A big jump in spot rates was pegged to the cascading impacts of blank sailings and a volume rush from shippers ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday in October.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:21:14 GMT

With just three weeks to go until the union’s master contract with port employers expires, US importers are scrambling for options but are finding there are no ideal alternatives.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 13:56:17 GMT

The International Longshoremen’s Association is starting to coordinate local labor actions as its executive leaders note the ongoing “impasse” in talks with maritime employers.

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 22:11:14 GMT

New cranes on order will serve the larger ships that are coming with the expected 2025 completion of a multi-year project to widen Houston’s ship channel to accommodate two-way traffic of neo-Panamax vessels, Charlie Jenkins tells the Journal of Commerce.

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:52:15 GMT

Shippers with substantial cargo volumes and just-in-time inventories look for an optimum mix of frequency, transit time and schedule reliability in ocean services, writes analyst Jeremy Masters.

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:06:13 GMT

Strong economic growth in the region has led to the deployment of more capacity and increased the number of services from China.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 18:35:14 GMT

Forwarders say carrier executives are seeking volume-linked pricing expectations after dictating terms over the last two months or so.

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 13:51:16 GMT

The added capacity — 14 extra-loaders at each port — comes amid peak season demand and an anticipated boost in discretionary cargo diverted from ports along the US East and Gulf coasts as shippers protect themselves from potential longshore labor disruption.

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 21:17:14 GMT

The carrier said it was “cautiously optimistic” about business prospects in the second half of the year, while acknowledging that a “complex geopolitical situation,” delivery of new capacity and rising costs could provide headwinds in the coming months.

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 19:03:14 GMT

The US maritime regulator said the ocean carrier did not simply have a contractual dispute with a shipper but instead clearly violated the US Shipping Act.

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:26:17 GMT

The longer the bigger and more established carriers divert away from the Suez, the more we will see niche carriers solidify not only their financial position but also their customer relations in the region, writes analyst Lars Jensen.

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:26:16 GMT

Maersk’s recent big order of dual-fuel ships — some of which will be powered by LNG — illustrates the quandary the carrier, and by extension container shipping, is currently in when it comes to achieving a zero-carbon future, writes Peter Tirschwell.

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 15:27:13 GMT

The port is looking to employ the landlord model used at other West Coast ports that would allow a private operator to manage the T6 terminal’s daily operations and market the facility to ocean carriers and shippers.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:27:14 GMT

Competition to fill ships in the eastbound trans-Pacific has become so intense in recent weeks that ocean carriers are offering a variety of special rates that are much lower than the spot rates they are quoting.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 16:46:51 GMT

Hong Kong-based OOCL will contribute two vessels to the rebranded Indamex service that CMA CGM kicked off last week as a standalone operation after relinquishing its long-time consortium arrangement with Hapag-Lloyd.

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 15:30:14 GMT

The Cosco subsidiary said its ships on the trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe trade lanes are fully loaded with volume secured at high rate levels.

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:11:17 GMT

Many European shippers are locked into the peak season that will extend the high volume of Asian imports through the third quarter despite the early movement of orders to mitigate disruption from the longer Red Sea routing.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:37:32 GMT

As competitive pressures build from a capacity boost on the trade lane, carriers are said to be extending significantly lower rates to their select customers, generally with a validity of one or two weeks.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:19:22 GMT

Container lines calling in Tacoma say the congestion is being caused by a surge in import volumes and a shortage of rail cars that is likely to last at least through August.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:36:14 GMT

A prolonged work stoppage at ports along the East and Gulf coasts would put global shipping under stress in a manner similar to the forced vessel diversions around southern Africa, Zim’s Xavier Destriau told the Journal of Commerce.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:32:14 GMT

After making significant investments in developing its methanol pathway over the past few years, and just a week after making a huge order for LNG-capable ships, the carrier is now looking into the feasibility of using nuclear energy in its vessels.

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 14:55:51 GMT

Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen’s view that the threat of a longshore strike has risen since early 2024 comes after Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said a strike was “highly unlikely.”

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 21:53:39 GMT

The results, the carrier’s strongest since the second half of 2022, follow those of fellow Taiwan liners Yang Ming Marine Transport and Wan Hai Lines, which reported healthy first-half financials on Monday.

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:21:02 GMT

Local freight forwarder sources who spoke with the Journal of Commerce reported a significant downward correction in spot rates quoted by major carriers for their upcoming sailings in the second half of August.

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:42:13 GMT

Not only are several geopolitical scenarios being confronted with much larger stakes, such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the possibility of escalation in the Middle East, but economists say there is little in the more than six-month shipping disruption that is cause for serious economic concern.

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 14:49:44 GMT

The carrier is preparing its container shipping network for any shifting cargo flows amid rising geopolitical risks and global trade tensions.

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 14:17:30 GMT

The investments are being made even though Yang Ming warned that the “world economic situation remains precarious,” with trade tensions and economic conditions in the US and Eurozone creating uncertainty.

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 18:36:40 GMT

Maritime employers say they are offering dockworkers along the East and Gulf coasts a better deal than the one received by their West Coast counterparts last year, but the union says the proposal is inadequate.

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 17:00:36 GMT

Acquiring a majority stake in Loconi International continues the Singapore-based terminal operator’s growth strategy designed to expand control of its cargo handling beyond the quay.

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 13:48:29 GMT

The closure of one of China’s busiest container ports will add to the lengthening vessel delays being seen on the main Asian export trade lanes, while North Europe grapples with its own congestion woes on the other end.

