Red Sea Disruptions: Houthis warned of a blockade on Saudi-linked shipping and attacked tankers near Bab el-Mandeb, raising fears of a second chokepoint crisis; oil jumped above $100 and insurers are already hiking rates. Port & Shipping Operations: Maersk paused some Gulf bookings and rerouted cargo via Salalah/Khor Fakkan as Red Sea risk persists, while Ukraine’s Black Sea ports saw vessel arrivals halted and Maersk suspended service to Chornomorsk, redirecting cargo to Constanta. South Africa Trade & Infrastructure: Port of Cape Town logged cargo growth in 2025/26 as Transnet pushes private-sector terminal participation and reports improved efficiency. Maritime Capacity in the Gulf: DP World and Fujairah Ports Authority signed to develop two new multipurpose container terminals, boosting UAE handling capacity. Policy & Cost Pressure: South Africa’s SARB held rates at 7% but flagged municipal dysfunction and transport-cost-driven inflation risks. Food Security & Logistics Tech: China’s “clonal hybrid rice” breakthrough could cut repeat seed purchases, while DUT launched Africa’s first DataScientia International Symposium in Durban. Nigeria Enforcement: NAFDAC began a nationwide crackdown on sachet alcohol and small PET bottles under 200ml, with market and transport-channel inspections.