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Read the articles by La Merce News to stay up to date with the world of import-export.
Critical raw materials strategic projects: the EU picks 46, five in Italy
Mines, refineries and recycling plants in 16 countries to reduce dependence on China. But European supply of magnets, cells and graphite is still years away.
FRIDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2026
Container cost from China to Europe: every cost item and a worked example
Freight, surcharges, port charges, duty, VAT and delivery to the warehouse: what you really pay for a 20 or 40-foot container from China, with a complete calculation.
FRIDAY, 9 OCTOBER 2026
Trademark registration grant: Italy's Marchi+ 2026 refunds up to 9,000 euros per trademark abroad
From 3 December, Italian SMEs can claim back up to 90% of the cost of protecting their trademark outside Italy. The budget is 2 million euros and in 2025 it ran out in a day.
THURSDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2026
World trade forecast: WTO raises 2026 goods growth to 3.9%
The WTO's new forecasts double goods trade growth in 2026. Almost half comes from goods for artificial intelligence, while Europe stands still.
THURSDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2026
How to import from China to Europe: a step-by-step guide for businesses
From the EORI number to goods in the warehouse: the eight steps a company follows to import from China, what is really needed and where time and money are lost.
THURSDAY, 8 OCTOBER 2026
After Golden Week: what to expect from Chinese factories and shipping
China's national holiday is over, production restarts and year-end orders are being closed. Delivery dates, freight rates and price lists to recheck now.
TUESDAY, 6 OCTOBER 2026
Truck stoppage in Calabria and Sicily: deliveries at risk from 9 to 20 October
Fedralog calls two stoppages in Calabria, the second alongside the Sicilian one. The Strait of Messina becomes the critical point for goods bound for the South.
MONDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2026
China's battery plan: parts-per-billion defects by 2030
Seven bodies led by the Ministry of Industry set targets to 2030. For importers of power banks and gadgets, the gap between leading manufacturers and the rest is what matters.
MONDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2026
Sourcing by Italian SMEs: 86% domestic, but non-EU rises to 22%
Geopost's Business Barometer 2026: Italian SMEs buy more in Italy and also outside Europe. And they choose suppliers for delivery before price.
MONDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2026
Air cargo in September: demand +6% and ever shorter contracts
According to Xeneta, global demand grows 6% year on year and spot rates rise to 3.10 dollars per kilo. Six out of ten new contracts last three months or less.
FRIDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2026
Hyper-depreciation or tax credits: what the UPB says about machinery incentives
At its 29 September hearing, Italy's Parliamentary Budget Office compared incentives since 2016: the 2020-22 tax credits had wider effects than the 2017-19 allowance.
FRIDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2026
China's manufacturing PMI at 50.1: factory costs and prices rise
In September Chinese industry returns to expansion after two months. But the raw material cost index jumps to 60.8 and the selling price index to 54.
THURSDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2026
European 301 tool against China: what we know and what we don't
France and Germany push for a trade weapon on the American model, Beijing threatens a response. No tariff is in force, but the direction is clear.
FRIDAY, 2 OCTOBER 2026
Asia-Europe container rates: twelve weeks of decline, Shanghai-Genoa at 3,702 dollars
Drewry's World Container Index falls again, Golden Week slows volumes and the Premier Alliance also returns to Suez. Late-October increases remain uncertain.
THURSDAY, 1 OCTOBER 2026
Container connectivity at Italian ports: Genoa, Gioia Tauro and La Spezia decline
In the third quarter of 2026 the UNCTAD index falls for Italy's three best-connected ports, while Naples, Venice and Ancona rise. Italy remains seventeenth in the world.
WEDNESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026
Digital DeCA in Spain from 5 October: what changes for road freight
From 5 October 2026 the control document for road freight in Spain becomes digital only. It covers domestic transport and cabotage, not international journeys.
WEDNESDAY, 30 SEPTEMBER 2026
Industrial profits in China: +15.7%, but clothing and furniture fall
In the first eight months electronics more than doubles its profits, cars lose 16%. In August growth drops to 4.2%, the lowest of the year.
TUESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2026
Extra-EU imports in August: +17.2%, from China +16%
Istat's August data: imports from India, OPEC and China grow, the United States, Turkey and ASEAN fall. Non-durable consumer goods drop 24.6%.
TUESDAY, 29 SEPTEMBER 2026
US-China tariffs cut on 30 billion: what changes for buyers in China
The Chinese list includes tableware, Christmas ornaments, toys and footballs. For Europe duties do not change, but the suppliers are the same.
MONDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026
Sicily truck stoppage from 16 to 20 October: how to protect deliveries
Five days of stoppage and semi-trailers left in the ports. The reasons: diesel above 2.40 euros and an unpaid Sea Modal Shift. How to plan shipments.
MONDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026
Transport packaging rules and the PPWR: 40% reusable by 2030
For importers the obligation starts at the first European warehouse. Cardboard boxes are excluded, pallets and plastic crates are not.
MONDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026
Industrial robots in China: 354,000 installed in 2025, 59% of the world
The IFR World Robotics 2026 report counts 603,000 installations worldwide. In China, metal and machinery grow fastest, +44%. Italy loses 11%.
FRIDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2026
Leather excluded from the EUDR: what changes for importers from 7 October
Delegated Regulation 2026/2102 removes hides and bovine leather from Annex I. But beef stays in, and in 2030 the Commission will reopen the file.
THURSDAY, 24 SEPTEMBER 2026
Pinglu Canal: 560 kilometres less to reach the sea
A 72.7 billion yuan investment and four years of works. But the vessels are river-sea craft: at the Gulf of Tonkin goods are transhipped as before.
WEDNESDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026
Chinese trucks assembled in Europe: the Steyr plant in Austria
The first eTopas 600 electric tractor came off the line on 27 July and the first vehicles went to DHL. The modules, though, keep arriving from China.
WEDNESDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026
Supply chain risk monitoring: only 20% do it continuously
Geopolitics and tariffs top the worry list for 65% of companies. Yet only 19% manage to see beyond their tier-one suppliers.
WEDNESDAY, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026
EU customs reform: what changes now and what in 2028
The regulation has been in force since Saturday, but the EU Customs Authority starts in 2027 and the Data Hub becomes mandatory for everyone only in 2034.
TUESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2026
New Maersk container ships: 26 units delivering from 2029
Some 483,600 TEU of slot capacity, 10.5% of what the carrier operates today. But the 2024 plan is about replacement: the fleet stays around 4.3 million TEU.
TUESDAY, 22 SEPTEMBER 2026
Costume jewellery imported from China: 49,512 items stopped in Genoa
Cadmium up to 49.1% by weight and lead up to 4.95%, against European limits of 0.01% and 0.05%. In the same container, 720 pairs of sunglasses with no CE mark.
MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026
Italian stone exports: value up, volumes down
Average price at 1,234.6 dollars per tonne, an all-time high. China buys over half the raw blocks, the United States leads on processed goods.
MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026
Diesel price at 2026 highs: what reaches your deliveries
Otto centesimi al litro fra rete ordinaria e autostrada. Ma quanto pagherete dipende dall’indice e dal ritardo scritti nel vostro contratto di trasporto.
MONDAY, 21 SEPTEMBER 2026
Suez transits: the return is mostly on voyages back to Asia
Il 73% dei viaggi continua a girare attorno al Capo di Buona Speranza. Dal Mediterraneo verso l’Asia la quota Suez tocca il 57%, dal Nord Europa il 27%.
SUNDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2026
European steel protection and the bill for those who transform it
Il coil è passato da 630-640 a 750 euro a tonnellata in otto mesi. E fra Germania e Italia ci sono 15 euro a megawattora di differenza sull’energia.
SUNDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2026
The Italian small parcels tax is postponed to 30 November
A third announced start date, a second one moved. Meanwhile the EU duty cut low-value consignments by 39% between July and August.
SATURDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2026
China's electronics five-year plan: 30 trillion yuan by 2030
Circuiti integrati, calcolo avanzato, elettronica di consumo, di base e per l’energia: l’elenco delle priorità dice più del numero complessivo.
SATURDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2026
German import VAT reform: less cash tied up at the port
La Conferenza dei ministri delle Finanze ha deciso il 10 settembre, ma il modello parte nel 2030. Fra la decisione e l’applicazione passano più di tre anni.
SATURDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2026
Four Gemini services return to the Suez Canal: what changes for Ligurian ports
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd move AE5, AE11, AE12 and ME2 onto the shorter route while the Red Sea security picture hardens. Both things are true at once.
FRIDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2026
Italian exports in the second quarter of 2026: what the +7.9% really says
Il numero che circola è congiunturale, il confronto annuo dice un’altra cosa. E la classifica per valore assoluto non coincide con quella per crescita.
FRIDAY, 18 SEPTEMBER 2026
Container inspections: deficiencies in more than one unit in ten
Only seven countries out of more than a hundred and seventy submitted results. The four most frequent failures all start in the supplier’s warehouse.
THURSDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2026
Digital customs in Norway: with Digitoll, who reports what changes
Dal 15 settembre la notifica digitale anticipata è obbligatoria. Dal 1° marzo 2027 sparisce il margine dei dieci giorni per dichiarare dopo l’arrivo.
THURSDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2026
Italian hyper-depreciation: confirmation due 60 days after approval
La piattaforma del Gse ha aperto la seconda fase il 21 luglio. Il termine non parte da quella data: decorre dall’esito positivo della singola pratica.
THURSDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER 2026
China producer prices are rising: what changes for buyers
L’indice dei prezzi di fabbrica accelera per il secondo mese, spinto da energia e componenti elettronici. Ma è una media in yuan sul mercato interno cinese.
WEDNESDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026
European preference in public procurement: bids below 50% can be rejected
Il Public Procurement Act sostituisce tre direttive con un regolamento unico e apre alla preferenza europea. Ma «europeo» non coincide con l’origine doganale.
WEDNESDAY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026
Lithium batteries in containers: thousands travel undeclared
La disposizione che esenta le piccole batterie non pone alcun limite a quante ne stanno in un container. Il World Shipping Council chiede all’IMO una soglia.
TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026
Congestion at Chinese ports: ten-day waits before Golden Week
Capacity waiting to berth passes the 2022 record, but weighs on a much larger fleet. With 55 idle ships out of 5,400, delays do not clear on their own.
TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026
WTO barometer: world trade is growing, but containers fall below trend
The World Trade Organization leading indicator rises to 102.0, driven by electronics at 104.9, while container shipping slips to 99.6.
TUESDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2026
Fashion imports from China down 8.1%: what the figure says about suppliers
In the first five months of 2026 Italian fashion imports from China fell 8.1%, more than the overall sector decline: what changes in negotiations with suppliers.
MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026
SVHC substances and importer obligations: the list rises to 253 entries
Since 4 February 2026 the REACH Candidate List contains 253 entries: above 0.1% by weight information duties and SCIP database notification are triggered.
MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER 2026
Hyper-amortisation and foreign machinery: the Made in EU rule is dropped
Decree-Law 38/2026 removed the European origin requirement on eligible goods: in two months companies booked 4.75 billion, 98% of it in machinery.
SUNDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2026
Chinese exports to Europe: just +6.6% while the rest of the world races ahead
In the first eight months of 2026 Chinese trade rose 17.6%, but in August exports to the EU grew just 6.6%: what it means for companies buying from China.
SUNDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2026
Ten-T corridor delays Italy: Confetra's warning on Brenner and Terzo Valico
Confetra warns of the mismatch between major works and their access lines on the Ten-T corridors: the German rail access to the Brenner is not expected before 2043, while the Terzo Valico's entry into service depends on testing after works end by 2028.
SUNDAY, 13 SEPTEMBER 2026
Panama Canal draft restrictions: Neopanamax cut postponed
The Panama Canal authority has postponed indefinitely the reduction of maximum draft to 14.48 metres due on 1 October: the current 14.63-metre tropical fresh water limit stays in force.
SATURDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2026
Shanghai-Genoa container rates down 10%: what changes for those importing from China
The spot rate for a 40-foot container on the Shanghai-Genoa route falls to 4,368 dollars, with further declines expected in the coming weeks.