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:47:47 GMT

When the tide turns, liners will need to show agility to avoid going from mega-profits to red ink, writes Jeremy Masters.

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 13:58:45 GMT

The future of shipping will consist of several different fuel technologies living side by side, with bunker fuels being part of the mix for “many years,” according to Vincent Clerc.

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 15:13:25 GMT

The carrier believes the ongoing disruption in the Red Sea is now “entrenched” and will not change for the rest of the year.

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:09:52 GMT

The crisis has surfaced on the heels of recent capacity expansions from major liners, particularly Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Co., to tap booming apparel exports and associated input material inflows from China.

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 14:15:19 GMT

The disclosure of a 76% wage increase proposal comes as ILA sent a 60-day notice to the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) warning that the union is prepared to strike if a new labor deal is not signed before the current contract’s Sept. 30 expiration.

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 20:12:58 GMT

The attempts to raise prices on the westbound trade lane come as the shadow of potential labor disruption looms at ports along the US East and Gulf coasts.

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 15:49:38 GMT

Matson’s second quarter financial earnings rose well above both last year and the consensus estimate as shippers looked to its expedited ocean services for relief from high air cargo rates.

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 19:03:19 GMT

With major liners on the trade lane reporting full ships over the last few weeks, incidents of cargo rolling have been more pervasive, forwarders say.

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 14:31:05 GMT

Despite reporting lukewarm second-quarter results, the carrier is expecting disrupted supply chains and strong demand to boost its annual financial result.

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 18:07:45 GMT

The container shipping lobby group believes higher costs levied on users of conventional bunkers is vital for the energy transition that requires multi-billion-dollar investments by fuel producers.

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 13:44:33 GMT

A big jump in spot rates was pegged to the cascading impacts of blank sailings and a volume rush from shippers ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday in October.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:21:14 GMT

The added capacity — 14 extra-loaders at each port — comes amid peak season demand and an anticipated boost in discretionary cargo diverted from ports along the US East and Gulf coasts as shippers protect themselves from potential longshore labor disruption.

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 21:17:14 GMT

While some customers worry rail container dwell times could worsen, port stakeholders say they are accustomed to the ebb and flow and can manage the recent import surge.

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 19:55:02 GMT

The port is looking to employ the landlord model used at other West Coast ports that would allow a private operator to manage the T6 terminal’s daily operations and market the facility to ocean carriers and shippers.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:27:14 GMT

Competition to fill ships in the eastbound trans-Pacific has become so intense in recent weeks that ocean carriers are offering a variety of special rates that are much lower than the spot rates they are quoting.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 16:46:51 GMT

Container lines calling in Tacoma say the congestion is being caused by a surge in import volumes and a shortage of rail cars that is likely to last at least through August.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:36:14 GMT

A prolonged work stoppage at ports along the East and Gulf coasts would put global shipping under stress in a manner similar to the forced vessel diversions around southern Africa, Zim’s Xavier Destriau told the Journal of Commerce.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:32:14 GMT

The closure of one of China’s busiest container ports will add to the lengthening vessel delays being seen on the main Asian export trade lanes, while North Europe grapples with its own congestion woes on the other end.

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:47:47 GMT

With the potential for labor disruption looming at the end of September, the Global Port Tracker has again upgraded its short-term forecast for imports, saying it expects year-over-year monthly increases at least through the end of the year.

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 19:14:41 GMT

In a new report, industrial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle said fundamentals such as absorption of warehouse and distribution space, vacancy rates, deliveries of new properties and subleasing activity slowed in the second quarter.

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 17:20:34 GMT

The carrier believes the ongoing disruption in the Red Sea is now “entrenched” and will not change for the rest of the year.

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:09:52 GMT

The differential between East and West coast spot rates is now more than $3,000 as retailers rush to ship their imports from Asia ahead of a possible strike by ILA dockworkers when their contract expires on Sept. 30.

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 18:17:35 GMT

Matson’s second quarter financial earnings rose well above both last year and the consensus estimate as shippers looked to its expedited ocean services for relief from high air cargo rates.

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 19:03:19 GMT

The move to increase ship traffic comes as canal officials have started talks with some of the inhabitants who will be affected by the $1.6 billion project to expand the canal’s water catchment, including construction of the Río Indio reservoir.

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 17:03:43 GMT

As the clock ticks down toward the expiration of ILA’s current contract, the window for frontloading to the East and Gulf coasts is closing and there is limited potential for diversions through Canada and Mexico, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT

The Singapore-based carrier also said it is expecting to book an operating profit for its current financial year that is more than double its previous forecast despite a “highly uncertain” outlook for the rest of 2024.

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 16:16:56 GMT

The threat of labor unrest and the increased transit times and costlier voyages on all-water services to the East and Gulf coasts are diverting some discretionary cargo to the West Coast.

Fri, 19 Jul 2024 14:56:12 GMT

Key to those questions is whether the first-half volume growth was primarily a result of robust underlying demand or rather logistics decisions by skittish shippers to advance the peak season in the face of second-half risk.

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:49:01 GMT

Carriers over the past two months have launched or reinstated seven services from Asia to Los Angeles-Long Beach, and three to Vancouver and the Northwest Seaport Alliance of Seattle and Tacoma.

