Newsletter 03/2025: Actual situation in international transport

When it comes to logistics, it is probably impossible not to mention tariffs. But the only thing that can be said with certainty is that they support what we mentioned in the previous topic. The (logistics) market likes predictability and clear conditions in order to be stable. This is quite difficult to do when the tariff is in force one day, suspended the next and doubled the third.

 

And since even the shortest leadtime imaginable commodity does not react to these changes, it is hard to outline here how the logistics market will change. The changes are already there, of course, and they are logical. Frontloading, which will create pressure for faster transport options in particular, because tariffs of course do not take into account the date of shipment, but the date of entry. Subsequent changes in purchasing and thus the flow of goods are obvious, but as you know changing the chain is not a snap of the fingers and it takes months to introduce a new one.

 

Important changes in CBAM - What this means for your responsibilities?

In the context of administrative burdens, the word "reduction" has rarely been used in recent years. Now we have the opportunity to highlight the reduction of administrative burden in the CBAM reporting.

The changes are part of the European Commission's so-called Omnibus Package (26 February 2025) and bring about the following key changes in particular:

• A new de minimis rule: Replacement of the current exemption for shipments up to €150 with a weight threshold of 50 tonnes of goods per year. This change should enter into force just three days after the publication of the Regulation in the Official Journal of the EU.

• Modifications to the methodology for calculating and verifying emissions: refining the calculation of emissions in imported goods to incentivise manufacturers to reduce emissions.

• Strengthening customs controls: Increase emphasis on risk-based controls to prevent circumvention.

• Other key changes: New options for delegating CBAM declarant responsibilities, rules for CBAM certificates (postponing the obligation to purchase a certificate, clarifying verification of emissions data, setting standard values for the carbon price payable and adjusting penalties.

Please note that this is a draft revision expected to be adopted during 2025. The full draft revision can be found here. We will inform you of the adoption of the proposal once all changes have been specified.

This simplification is a first step towards the future extension of CBAM to other sectors covered by the EU ETS and downstream commodities. It is expected that a new legislative proposal will be presented in early 2026 to extend the scope of the CBAM and adjust its rules, in response to the results of the CBAM assessment report to be carried out in 2025.

Introduction of a surcharge on the traffic load/Congestion Surcharge

It is also our duty to inform you of the introduction of the Congestion Surcharge from 1 April 2025 by the rail operator . It applies to all European ports except Gdansk. We will of course have it included or listed in our offer and its current amount of 5EUR /TEU is not essential in terms of the overall price. However, why we consider it important to inform you about the surcharge is the reasons leading to its implementation, as well as the fact that its amount may change according to the development of the situation.

These are the long-term and increasing complications in pan-European rail transport, which have a significant impact on operating costs.

We have these planned closures ahead of us:

• March-May 2025: Bad Schandau - Schöna, restrictions on the main route to/from German ports and Benelux.

• First decade of July 2025: complete closure of the arrival at Waltershof Hamburg station, preventing access to the CTB, CTA and Eurogate marine terminals. The accumulation of containers handled via these terminals must be taken into account; it will naturally take longer to return to normal operations.

• August 2025-April 2026: overhaul of the Hamburg-Berlin rail link, all rail services will be moved to alternative diversionary routes, which do not have sufficient capacity. In addition, passenger and freight traffic will be shared. Significant impacts on our service can be expected. Difficult to predict diversion routes with limited capacity will mean longer transport times and an overall reduction in the quality of our service.

Terminal congestion:
Increased costs due to congestion at inland terminals, including cancellation of train routes and missed tractor-trailer deliveries.

Increase in operating costs:
Long-term and increasing complications in pan-European rail transport.

 A buoyancy vest for containers?