures of public facilities, and restrictions on commercial activities in some affected areas.
As a result, customers may experience:
Delays to vessel schedules and port operations.
Reduced trucking capacity in affected regions.
Congestion at ports, container yards, and transport hubs.
Potential disruptions to customs processing and local distribution networks.
Extended transit times for both export and import shipments moving through impacted areas.
Our operations team is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining regular communication with shipping lines, carriers, and local partners to minimise disruptions wherever possible. Customers with shipments moving through Southern or Eastern China should anticipate potential delays and allow additional time for cargo planning and delivery schedules.
Brisbane | Fisherman Islands Terminal Shutdown 1st September 2026
Stockwells would like clients to know there will be a terminal shutdown at the Patrick Terminal Fisherman Islands. All ship and yard operations will cease between 0700 - 2300hrs on Tuesday 1st September 2026.
Panama Canal Transit Capacity Reductions Announced for September
The Panama Canal Authority has announced a series of operational changes as ongoing dry conditions and lower-than-expected rainfall continue to impact water levels within the Canal watershed.
From 3 September, daily transit capacity through the Neopanamax Locks will be reduced to nine vessels per day, with further capacity reductions for Panamax vessels scheduled to take effect from 15 September. These measures form part of the Authority's ongoing water conservation strategy in response to El Niño weather conditions.
Importers and exporters using services that transit the Panama Canal should be aware of potential disruptions and allow greater flexibility in their supply chain planning as these changes come into effect.
Key Updates
Neopanamax lock capacity will be reduced to nine daily transit slots from 3 September.
Additional reductions to Panamax vessel transits will take effect from 15 September.
The Canal Authority is adjusting the allocation of auction and reservation slots across vessel categories.
Larger container vessels with higher TEU capacity may receive priority under certain Neopanamax allocation processes.
Vessels arriving without a confirmed reservation may experience longer waiting times due to reduced daily capacity.
A confirmed booking through the Panama Canal Transit Reservation System remains the only way to secure a guaranteed transit date.
What This Means for Stockwell Clients
The reduction in available transit slots may place additional pressure on vessel schedules, particularly during the initial implementation period in September.
While impacts will vary by carrier, trade lane and vessel type, clients may experience:
Extended transit and waiting times for some services.
Schedule adjustments or blank sailings.
Changes to carrier routings and vessel deployment.
Reduced booking availability on affected services.
These changes are particularly relevant for cargo moving between Asia and the U.S. East Coast or Gulf Coast, where many services rely on the Panama Canal. Stockwell will continue to monitor developments closely and work with our carrier partners to minimise any potential disruptions to customer supply chains.
For further information about your shipments, please contact your Stockwell representative.
CHRISTMAS ORDERS - Get them in now to avoid missing out or delays!
Every year Stockwells reminds clients about the importance of placing your Christmas orders in early. This period is known for being volatile and price hikes are expected so to avoid this please speak to your Stockwells representative about getting your orders in early.
Australian Biosecurity Compliance: Key BMSB and Khapra Beetle Updates for Importers
It is important to ensure your Suppliers Offshore providers are registered as acceptable with Australian Quarantine. We are about to enter the BMSB season, whilst Khapra beetle is year-roundund and every other month we are receiving notification of offshore provider failures who are then scrapped from the list of approved suppliers causing more issues for the importer who becomes responsible for refumigation.
Key Changes for BMSB Season 2026–27
New Treatment: Ethyl Formate is now approved as an onshore treatment option for eligible cargo.
Safeguarding Scheme Removed: Discontinued entirely; importers can no longer use this alternative clearance pathway.
Rolled Goods Policy Removed: Alternative clearance provisions for rolled goods no longer apply.
What Remains the Same
Season Dates: Enforced for sea cargo shipped between September 1, 2026, and April 30, 2027 (based on shipped-on-board date).
Target High-Risk Cargo: Mandatory treatment still applies to target high-risk goods and break-bulk (including flat racks/open top containers, which must be treated offshore).
Countries & Rules: Core lists of target risk countries and high-risk tariff chapters remain consistent with previous years.
Australia's Khapra beetle rules which are all year round.
They enforce mandatory offshore treatment and phytosanitary certification for high-risk plant products and sea containers originating from designated target-risk nations. Unlike BMSB, these regulations are active year-round.
High-Risk Plant Products
Mandatory pre-border treatment applies to host products exported from target-risk countries. These items are banned through low-value freight, international mail, or personal baggage. Key high-risk commodities include:
Grains & Rice: Rice, wheat, barley, maize.
Seeds & Spices: Coriander, cumin, fennel, celery, and sunflower seeds.
Legumes: Chickpeas, lentils, faba beans, mung beans, and dried chillies.
Sea Container Requirements
Offshore Treatment: All Full Container Loads (FCL) and Full Container Consolidated (FCX) packed with high-risk plant products in a target-risk country must undergo mandatory treatment before shipping.
Rural Postcode Rules: Containers carrying any type of goods that are scheduled to be unpacked in designated rural "khapra risk postcodes" within Australia must be treated offshore or upon arrival.
Critical 2026 Updates
Country List Expansion: As of April 30, 2026, seven new target-risk countries were added to the list: Angola, Chad, Guinea, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Tanzania.
Species List Change:Trogoderma serraticorne has been officially removed from the biosecurity concern list, meaning it no longer requires inspection and phytosanitary certification. All other listed Trogoderma species remain heavily regulated.
Strict Supervision: For treatments done by unapproved or suspended providers, the exporting country's National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO) must physically supervise the process and issue a specific phytosanitary declaration.
Italy Rates Increase Due to Ongoing Volatility
Please note that due to on-going volatility in international energy markets, diesel prices in Italy are changing frequently. Due to this, costs will be increasing to reflect the current climate. Stockwells will continue to keep you informed of new information as it becomes available
Reminder | Check your overseas fumigation provider's approval status
Australian biosecurity requirements can change at short notice, and overseas treatment providers may be suspended or removed from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry's approved treatment provider list due to non-compliance.
To avoid delays, additional costs, or biosecurity intervention on arrival, we strongly recommend that importers and overseas suppliers regularly verify that their fumigation or treatment provider remains approved and accepted by Australian quarantine authorities before arranging treatment and shipment.
Treatment certificates issued by providers that have been suspended may not be accepted by Australian authorities, including certificates issued before the suspension date. This can affect consignments already in transit to Australia.
Where treatment has been completed by a suspended provider, the Department may direct consignments for further biosecurity management upon arrival, which could include additional treatment, inspection, export, or other actions considered necessary to manage biosecurity risks.
This is particularly important for goods subject to:
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) seasonal measures
Khapra beetle treatment requirements
Other biosecurity treatments that require certification from approved offshore treatment providers
We encourage all importers, exporters, and overseas suppliers to routinely check the Department's List of Treatment Providers and recent status updates to ensure treatment arrangements remain compliant with Australian import requirements.
Failing to confirm a provider's current approval status before shipment may result in processing delays, additional costs, and potential impacts to supply chains.
If you have any questions regarding treatment provider compliance or import requirements, please contact our team before your goods are shipped.
We're excited to introduce a range of enhancements to the Stockwells Track & Trace platform, helping you stay informed, connected and in control of your shipments every step of the way.
Inside Stockwells export operations: A Q&A with our export team
From global disruptions to new opportunities, discover how Stockwells is helping Australian exporters stay ahead in a rapidly changing trade landscape.
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