Tue, 16 Jul 2024 20:52:45 GMT

The capacity deployments during the first half of 2024 show that smaller carriers have been deploying many of the new large ships serving the North America trade, while major alliance carriers have deployed most of their big vessels on Asia-Europe.

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:49:13 GMT

The Cosco subsidiary benefited from a sharp increase in rates as early peak season demand on the main trades out of Asia filled all available vessel capacity.

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:57:18 GMT

The liner follows MSC, Cosco and CMA CGM in rolling out new services that cater to the growing container trade between China and Mexico.

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 15:43:15 GMT

Forwarders expect the rate decline to accelerate in the coming weeks after carriers launched or reinstated 10 services into the eastbound trans-Pacific.

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 18:55:00 GMT

Ocean carriers have seen freight rates on key trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe trades double and triple since the start of the year amid a capacity crunch and supply chain disruptions.

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 18:12:42 GMT

The revised forecast from the National Retail Federation comes as US consumer spending remains strong despite higher prices for merchandise and various supply chain challenges that have increased shipping costs.

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 20:54:59 GMT

The opening of the first of three new container berths last week at the Tuas mega container terminal is part of a larger effort to shift operations away from the city center.

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 19:14:40 GMT

Some shippers still raw from two years of pandemic disruptions are willing to pay thousands of dollars more to ensure they secure slots and equipment on container ships, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:59:53 GMT

The carrier next week will roll out a premium express service from central China to complement the South China express service it relaunched late last year as spot rates continue to move higher.

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 19:52:21 GMT

The daily number of vessel transits through the critical waterway is set to return to normal levels after easing of a drought that cut transits in half last year.

Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:45:15 GMT

An early start to the peak seasons on the trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe trades has left shippers fighting for space with no sign of a respite from soaring rates and deteriorating service levels.

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:09:27 GMT

The capacity cuts come as ocean bookings in the eastbound trans-Pacific are climbing sharply because US-based importers who had planned to ship their merchandise during the traditional August-through-October peak season are scrambling to book space early.

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 19:49:39 GMT

Cargo flow is improving through Singapore and major Chinese ports, but India’s largest container gateway, Mundra, is straining under rising transshipment volumes, ocean carriers and forwarders say.

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 18:33:40 GMT

Houthi rebels have little incentive to stop attacks even if there is a Gaza-Israel ceasefire, there’s no US appetite to root them out, and a political solution is highly unlikely, according to geopolitical analysts.

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:58:37 GMT

Mediterranean Shipping Co. is increasing capacity between Asia and the West Coast of Mexico amid surging foreign direct investment by China into Mexico.

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 19:22:05 GMT

How do you build a robust, resilient system in the face of operational and geopolitical disruptions that throw conventional container shipping networks into disarray?

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:35:58 GMT

The longer transits around southern Africa, port congestion at key hubs in Asia and unseasonally strong demand have absorbed all the capacity carriers threw into the major east-west trade lanes early this year.

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 13:47:14 GMT

With vessel space from Asia to the US at a premium amid an early peak season, ocean carriers have been largely successful in implementing the surcharges in June, and some will keep pushing their luck in July.

Fri, 14 Jun 2024 20:39:37 GMT

Established long-haul carriers are also launching a raft of new services between Asia and the Americas to take advantage of the buoyant market.

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 20:48:31 GMT

The Global Port Tracker has again increased its forecast for US imports through September, with the National Retail Federation pointing to retailers stocking up to meet the rising demand of consumers.

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 20:17:20 GMT

Amid soaring spot rates, importers are booking as much cargo as possible under the allotments in their freshly signed annual service contracts, many of which just went into effect on May 1.

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 12:00:00 GMT

Dwell times at marine terminals in the Northwest Seaport Alliance have doubled in recent weeks as intermodal container moves spiked amid peak season imports.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:13:13 GMT

A big jump in spot rates was pegged to the cascading impacts of blank sailings and a volume rush from shippers ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday in October.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:21:14 GMT

After five rounds of negotiations and a series of 24-hour warning strikes at Germany’s ports, the union and port employers may finally be close to an agreement.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:28:16 GMT

Despite sources telling the Journal of Commerce that management has reached out more than 10 times since June seeking new talks, none have been scheduled and there now appears to be little motivation on the part of management or labor to secure a deal to avert a strike.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:02:15 GMT

With just three weeks to go until the union’s master contract with port employers expires, US importers are scrambling for options but are finding there are no ideal alternatives.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 13:56:17 GMT

The International Longshoremen’s Association is starting to coordinate local labor actions as its executive leaders note the ongoing “impasse” in talks with maritime employers.

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 22:11:14 GMT

New cranes on order will serve the larger ships that are coming with the expected 2025 completion of a multi-year project to widen Houston’s ship channel to accommodate two-way traffic of neo-Panamax vessels, Charlie Jenkins tells the Journal of Commerce.

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:52:15 GMT

Shippers with substantial cargo volumes and just-in-time inventories look for an optimum mix of frequency, transit time and schedule reliability in ocean services, writes analyst Jeremy Masters.

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:06:13 GMT

Mundra — India’s top container port — is dealing with operational chaos after it was forced to halt operations for a few days last week in the aftermath of severe weather.

