Sasma Quarterly Newsletter – March 2026

A Note from the Sasma Team

As we move through the first months of 2026, the global alcohol and spirits market continues to evolve under the influence of trade developments, logistics dynamics, and shifting supply conditions.

The beginning of the year has been an active period for industry engagement, with our team attending major trade fairs such as Wine Paris and ProWein, providing valuable opportunities to reconnect with partners and discuss current market conditions.

In this Q1 update, we share key developments in global trade, logistics trends affecting international shipments, our 2026 trade fair calendar, and an overview of the Halsteren facility as we approach its opening.

We look forward to staying connected throughout the year.

Global Trade & Market Developments

Trade policy continues to shape the global spirits market in early 2026. In Europe, the EU–Mercosur agreements were signed in January 2026, but are not yet in force. Ratification is progressing on the Mercosur side, while the EU process remains delayed — the European Parliament is awaiting a legal opinion before it can vote, and the broader agreement still requires sign-off from all member states. Uncertainty around future trade flows with South American producers like Brazil and Argentina remains.

Elsewhere, tariffs remain an important factor shaping international spirits trade. In the United States, recently proposed tariff increases on imported goods have raised concerns across the beverage alcohol sector about potential impacts on export competitiveness and pricing for international suppliers.

At the same time, negotiations between the European Union and India are progressing toward a trade agreement that could gradually reduce tariffs on European spirits entering the Indian market, potentially improving access to one of the world’s largest spirits-consuming countries.

The situation in Iran is the story most people in commodity and trade markets are watching right now. The conflict has pushed energy prices higher, which is flowing through to ethanol prices. Combined with rising freight costs, this is creating short-term uncertainty in neutral alcohol markets — something Sasma is monitoring closely.

Sasma continues to monitor these developments closely as part of its assessment of global sourcing and supply trends.

Logistics & Shipping Update

Global container shipping conditions have shown signs of easing in early 2026, with recent Drewry data indicating a continued softening in container freight rates after several weeks of declines. That said, the market remains sensitive to geopolitical developments, particularly ongoing uncertainty around Red Sea and Suez Canal routes, which continues to affect transit times and capacity on certain lanes.

The conflict in Iran has added a new layer of complexity: carriers are applying war surcharges and emergency fuel surcharges on affected routes, increasing costs beyond the base freight rate. While overall freight costs have moved lower compared to last year's highs, the combination of geopolitical risk and surcharge volatility means that reliability and total cost management remain key considerations. We continue to monitor these developments closely and work with our logistics partners to secure efficient, reliable transport solutions for our customers.

Sasma Company Updates

Trade Fairs — 2026

Great to see so many friendly faces and to meet new ones during Wine Paris in February and ProWein in March. Here are our confirmed trade fairs for the remainder of the year: we hope to see you there!

Sasma Halsteren: Warehouse opening Spring 2026

Our warehouse is set to open within the next several weeks. Read on to learn everything our new facility has to offer. And in case you missed it, we recently published an interview with our new Plant Manager, Mark van Herwijnen.

Halsteren Facility – At a Glance

Sasma’s new Halsteren warehouse facility, currently nearing completion, significantly expands our operational capabilities and strengthens our logistics and processing infrastructure.

Facility capabilities

• 25 stainless-steel tanks supporting both storage and processing

• Mixing capacity including 2 × 35,000L and 2 × 100,000L mixing tanks

• Storage capacity including 20 × 35,000L and 1 × 100,000L storage tanks

• 5,000L reverse osmosis water tank enabling precise dilution

Operational capabilities

• In-house blending, mixing, and dilution

• Customized alcohol formulations built to precise specifications

• Repacking options including tank-to-IBC and other packaging formats

• Expanded packaging options including smaller batch formats

• Improved turnaround times and operational flexibility

• Full traceability across storage and production processes

Product and certification scope

• Alcohol handling for both food and non-food applications

• Kosher and Organic certifications

• Ability to manage a wide range of alcohol types for multiple industries including food, beverage, cosmetics, pharmaceutical and industrial applications

The Halsteren facility represents an important step in expanding Sasma’s ability to provide flexible storage, processing, and supply solutions for bulk alcohol customers.

We look forward to keeping you updated on our opening.