Evidence graph — claim registry
Every core figure the site asserts is a node in the evidence graph: the claim, the entity it describes, the extracted value, the region, the source and its date, the confidence label, the reviewing desk and the date the record expires and must be re-verified.
TL;DR: 29 core claims are registered with source URLs, as-of dates and review-due dates. Each one was extracted verbatim from the cited source or from an existing structured data file — nothing in the graph is invented.
Coverage by category
- 10 — Regulatory
- 11 — Freight indices
- 3 — Market structure
- 2 — Port throughput
- 3 — China→Europe rail
Claim registry
| Claim | Entity | Extracted value | Region | As of | Confidence | Source | Reviewer | Review due | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia charges 15% VAT on imports. | Saudi Arabia — VAT rate | 15% (since July 2020, raised from 5%) | saudi-arabia | 2026-09-06 | High | ZATCA — Saudi Customs / Tax Authority | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-06 | Primary source: national tax authority. Recorded in src/data/gcc-countries.ts (vatNote). |
| The UAE charges 5% VAT on imports. | United Arab Emirates — VAT rate | 5% (since 1 January 2018) | united-arab-emirates | 2026-09-06 | High | Dubai Customs | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-06 | Primary source: customs authority. Recorded in src/data/gcc-countries.ts (vatNote). |
| Qatar has no VAT yet; an e-invoicing law passed in May 2026 signals implementation at ~5%. | Qatar — VAT status | 0% now (≈5% expected) | qatar | 2026-09-06 | Medium | Qatar Customs (General Authority of Customs) | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-06 | The ~5% level is an expectation signalled by the May-2026 e-invoicing law, not a published rate. Recorded in src/data/gcc-countries.ts (vatNote). |
| Kuwait has no VAT implemented. | Kuwait — VAT status | 0% (GCC agreement signed, not implemented) | kuwait | 2026-09-06 | Medium | Kuwait General Administration of Customs | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-06 | No confirmed implementation timeline published. Recorded in src/data/gcc-countries.ts (vatNote). |
| Oman charges 5% VAT on imports. | Oman — VAT rate | 5% (since 16 April 2021) | oman | 2026-09-06 | High | Oman Customs | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-06 | Primary source: customs authority. Recorded in src/data/gcc-countries.ts (vatNote). |
| Bahrain charges 10% VAT on imports. | Bahrain — VAT rate | 10% (since 2022, raised from 5%) | bahrain | 2026-09-06 | High | Bahrain Customs | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-06 | Primary source: customs authority. Recorded in src/data/gcc-countries.ts (vatNote). |
| Saudi Arabia applies a 5% base import duty calculated on CIF value. | Saudi Arabia — base duty rate | 5% on CIF value | saudi-arabia | 2026-09-06 | High | ZATCA — Saudi Customs / Tax Authority | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-06 | Higher rates apply to specific lines: alcohol 100%, tobacco 100%, carbonated drinks 50%. Recorded in src/data/gcc-countries.ts (dutyRate/dutyNote). |
| Saudi Arabia raised tariffs on 51 agricultural and food lines to 5–15% from June 2026. | Saudi Arabia — agricultural tariffs | 5–15% across 51 lines (from June 2026) | saudi-arabia | 2026-09-06 | High | ZATCA — Saudi Customs / Tax Authority | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-06 | HS-code-specific duty should be confirmed before SABER filing. Recorded in src/data/gcc-countries.ts (dutyNote) and src/data/intelligence.ts. |
| Saudi Arabia applies a SAR 1,000 de minimis threshold to personal parcels. | Saudi Arabia — de minimis threshold | SAR 1,000 (personal parcels only) | saudi-arabia | 2026-09-06 | Low | ZATCA — Saudi Customs / Tax Authority | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-06 | Awaiting ZATCA first-hand confirmation; VAT still applies with no exemption. Recorded in src/data/gcc-countries.ts (deMinimis/deMinimisNote). |
| The UAE applies an AED 1,000 de minimis threshold to personal parcels. | United Arab Emirates — de minimis threshold | AED 1,000 (personal parcels only) | united-arab-emirates | 2026-09-06 | Low | Dubai Customs | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-06 | Confirm current threshold with the FTA; 5% VAT may still apply. Recorded in src/data/gcc-countries.ts (deMinimis/deMinimisNote). |
