News
An increasing number of shipping lines are gradually returning to the route through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal instead of sailing around the Cape of Good Hope. The shorter route offers faster transit times, lower fuel consumption and increases vessel capacity.
Maersk, MSC, CMA CGM, Cosco and OOCL have already started using the Suez Canal for selected services. Hapag-Lloyd is also planning to use this route going forward.
Traffic through the Suez Canal has increased significantly during 2026. Between January and August, 55% more container capacity was transported through the canal compared with the same period in 2025, despite a slightly lower number of vessels. At the same time, fewer vessels are sailing around Africa.
However, traffic remains well below pre-crisis levels. Shipping lines therefore emphasise that the return will take place gradually and only for as long as the security situation in the Red Sea and the Middle East remains stable. Individual sailings may still be changed at short notice.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your shipments.
We would like to remind you that Golden Week in China is approaching, which may affect your shipments.
Golden Week is a national holiday celebrating the founding of the People’s Republic of China. This year, it takes place from 1–7 October. During this period, most factories, offices and warehouses will be closed, resulting in reduced production and limited transport capacity.
Container terminals and trucking companies often operate with reduced staffing, so please expect longer lead times during this period.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your shipments during Golden Week.
The EU’s new Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR – EU 2025/40) began to apply on 12 August this year and covers transport packaging and packaging of goods imported into the EU.
PPWR replaces and harmonises parts of the regulatory framework at EU level and will be implemented gradually over the coming years.
The rules include requirements relating to recyclability and packaging reduction, recycled content, restrictions on certain substances and appropriate documentation.
Responsibility primarily lies with the party placing the packaging or packaged goods on the EU market, for example the importer.
What does this mean for a Swedish importer?
Companies importing pre-packaged goods from countries outside the EU must:
Ensure that the packaging complies with the applicable PPWR requirements.
Obtain relevant documentation from the supplier.
Fulfil their Swedish producer responsibility obligations for the packaging.
Producer responsibility is already in place and it means that a company is responsible for the packaging it places on the Swedish market. Among other things, the company must be registered as a packaging producer with the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) and report the quantities of packaging, broken down by material type.
What does this mean for your shipments?
As a freight forwarder, we are not responsible for ensuring that our customers’ packaging complies with PPWR or for our customers’ producer responsibility obligations. Our role may include requesting or forwarding relevant information when required. It is the importer or other responsible party that must ensure compliance with the applicable regulations.
In Sweden, the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Naturvårdsverket) is responsible for supervision and market surveillance of the regulations.
New Customs Rules from July 1 – More Duty-Free Imports from the USA
As of July 1, many products originating in the United States can be imported into the EU free of customs duty. This includes a wide range of industrial goods, machinery, spare parts, chemicals, plastic products, metals and tools. In addition, certain agricultural and food products will benefit from improved tariff conditions through tariff quotas or reduced duty rates.
What does this mean?
For many businesses, the new rules mean lower import costs and new opportunities to source products from American suppliers.
It is important to note that duty-free treatment only applies to goods that meet the rules of U.S. origin. VAT and any other applicable taxes or charges continue to apply under the normal regulations.
The new rules also cover vehicles of U.S. origin. If you import vehicles from the United States, this may result in significantly lower customs duties.
We're here to help!
Scanlink has extensive experience in transportation between Sweden and the United States. Every day, we assist our customers with car imports, LCL shipments, full container loads, customs clearance and logistics consulting.
Not sure whether your goods qualify under the new customs rules?
Contact your Scanlink freight forwarder – we'll be happy to help you determine the correct customs classification, verify the rules of origin and identify potential savings.
We look forward to assisting you with both your current and future international shipments!
At Scanlink, we would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Midsummer!
Today our office will close at 3:00 PM and reopen as usual at 8:00 AM on Monday after the weekend.
As always, you are welcome to contact us if you have any questions regarding ongoing or planned shipments.
Contact your freight forwarder or call +46 31 733 34 00.
