Date: April 7, 2026
NANSHA – Focus Global Logistics (FGL) has shown resilience and logistics expertise. They successfully shipped a full consignment of excavators from Nansha, China, to Chattogram, Bangladesh. This occurred despite a sharp escalation in geopolitical tensions and a sudden spike in EFS (Emergency Fuel Surcharge) rates. The shipment left on March 21, 2026, and arrived on schedule after a 10-day transit. This marks a critical achievement amid mounting supply chain disruptions.
Route: Nansha, China → Chattogram, Bangladesh
Commodity: Excavators (9 packages, 227.75 MT, 720 CBM, dimensions: 1150L × 3200W × 3400H mm)
Transit Time: 10 days
Departure: March 21, 2026
The shipment took place against a backdrop of heightened conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which led to Iran’s unilateral blockade of the Strait of Hormuz – one of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints. The blockade triggered immediate volatility in freight markets, with shipping lines imposing steep Emergency Fuel Surcharges (EFS) to offset rising insurance and rerouting costs. Many forwarders struggled to secure vessel space, but FGL not only honored its commitment but also managed to negotiate favorable terms for its client.
“This was not a routine shipment,” said a senior operations manager at FGL’s Shenzhen office. “We faced sudden space shortages, unpredictable surcharges, and a ticking clock tied to the shipper’s letter of credit. Any delay would have exposed our client to significant financial penalties from the consignee.”
Overcoming Sudden Regional Escalation
The first major challenge arose after FGL had already received the customer’s order and confirmed space with the carrier. The unexpected escalation between the US-Israeli alliance and Iran, followed by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, sent shockwaves through global trade lanes. Vessel space became critically tight, and multiple carriers announced last-minute EFS increases. For FGL, the risk was clear: if the goods could not be shipped and cleared customs in time, the shipper’s letter of credit would miss its deadline, triggering claims from the Bangladeshi consignee.
To counter this, FGL’s leadership engaged directly with the carrier’s headquarters. Leveraging a long-term partnership and presenting the strategic importance of the client’s project, FGL successfully negotiated a partial reduction in EFS charges – a rare concession during a period of market panic. Furthermore, FGL established a daily communication protocol with the vessel operator, providing real-time updates, cargo photos, detailed dimension sheets, weight distribution data, and lashing diagrams from third-party surveyors. This transparency convinced the carrier to adopt a flexible loading plan, allowing FGL to consolidate cargo based on actual arrival sequences at the terminal rather than rigid cut-off times.
Multi-Stage Collaboration Under Extreme Pressure
Beyond surcharges, the shipment demanded flawless coordination across multiple stakeholders. The client required that the excavators be trucked from Liuzhou to Nansha Port, consolidated into containers, lashed and secured under third-party supervision, and loaded onto the vessel – all within an extremely tight window.
FGL’s Shenzhen team responded with a meticulously rehearsed plan. Arrival times for container return vehicles were staggered to avoid congestion at the port warehouse. Ground teams at the terminal were briefed in advance to monitor warehouse entry, oversee container unloading, and ensure that all lashing and securing operations met the strict standards required for heavy machinery. A third-party lashing and loading supervision certificate was obtained, adding an extra layer of safety verification.
Crucially, FGL coordinated with customs brokers to initiate a “paperless declaration” process while the goods were still en route. All documentation was reviewed and submitted ahead of time, ensuring that customs release instructions were essentially ready upon arrival. This meant that as soon as the containers were returned, final customs clearance could be completed within hours, not days.
Zero Damage, Zero Delay, Zero Waiting
The result was a textbook execution. All nine packages – totaling 227.75 metric tons and 720 cubic meters – were loaded safely, orderly, and efficiently onto the vessel shortly after it berthed at Nansha. The vessel incurred zero additional port waiting time due to FGL’s cargo handling, protecting the shipping schedule. Upon arrival in Chattogram 10 days later, the excavators were discharged without a single instance of damage or safety incident.
“This project once again proves that we are more than just a freight forwarder,” the FGL manager added. “We are a project management partner capable of emergency coordination, supply chain leadership, and real-time problem-solving. By aligning the shipper, carrier, terminal, and customs into a temporary but highly efficient team, we turned a high-risk situation into a success story.”
As global supply chains face growing unpredictability – from geopolitical flashpoints to sudden surcharge hikes – FGL’s latest achievement offers a blueprint for managing heavy equipment and project cargo with precision, transparency, and unyielding commitment to client outcomes. The company continues to optimize its models for future large-scale projects, ensuring that even in turbulent times, cargo moves safely and on time.
About FGL (Focus Global Logistics)
Established in 2001, Shenzhen Focus Global Logistics Corporation (FGL) is a premier integrated international logistics service provider, specializing in complex project cargo, heavy-lift transport, and comprehensive supply chain management. With 10 branches strategically located across China, including Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Jiangmen, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Foshan, and Xi’an, FGL’s extensive service network covers East China, Central China, South China, and the Middle China regions. From these major hubs, FGL has built a vast logistical network encompassing major sea freight and air freight ports, offering seamless sea-land combined multimodal transportation solutions from China to key global markets, including Southeast Asia, the Southeast Asian Subcontinent, Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Europe.
Post time: Apr-10-2026