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 13:18:13 GMT

Forwarders booking less-than-containerload business from shippers face documentation and pricing challenges that cut into their ability to carve out margin.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 19:01:14 GMT

Strong economic growth in the region has led to the deployment of more capacity and increased the number of services from China.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 18:35:14 GMT

While rates remain more than four times higher than this point last year, forwarders and carriers report an easing of demand ahead of the traditional end to the peak shipping period.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:21:16 GMT

Cargo Services will expand the global port operator’s reach in Asia across a range of industry verticals.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:44:19 GMT

A new warehouse due to open early next year in Portland for frozen and ambient-temperature cargoes could cut transportation costs for shippers now using out-of-state storage and ports.

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 19:53:14 GMT

Forwarders say carrier executives are seeking volume-linked pricing expectations after dictating terms over the last two months or so.

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 13:51:16 GMT

The added capacity — 14 extra-loaders at each port — comes amid peak season demand and an anticipated boost in discretionary cargo diverted from ports along the US East and Gulf coasts as shippers protect themselves from potential longshore labor disruption.

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 21:17:14 GMT

The carrier said it was “cautiously optimistic” about business prospects in the second half of the year, while acknowledging that a “complex geopolitical situation,” delivery of new capacity and rising costs could provide headwinds in the coming months.

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 19:03:14 GMT

The US maritime regulator said the ocean carrier did not simply have a contractual dispute with a shipper but instead clearly violated the US Shipping Act.

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:26:17 GMT

The longer the bigger and more established carriers divert away from the Suez, the more we will see niche carriers solidify not only their financial position but also their customer relations in the region, writes analyst Lars Jensen.

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:26:16 GMT

While some customers worry rail container dwell times could worsen, port stakeholders say they are accustomed to the ebb and flow and can manage the recent import surge.

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 19:55:02 GMT

Maersk’s recent big order of dual-fuel ships — some of which will be powered by LNG — illustrates the quandary the carrier, and by extension container shipping, is currently in when it comes to achieving a zero-carbon future, writes Peter Tirschwell.

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 15:27:13 GMT

The port is looking to employ the landlord model used at other West Coast ports that would allow a private operator to manage the T6 terminal’s daily operations and market the facility to ocean carriers and shippers.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:27:14 GMT

Competition to fill ships in the eastbound trans-Pacific has become so intense in recent weeks that ocean carriers are offering a variety of special rates that are much lower than the spot rates they are quoting.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 16:46:51 GMT

Hong Kong-based OOCL will contribute two vessels to the rebranded Indamex service that CMA CGM kicked off last week as a standalone operation after relinquishing its long-time consortium arrangement with Hapag-Lloyd.

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 15:30:14 GMT

The Cosco subsidiary said its ships on the trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe trade lanes are fully loaded with volume secured at high rate levels.

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:11:17 GMT

Canada’s western ports have little capacity to handle idled intermodal cargo should railroad workers strike, but eastern ports have more space to manage any delays.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 21:23:22 GMT

Many European shippers are locked into the peak season that will extend the high volume of Asian imports through the third quarter despite the early movement of orders to mitigate disruption from the longer Red Sea routing.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:37:32 GMT

As competitive pressures build from a capacity boost on the trade lane, carriers are said to be extending significantly lower rates to their select customers, generally with a validity of one or two weeks.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:19:22 GMT

The first signs of US importers beginning to advance shipments from Europe to get ahead of possible terminal closures along the US East and Gulf coasts at the end of September are being reported by carriers and forwarders.

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 14:39:11 GMT

Container lines calling in Tacoma say the congestion is being caused by a surge in import volumes and a shortage of rail cars that is likely to last at least through August.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:36:14 GMT

A prolonged work stoppage at ports along the East and Gulf coasts would put global shipping under stress in a manner similar to the forced vessel diversions around southern Africa, Zim’s Xavier Destriau told the Journal of Commerce.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:32:14 GMT

Most of Freightos’ traction in air and ocean freight procurement has centered around spot pricing, but the purchase of Shipsta will give it access to contract data from enterprise shippers.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 19:48:14 GMT

A new $54.9 million fund has launched to support climate-focused logistics startups, a rare bright spot amid a larger pull-back in venture capital investment in the wider shipping industry.

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 18:28:13 GMT

After making significant investments in developing its methanol pathway over the past few years, and just a week after making a huge order for LNG-capable ships, the carrier is now looking into the feasibility of using nuclear energy in its vessels.

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 14:55:51 GMT

Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen’s view that the threat of a longshore strike has risen since early 2024 comes after Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said a strike was “highly unlikely.”

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 21:53:39 GMT

HHLA’s container volume and financial performance in the first six months has been a marked improvement on a disappointing 2023.

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:17:12 GMT

The results, the carrier’s strongest since the second half of 2022, follow those of fellow Taiwan liners Yang Ming Marine Transport and Wan Hai Lines, which reported healthy first-half financials on Monday.

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 16:21:02 GMT

Local freight forwarder sources who spoke with the Journal of Commerce reported a significant downward correction in spot rates quoted by major carriers for their upcoming sailings in the second half of August.

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 15:42:13 GMT

Not only are several geopolitical scenarios being confronted with much larger stakes, such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the possibility of escalation in the Middle East, but economists say there is little in the more than six-month shipping disruption that is cause for serious economic concern.

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 14:49:44 GMT

The carrier is preparing its container shipping network for any shifting cargo flows amid rising geopolitical risks and global trade tensions.