SATURDAY, 12 SEPTEMBER 2026
Demurrage and detention charges disputed: Samsung seeks $186 million from CMA CGM at the FMC
Samsung Electronics America has filed a claim of at least $186 million with the US Federal Maritime Commission against CMA CGM over the handling of inland deliveries and accessorial charges between 2020 and 2023.
FRIDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026
Back to Suez: transits up 36% in August, but the route is only halfway there
In August, Suez transits rose 36% and capacity nearly tripled, yet volumes remain well below pre-crisis levels: here is what changes for Asia importers.
FRIDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026
Steel imports: "melt and pour" traceability starts on 1 October
From 1 October 2026 EU steel importers must prove the country where the product was melted and poured: here is how to adapt documents and procedures.
FRIDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2026
China-Europe air cargo: the decline stops, what changes for importers
At the end of August, air shipments on the China-Europe corridor show the first signs of stabilization, with effects on volumes, transit times and freight rates for those importing from Asia.
THURSDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026
Goodbye to the €150 exemption: the EU parcel duty rewrites the rules of e-commerce imports
From 1 July 2026 the EU has scrapped the customs exemption for parcels under €150: a duty now applies for each type of product. A turning point for anyone importing low-value goods, above all from China, and for cross-border e-commerce.
THURSDAY, 10 SEPTEMBER 2026
Beyond the electric car: China's new export wave of robots, AI and medicines
After the green «new three» — electric cars, batteries and solar panels — China is pushing a new high-tech wave: robots, artificial intelligence and innovative medicines. Here is what changes for importers and sourcing.
WEDNESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2026
Steel: EU 50% tariff and new origin rules — what changes for importers
From 2026 the EU tightens imports of steel and steel-based products: a 50% tariff above quota, contingents cut by 47%, a «melt and pour» origin rule and CBAM in its definitive phase. Here is what changes for those buying abroad.
WEDNESDAY, 9 SEPTEMBER 2026
Air freight: when cargo takes flight, every detail counts
Passenger or cargo flights? Dimensions, safety rules and planning: how to manage every detail of an import-export air shipment.
TUESDAY, 1 JULY 2025
Customs checks on electronics imports: how to avoid penalties and optimise compliance
Importing electronics into the EU takes care: WEEE compliance and correct labelling to avoid penalties up to 1,000 euro per product and customs holds.
WEDNESDAY, 18 JUNE 2025
The Bialetti Moka changes hands: one of Italy's most iconic objects becomes Chinese
The Chinese holding Nuo Capital acquires 78.6% of Bialetti for 53 million euros: delisting from the stock market and a historic turn for a Made in Italy icon.
SUNDAY, 4 MAY 2025
MSC is about to buy up ports around the world for 23 billion dollars
The Aponte family (MSC) is close to acquiring 43 ports from CK Hutchison for 22.8 billion dollars: MSC could become the world's leading port operator.
SATURDAY, 5 APRIL 2025
Import-export of jewellery and precious metals: what Italian law really says
The sale of precious-metal jewellery in Italy is governed by Legislative Decree 251/1999: fineness in thousandths, an identification mark and different rules for import and export.
MONDAY, 31 MARCH 2025
How much does China really export? Figures and opportunities of the trade giant
In 2024 Chinese exports reached 3.47 trillion dollars (+7.1%), driven by electronics, machinery and electric vehicles. What it means for import-export.
TUESDAY, 18 FEBRUARY 2025
OEM vs ODM: two key acronyms for creating a product under your own brand
OEM or ODM? In import-export the choice of production model determines costs, times and control over the product. How we choose the right one for each project.
SUNDAY, 5 JANUARY 2025
The 5 questions we always ask our suppliers
Before working with a supplier we always ask five questions: MOQ, certifications, factory address, production times and customisation options.
SUNDAY, 15 DECEMBER 2024
Incoterms: the basics of international trade
Incoterms 2020 define responsibilities, costs and risks between seller and buyer: the 11 rules explained and how to choose the right one.
FRIDAY, 15 NOVEMBER 2024
Supplier assessment: only those meeting the highest standards of quality, safety and sustainability
We work only with suppliers meeting the highest standards: CE marking, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, plus specific sector certifications.
SATURDAY, 5 OCTOBER 2024