Alkagesta CEO Urges Maritime and Trading Sectors to Tackle Freight Costs

Alkagesta chief executive Orkhan Rustamov has outlined strategic measures for managing elevated logistics expenses in an article published by maritime journal The Motor Ship. Issued from Malta in September 2026, the editorial addresses the structural factors pushing global freight expenses toward historic levels. The commentary emphasizes the critical responsibilities facing both ocean carriers and commodity trading houses operating in an increasingly complex commercial environment.

The analysis draws on several regional shipping benchmarks that have experienced substantial cost inflation. Specific attention is given to surging tanker rates across Eastern Mediterranean routes as well as adjacent regional trade lanes. In addition, the piece highlights escalating transport costs for vessels operating on routes connecting the Gulf to destinations in the Far East.

Beyond deep-sea corridors, the commentary incorporates severe pricing pressures recorded within inland waterways. Trans-Rhine freight rates have climbed to their highest points in fourteen years. Rustamov argues that industry participants must not accept these elevated logistics expenses as an inevitable market condition.

To counter compounding transportation costs, the article sets out several practical operational measures for industry stakeholders. Recommended strategies include expanding supply chain diversification, increasing operational agility, and implementing proactive scenario planning. These mechanisms are framed as essential tools for preserving trade flow continuity amidst volatile conditions.

The publication also calls for maritime operators and trading firms to establish closer working alignment across their networks. Enhanced coordination is positioned as a necessity for constructing resilient supply chains capable of adapting to market dislocations. Such collaborative planning is intended to insulate logistics channels from sudden geopolitical friction and environmental disruptions.