Tue, 13 Aug 2024 14:17:30 GMT

With just three weeks to go until the union’s master contract with port employers expires, US importers are scrambling for options but are finding there are no ideal alternatives.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 13:56:17 GMT

Forwarders booking less-than-containerload business from shippers face documentation and pricing challenges that cut into their ability to carve out margin.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 19:01:14 GMT

While rates remain more than four times higher than this point last year, forwarders and carriers report an easing of demand ahead of the traditional end to the peak shipping period.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:21:16 GMT

Cargo Services will expand the global port operator’s reach in Asia across a range of industry verticals.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:44:19 GMT

Competition to fill ships in the eastbound trans-Pacific has become so intense in recent weeks that ocean carriers are offering a variety of special rates that are much lower than the spot rates they are quoting.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 16:46:51 GMT

The first signs of US importers beginning to advance shipments from Europe to get ahead of possible terminal closures along the US East and Gulf coasts at the end of September are being reported by carriers and forwarders.

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 14:39:11 GMT

The closure of one of China’s busiest container ports will add to the lengthening vessel delays being seen on the main Asian export trade lanes, while North Europe grapples with its own congestion woes on the other end.

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:47:47 GMT

Despite the nearly $140 billion invested in logistics startups globally from 2012 through 2023, most of the industry’s major inefficiencies remain and the underlying structure of the industry has hardly changed.

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 14:00:00 GMT

The retail giant will enable sellers using its US fulfillment services to access its negotiated ocean rates for full containers from Yantian, Shanghai and Ningbo.

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 13:11:50 GMT

Not even the widespread disruption to global aviation from the Microsoft IT outage in mid-July could derail resurgent air freight markets.

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 14:45:28 GMT

Small and midsize forwarders that have watched the ocean shipping market play out this year are left to face the reality of a much-consolidated carrier base that has no qualms about driving up rates hard and fast when openings present themselves, writes Peter Tirschwell.

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 13:33:30 GMT

The $200 million funding round cuts against the broader trend of venture capital investors pulling back from early- and growth-stage supply chain and logistics startups.

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:02:07 GMT

The operating profit earned by the Deutsche Bahn subsidiary in the first six months of the year fell slightly but was more than double what it earned in the same period in pre-pandemic 2019.

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:14:28 GMT

More than 70% of air cargo space controlled by Kuehne + Nagel subsidiary Apex has been presold for the third and fourth quarters.

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:00:13 GMT

Jens Lund believes the supply and demand balance on the major trade lanes is being restored as front-loaded shipments make their way through the supply chain.

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 14:42:45 GMT

Kuehne + Nagel’s Stefan Paul presented a sunny outlook for the rest of the year, saying he expects strengthening air and ocean yields to turn around declines reported across most of the forwarder’s financial metrics in the first half.

Tue, 23 Jul 2024 16:23:33 GMT

The overall market share of the top 25 non-vessel-operating common carriers in the eastbound trans-Pacific rose 0.8% year over year from January through May, signaling that the largest NVOs weren’t able to take much volume from mid-market peers.

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 13:48:42 GMT

Midsize NVOs are always under pressure from an M&A perspective, say market observers, and the current freight rate environment is making it hard to value them accurately.

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:41:06 GMT

The former CEO of the now bankrupt logistics software vendor has landed in federal prison after a high-profile saga that began with Slync employees not getting paid for weeks in 2022.

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 14:10:41 GMT

Forwarders expect the rate decline to accelerate in the coming weeks after carriers launched or reinstated 10 services into the eastbound trans-Pacific.

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 18:55:00 GMT

Some imports from Asia are being priced out of the market with container shipping costs on the westbound trade almost seven times higher than this time last year.

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 15:06:10 GMT

While the industry has focused on areas such as tracking and quoting, advancements in booking technology portend new potential for digitizing containerized supply chains.

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 12:12:49 GMT

Shippers and forwarders now have a range of options to book with ocean carriers, who themselves have developed direct online portals to lure smaller ocean freight buyers.

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:36:00 GMT

The CMA CGM subsidiary is centralizing its organizational structure following a string of high-profile and expensive acquisitions, making use of its critical size in key product sectors.

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:16:36 GMT

The forwarder’s enormous staff count and a lack of investment in logistics infrastructure contributed to the carrier dropping out, a source told the Journal of Commerce.

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 16:11:45 GMT

The agency’s detention and demurrage rules are still unclear as to billing those charges to truckers, according to challenges put forth by ocean carriers.

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 15:50:10 GMT

The forwarder says it has been “conditionally” restored to CBP’s so-called Type 86 program and has filed a complaint against the agency to get reinstated without conditions.

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 21:07:45 GMT

Growth in the use of a low-value shipment rule has attracted critics, who say the de minimis program provides a loophole for e-commerce companies abroad to evade duties.

Thu, 30 May 2024 20:49:03 GMT

FMC investigators found the carrier “overbroadly defined and applied” the merchant clause in its bill of lading to a third party “who should not have been billed,” the agency said.

Wed, 29 May 2024 20:01:23 GMT

A legal battle over unpaid detention and demurrage bills between the forwarder and importer Giti Tire has now moved to US maritime regulators.

Tue, 21 May 2024 19:42:32 GMT

In the recently completed annual negotiating round, trans-Pacific carriers slashed, or in some cases eliminated, the access of forwarders to fixed-rate bookings for accounts whose identity they disclose.

Tue, 21 May 2024 17:05:35 GMT

The peak season typically runs from June to September, but unseasonably strong demand is placing capacity under mounting pressure and driving up rate levels on the trade lane.