| The SCFI Persian Gulf line (Shanghai→Dubai) stood at $6,311/TEU on 2026-09-11. | SCFI — Persian Gulf route (Shanghai→Dubai) | $6,311/TEU (+$176, +2.9% w/w) | china-gcc | 2026-09-11 | High | Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SCFI) via CCCME | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-18 | Official weekly index, spot incl. surcharges. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-europe-rail-and-indices.md S1/S3; also bound in src/data/rates.ts r-201. |
| The SCFI composite index stood at 3,662.18 on 2026-09-11. | SCFI — composite index | 3,662.18 (+72.13, +2.0% w/w; 7th weekly rise) | global | 2026-09-11 | High | Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE) | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-18 | Official weekly print. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-europe-rail-and-indices.md S1. |
| The CCFI composite index stood at 1,862.18 on 2026-09-11. | CCFI — composite index | 1,862.18 (+1.4% w/w) | global | 2026-09-11 | High | Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE) | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-18 | Official weekly print. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-europe-rail-and-indices.md S2. |
| The CCFI Persian Gulf / Red Sea line stood at 3,669.37 on 2026-09-11. | CCFI — Persian Gulf / Red Sea route | 3,669.37 (+3.0% w/w) | china-gcc | 2026-09-11 | High | Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE) | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-18 | Official weekly route table. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-europe-rail-and-indices.md S2. |
| The SCFI Persian Gulf line averaged $5,637/TEU in August 2026. | SCFI — Persian Gulf route, monthly average | $5,637/TEU (+26.2% MoM) | china-gcc | 2026-09-03 | High | SSE monthly report via MOFCOM | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-10-03 | Official monthly average. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-europe-rail-and-indices.md S13. |
| The SCFI Persian Gulf line stood at $3,977/TEU on 2026-04-03. | SCFI — Persian Gulf route, pre-surge baseline | $3,977/TEU (2026-04-03; ~+200% vs pre-war) | china-gcc | 2026-04-09 | High | Shipping Digest (Taiwan) weekly SCFI report | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-10-09 | Historical weekly print used as pre-surge baseline. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-china-gcc-rates.md S19. |
| The Drewry World Container Index composite stood at $4,476 per 40ft on 2026-09-10. | Drewry WCI — composite | $4,476/40ft (unchanged, 2nd stable week) | global | 2026-09-10 | High | Drewry World Container Index | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-17 | Weekly assessment. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-europe-rail-and-indices.md S7. |
| Drewry WCI Shanghai→Rotterdam stood at $3,997 per 40ft on 2026-09-10. | Drewry WCI — Shanghai→Rotterdam | $3,997/40ft (−2% w/w) | china-europe | 2026-09-10 | High | Drewry World Container Index | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-17 | Weekly assessment. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-europe-rail-and-indices.md S7. |
| The Freightos Baltic Index FBX11 (China→Northern Europe) stood at $4,499/FEU on 2026-09-16. | FBX — FBX11 China→Northern Europe | $4,499.00/FEU | china-europe | accessed 2026-09-16 | High | Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) terminal | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-23 | Live terminal value; the page prints no as-of date, so the access date is recorded as the snapshot. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-europe-rail-and-indices.md S8. |
| Xeneta put the China→Jeddah market-average spot rate at $10,870/FEU on 2026-09-10. | Xeneta — China→Jeddah spot (40ft) | $10,870/FEU (+256% vs 2026-02-28; above Covid-era peak) | china-gcc | 2026-09-10 | High | Xeneta Weekly Ocean Update | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-17 | Weekly market-average. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-china-gcc-rates.md S1; also bound in src/data/rates.ts r-102. |
