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January 2026 Global Steel & Shipping Industry News Roundup

2026 steel and logistics outlookStay ahead of global steel and logistics developments with our January 2026 update. A number of policy changes, tariffs, and shipping rate updates will influence the trade in steel and global supply chains.

1. Mexico: Tariffs on Select Chinese Goods to Rise Up to 50%

Starting January 1, 2026, Mexico will implement new tariffs on 1,463 categories of goods, according to Reuters (December 31, 2025). Tariff rates will increase from the previous 0-20% range to 5%-50%, with most goods seeing a 35% hike.

The affected goods include a wide array of steel products, such as:

  • Rebar, round steel, square steel
  • Wire rods, angle steel, channel steel
  • I-beams, H-beams, structural steel sections
  • Hot-rolled steel plates/coils (HR)
  • Cold-rolled steel plates/coils (CR)
  • Galvanized steel sheets (GI/GL)
  • Welded and seamless steel pipes
  • Steel billets and semi-finished products

Other impacted sectors include automobiles, auto parts, textiles, clothing, and plastics.

China’s Ministry of Commerce expressed concern in early December, warning that these measures may harm the interests of trading partners, including China, and urged Mexico to reconsider its protectionist practices.

2. Russia: Port Fees to Increase by 15% from January 2026

The Russian Federal Antimonopoly Service has submitted a draft adjustment for port fees, set to take effect January 1, 2026. All service fees at Russian ports—including waterways, navigation, lighthouses, and icebreaking services—will see a uniform 15% increase.

These changes are expected to directly raise operating costs per voyage, impacting the cost structure of steel exports and imports through Russian ports.

3. Shipping Companies Announce Rate Adjustments

Several major shipping lines have announced freight rate changes starting January 2026, affecting routes from Asia to Africa:

MSC: Adjusted rates to Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique, effective January 1.

Maersk: Updated Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for routes from Asia to South Africa and Mauritius.

CMA CGM: Introduced a Peak Season Surcharge of USD 300–450 per TEU for dry and refrigerated cargo from the Far East to West Africa.

Hapag-Lloyd: Implemented a General Rate Increase (GRI) of USD 500 per standard container for routes from Asia and Oceania to Africa.

These adjustments reflect rising global logistics costs, which may influence steel import/export pricing in affected regions.

Significant changes are expected in steel tariffs, port fees, and transportation costs in early 2026, particularly in international trade between Asia, Mexico, Russia, and Africa. Steel industry and supply chain companies should plan ahead to mitigate the impact of rising costs and adjust their procurement strategies accordingly.

Stay tuned for our monthly steel and logistics newsletter to ensure your business remains competitive in the rapidly changing global market.

ROYAL GROUP

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Post time: Jan-05-2026