Tue, 21 May 2024 15:49:01 GMT

The expedited surface transportation provider said it has kept customers and is adding business but needs to “aggressively” address profitability after a first-quarter loss.

Fri, 10 May 2024 19:53:19 GMT

Group CFO Melanie Kreis would not comment on the near-term freight rate outlook or the likelihood of a modal shift from ocean to air or sea-air caused by supply chain disruptions, including the ongoing vessel diversions to avoid the Red Sea.

Tue, 07 May 2024 16:52:10 GMT

European importers are shrugging off gloomy economic forecasts, but rising volume out of Asia is putting pressure on available capacity that is already stretched by longer transits around southern Africa.

Fri, 03 May 2024 14:28:57 GMT

The Denmark-based forwarder believes the solid increase in volume it saw in the traditionally weak first quarter will extend through the rest of the year, with a focus on improving yields to keep its 2024 profitability target on track.

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 15:00:02 GMT

Demand that began to build at the end of last year spilled into the first quarter and K+N says its forward bookings indicate the positive volume development will continue as the year progresses.

Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:25:55 GMT

The primary dilemma for shippers is whether to source visibility data or applications from a standalone vendor or to expect it to be included in a bundle from a third-party logistics provider.

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 15:11:26 GMT

The air freight market is off to a strong start this year with volume out of Asia up 11% in the traditionally slow first quarter while rates rose steadily through March.

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 15:37:04 GMT

Maersk has been a lone exception to the truism that customer demands for neutrality inevitably lead carrier-owned forwarders to be structurally independent.

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:41:37 GMT

Investors have put $6.3 million into a startup aiming to provide a procurement and transportation management software alternative to enterprise-focused solutions.

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 17:00:14 GMT

Forwarders booking less-than-containerload business from shippers face documentation and pricing challenges that cut into their ability to carve out margin.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 19:01:14 GMT

A range of supply chain mapping and risk management tools have emerged in the past decade, many aimed at customs brokers and third-party logistics providers.

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:00:17 GMT

A flood of duty-free shipments from Asia has upped the ante on brokers having broad knowledge of the upstream supply chains used by their importer clients.

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:43:14 GMT

Most of Freightos’ traction in air and ocean freight procurement has centered around spot pricing, but the purchase of Shipsta will give it access to contract data from enterprise shippers.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 19:48:14 GMT

A new $54.9 million fund has launched to support climate-focused logistics startups, a rare bright spot amid a larger pull-back in venture capital investment in the wider shipping industry.

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 18:28:13 GMT

Despite the nearly $140 billion invested in logistics startups globally from 2012 through 2023, most of the industry’s major inefficiencies remain and the underlying structure of the industry has hardly changed.

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 14:00:00 GMT

The retail giant will enable sellers using its US fulfillment services to access its negotiated ocean rates for full containers from Yantian, Shanghai and Ningbo.

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 13:11:50 GMT

Many tools tend to focus on providing visibility centered around the “planned” supply chain, but perhaps what the industry needs is a shift in mindset that puts greater attention on exceptions, writes analyst Lars Jensen.

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 16:06:27 GMT

The $200 million funding round cuts against the broader trend of venture capital investors pulling back from early- and growth-stage supply chain and logistics startups.

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 15:02:07 GMT

A report from the consultancy pins lackluster funding into logistics startups on static freight demand and a steep decline in freight rates in 2023.

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 17:03:30 GMT

The Singapore-based ocean carrier is the fifth shipping line to use WaveBL’s electronic bill of lading product.

Wed, 24 Jul 2024 15:01:01 GMT

The collaboration comes barely a month after Google researchers said they could help shipping lines improve their network designs and profitability.

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 17:45:01 GMT

The former CEO of the now bankrupt logistics software vendor has landed in federal prison after a high-profile saga that began with Slync employees not getting paid for weeks in 2022.

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 14:10:41 GMT

While the industry has focused on areas such as tracking and quoting, advancements in booking technology portend new potential for digitizing containerized supply chains.

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 12:12:49 GMT

Electronic booking standards across ocean carriers would make it easier for shippers and forwarders to do business with a range of capacity providers, says the Digital Container Shipping Association.

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 16:15:52 GMT

Shippers and forwarders now have a range of options to book with ocean carriers, who themselves have developed direct online portals to lure smaller ocean freight buyers.

Tue, 09 Jul 2024 18:36:00 GMT

The company believes shippers will benefit from a payments network it has created to help brokers and carriers bill shippers accurately before an invoice is sent out.

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Progress on the industry’s goal of fully moving to electronic bills of lading by 2030 has been slow, but more carriers are signing with vendors to enable the migration.

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 15:06:25 GMT

The uneven success of the digital brokerage model suggests that the foundations of the market were harder to disrupt than venture investors first envisioned a decade ago, and maybe even harder than some of the founders of digital brokerages had foreseen.

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 18:41:18 GMT

The ocean carrier joins rivals Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd — all investors in NYSHEX — in using the contract management platform.

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 17:57:14 GMT

CargoSense said the funding will be used to expand its partner ecosystem of integrated management systems and data sources for its shipper customers.

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 16:28:18 GMT

The new products were launched as Ship Angel announced a $5 million funding round by venture investors.

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 15:10:48 GMT

The thorny issue of running more efficient ocean carrier networks on a global scale has been a long-term quandary for liners and the software vendors catering to them.

Thu, 06 Jun 2024 14:24:46 GMT

One of the first “digital-native” brokerages, Transfix is shifting its focus to selling software as a service to other brokers, including NFI.