| Xeneta put the China→Khor al Fakkan spot rate at $10,626/FEU on 2026-09-10. | Xeneta — China→Khor al Fakkan spot (40ft) | $10,626/FEU (+479% vs 2026-02-28) | china-gcc | 2026-09-10 | High | Xeneta Weekly Ocean Update | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-17 | Weekly market-average; used as upside signal for UAE lanes in src/data/rates.ts r-202. |
| The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed to container vessels for 6+ months. | Strait of Hormuz — container-vessel status | Closed 6+ months; Gulf volume re-routed via Jeddah / Khor al Fakkan land bridges | china-gcc | 2026-09-10 | High | Xeneta Weekly Ocean Update | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-17 | Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-china-gcc-rates.md §1. |
| Bab el-Mandeb weekly capacity was 212,636 TEU in August 2026. | Bab el-Mandeb — weekly container capacity | 212,636 TEU (Aug 2026) vs 930,679 (Aug 2023) = 23% of pre-crisis | china-gcc | 2026-09-10 | High | Xeneta Weekly Ocean Update | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-17 | Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-china-gcc-rates.md §1. |
| Red Sea vs Cape-of-Good-Hope routing differs by about 11 days. | Red Sea vs Cape routing — transit delta | ≈ 11 days longer via Cape (China→Genoa example) | china-gcc | 2026-09-10 | Medium | Xeneta Weekly Ocean Update | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-09-17 | Indicative delta, route-dependent. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-china-gcc-rates.md §1. |
| Jeddah Islamic Port handled about 4.9m TEU in 2023. | Jeddah Islamic Port — container throughput | ≈ 4.9m TEU (2023) | saudi-arabia | 2023 | Medium | Mawani — Saudi Ports Authority | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-16 | Annual figure; re-verify when 2024/2025 throughput is published. Recorded in src/data/gcc-ports.ts (jeddah specs). |
| Jebel Ali handled about 14.5m TEU in 2023. | Jebel Ali — container throughput | ≈ 14.5m TEU (2023) | united-arab-emirates | 2023 | Medium | DP World | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-12-16 | Annual figure; re-verify when newer throughput is published. Recorded in src/data/gcc-ports.ts (jebel-ali specs). |
| Xi’an → Duisburg/Hamburg 40HQ station-to-station rail base was $4,000–4,800. | China→Europe rail — Xi’an→Duisburg/Hamburg rate | $4,000–4,800 (40HQ, station-to-station base) | china-europe | 2026-08 / H2 2026 | Medium | goodhope86 price lists; caexp.net (Xi’an platform) | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-10-16 | Range spans the pre-August and H2-2026 price lists. Xi’an platform reference index ¥32,272.80 ≈ $4,770 (CNY 6.7670, 2026-09-15). Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-europe-rail-and-indices.md S10/S11. |
| Chongqing → Duisburg 40HQ rail was $5,300 and → Hamburg $5,500. | China→Europe rail — Chongqing→Duisburg/Hamburg rate | $5,300–5,500 (40HQ, station-to-station base) | china-europe | 2026-08 | Medium | goodhope86 price lists | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-10-16 | Monthly-updated forwarder price sheets; no official rail index exists. Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-europe-rail-and-indices.md S10. |
| Xi’an → Duisburg terminal-to-terminal transit is about 12 days on the timetabled train. | China→Europe rail — Xi’an→Duisburg transit | ≈ 12 days (timetabled, 4 departures/wk); standard 15–20 days | china-europe | accessed 2026-09-16 | Medium | caexp.net (Xi’an platform); cnr.cn report | WorldFreightHub Research Desk | 2026-10-16 | Source: docs/research-notes-2026-09-16-europe-rail-and-indices.md S11/S14. |
How the graph stays honest
- Expiry is built in. Weekly indices expire before the next print; monthly sheets within a month; regulatory rates within a quarter; annual port figures within a year.
- Undated sources are marked. Where a source prints no date, the access date is recorded and the claim carries the caveat.
- Nothing is averaged silently. Ranges are the span of cited sources; single-source figures are labelled as such.
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