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 15:10:36 GMT

The post-pandemic resilience of small fleets has been attributed in part to driver reliance on apps such as the one Convoy built, which Flexport purchased last November.

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 14:22:26 GMT

Amid growing interest in making the truckload appointment scheduling process more efficient, the US visibility provider has added weight to an initiative started in late 2022.

Tue, 28 May 2024 17:55:19 GMT

A legal battle over unpaid detention and demurrage bills between the forwarder and importer Giti Tire has now moved to US maritime regulators.

Tue, 21 May 2024 19:42:32 GMT

The fast-evolving supply chain technology market prompted the global forwarders to take over Forward Computers, which will be run under a joint venture as an independent business.

Mon, 20 May 2024 14:29:29 GMT

Amid a range of efforts to automate and standardize truckload appointments, a new provider has launched a neutral platform to reduce manual work and errors associated with the process.

Thu, 16 May 2024 14:30:00 GMT

The auditing initiative between the carrier and software vendor OpenEnvoy was kickstarted by CMA CGM’s ZEBOX technology incubator, which connects startups with entrenched logistics partners.

Tue, 07 May 2024 10:00:00 GMT

John Urban spent a year as chairman and CEO trying to salvage Slync, the logistics automation platform negatively impacted by the high-profile legal saga of its founder Chris Kirchner.

Tue, 30 Apr 2024 15:28:54 GMT

The visibility product, called Live Position, is the first service offered as part of the carrier’s 2022 investment to equip its entire box fleet with location-tracking hardware.

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 18:11:06 GMT

Shippers have long struggled to get direct access to rail milestone data that matches the depth and accuracy of ocean visibility markers.

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMT

The primary dilemma for shippers is whether to source visibility data or applications from a standalone vendor or to expect it to be included in a bundle from a third-party logistics provider.

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 15:11:26 GMT

The study, commissioned by the Global Shipping Business Network, comes amid a commitment by nine of the top 10 global ocean carriers to only use electronic bills of lading by 2030.

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 15:24:42 GMT

The link-up between the two companies is the latest industry partnership that caters to the desire of shippers for bundled global freight planning, execution and tracking.

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 17:16:16 GMT

Blue Yonder’s $893 million of One Network, a midsize supply chain vendor, comes amid slowing logistics software demand and heightened competition in supply chain software.

Mon, 01 Apr 2024 15:46:35 GMT

The letter is a further sign that the work of the non-profit carrier group has stalled at the adoption phase for its members.

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 20:14:51 GMT

The digital freight marketplace is making new software tools that target fake brokers and fraudulent pickups available to customers as well as competitors.

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 16:51:39 GMT

After five rounds of negotiations and a series of 24-hour warning strikes at Germany’s ports, the union and port employers may finally be close to an agreement.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:28:16 GMT

While rates remain more than four times higher than this point last year, forwarders and carriers report an easing of demand ahead of the traditional end to the peak shipping period.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:21:16 GMT

Many European shippers are locked into the peak season that will extend the high volume of Asian imports through the third quarter despite the early movement of orders to mitigate disruption from the longer Red Sea routing.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:37:32 GMT

Most of Freightos’ traction in air and ocean freight procurement has centered around spot pricing, but the purchase of Shipsta will give it access to contract data from enterprise shippers.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 19:48:14 GMT

HHLA’s container volume and financial performance in the first six months has been a marked improvement on a disappointing 2023.

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:17:12 GMT

The closure of one of China’s busiest container ports will add to the lengthening vessel delays being seen on the main Asian export trade lanes, while North Europe grapples with its own congestion woes on the other end.

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:47:47 GMT

The carrier believes the ongoing disruption in the Red Sea is now “entrenched” and will not change for the rest of the year.

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:09:52 GMT

The Singapore-based carrier also said it is expecting to book an operating profit for its current financial year that is more than double its previous forecast despite a “highly uncertain” outlook for the rest of 2024.

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 16:16:56 GMT

Vessels on the backhaul trade from Europe to Asia are sailing two-thirds empty, with spot rates on the trade lane falling sharply since February.

Tue, 30 Jul 2024 17:44:26 GMT

There is growing pushback against the pending regulation that some sectors believe poses an impossible challenge in tracing and verifying the origins of certain products that could lead to their exclusion from the EU market.

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 14:03:42 GMT

The capacity deployments during the first half of 2024 show that smaller carriers have been deploying many of the new large ships serving the North America trade, while major alliance carriers have deployed most of their big vessels on Asia-Europe.

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 16:49:13 GMT

The Cosco subsidiary benefited from a sharp increase in rates as early peak season demand on the main trades out of Asia filled all available vessel capacity.

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:57:18 GMT

Ocean carriers have seen freight rates on key trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe trades double and triple since the start of the year amid a capacity crunch and supply chain disruptions.

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 18:12:42 GMT

Some imports from Asia are being priced out of the market with container shipping costs on the westbound trade almost seven times higher than this time last year.

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 15:06:10 GMT

An ongoing wage dispute between the ver.di union and port employers is continuing to disrupt operations at some of the busiest container shipping hubs in North Europe.

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 14:05:23 GMT

The opening of the first of three new container berths last week at the Tuas mega container terminal is part of a larger effort to shift operations away from the city center.

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 19:14:40 GMT

Shippers and carriers are better prepared to deal with large-scale disruptions following the supply chain chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to CEVA Logistics CEO Mathieu Friedberg.

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 14:19:16 GMT

An early start to the peak seasons on the trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe trades has left shippers fighting for space with no sign of a respite from soaring rates and deteriorating service levels.

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 16:09:27 GMT

Cargo flow is improving through Singapore and major Chinese ports, but India’s largest container gateway, Mundra, is straining under rising transshipment volumes, ocean carriers and forwarders say.

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 18:33:40 GMT

Houthi rebels have little incentive to stop attacks even if there is a Gaza-Israel ceasefire, there’s no US appetite to root them out, and a political solution is highly unlikely, according to geopolitical analysts.

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 16:58:37 GMT

How do you build a robust, resilient system in the face of operational and geopolitical disruptions that throw conventional container shipping networks into disarray?

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:35:58 GMT

The longer transits around southern Africa, port congestion at key hubs in Asia and unseasonally strong demand have absorbed all the capacity carriers threw into the major east-west trade lanes early this year.

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 13:47:14 GMT

Summer strikes have begun in Europe with a series of walkouts causing significant disruption across the main German and French container ports.

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 15:40:18 GMT

Unseasonally strong European demand for Asian imports is placing the heavily disrupted westbound trade lane under intense pressure as volumes overwhelm available capacity.

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 16:43:13 GMT

Average spot rates on the westbound trade have tripled compared with this point last year, with growing demand likely to keep upward pressure on prices over the coming weeks.

Tue, 11 Jun 2024 14:24:06 GMT

The return of regular voyages to the Red Sea and Suez Canal will signal an end to the current disruption on the Asia-Europe trade lane, but there remains zero visibility about when that will happen.

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 18:15:00 GMT

The strength of bookings over the past month has surprised container lines executives, even when factoring some front-loading and replenishing inventories that are back to pre-pandemic levels, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 15:25:33 GMT

European importers are facing pandemic-era port congestion and soaring rate levels, with only the resumption of regular vessel transits through the Red Sea likely to address the growing supply chain disruption.

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 14:58:08 GMT

With vessel capacity tight and freight rates on the rise, there are several market dynamics that emerged during the pandemic that are already beginning to play out once again, writes Lars Jensen.

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 17:56:42 GMT

Asia-Europe contracts have been signed at levels that are being dwarfed by the soaring spot market, and with capacity tightening, the lower-paying cargo is first in line to miss a sailing.

Wed, 29 May 2024 15:31:54 GMT

The ability to refuel a ship while loading cargo in port is key to the successful deployment of alternative fuels for ocean carriers at bunkering hubs.

Tue, 28 May 2024 14:05:06 GMT

The current market situation — amid the Red Sea crisis, growing port congestion and a sudden rise in demand — is similar to the early parts of the pandemic, where insufficient capacity led to the largest rate increases the industry has ever seen, writes Lars Jensen.

Wed, 22 May 2024 17:38:46 GMT

The peak season typically runs from June to September, but unseasonably strong demand is placing capacity under mounting pressure and driving up rate levels on the trade lane.

Tue, 21 May 2024 15:49:01 GMT

Longer transit times to Europe and North America as vessels continue to divert via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the Red Sea region has delayed the return of empty containers to Asia, particularly China.

Tue, 21 May 2024 14:55:44 GMT

The customs pre-arrival security and safety program is being implemented in three steps, starting with ocean and inland waterway carriers in June.

Thu, 16 May 2024 14:47:12 GMT

Poor schedule reliability, challenged by a container supply chain that has been stretched thin by diversions away from the Suez Canal, is causing spot rates from India to Europe to rebound.

Fri, 10 May 2024 16:48:42 GMT

Carrier attempts to mitigate the extended transit times of sailing around southern Africa by increasing the use of transshipment in the Mediterranean are being frustrated by growing port congestion.

Thu, 09 May 2024 16:43:29 GMT

The strains to the extended container shipping system amid the ongoing Red Sea disruption are showing again, largely due to higher-than-expected demand in Europe and the US for Asia imports.

Wed, 08 May 2024 15:59:27 GMT

European importers are shrugging off gloomy economic forecasts, but rising volume out of Asia is putting pressure on available capacity that is already stretched by longer transits around southern Africa.

Fri, 03 May 2024 14:28:57 GMT

The spread between spot and contract ocean freight rates has widened amid fewer voyages from Asia to Europe due to the longer transit times around southern Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.

Mon, 29 Apr 2024 21:08:32 GMT

After five rounds of negotiations and a series of 24-hour warning strikes at Germany’s ports, the union and port employers may finally be close to an agreement.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:28:16 GMT

With just three weeks to go until the union’s master contract with port employers expires, US importers are scrambling for options but are finding there are no ideal alternatives.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 13:56:17 GMT

A new warehouse due to open early next year in Portland for frozen and ambient-temperature cargoes could cut transportation costs for shippers now using out-of-state storage and ports.

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 19:53:14 GMT

The first signs of US importers beginning to advance shipments from Europe to get ahead of possible terminal closures along the US East and Gulf coasts at the end of September are being reported by carriers and forwarders.

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 14:39:11 GMT

HHLA’s container volume and financial performance in the first six months has been a marked improvement on a disappointing 2023.

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:17:12 GMT

The carrier believes the ongoing disruption in the Red Sea is now “entrenched” and will not change for the rest of the year.

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 16:09:52 GMT

The attempts to raise prices on the westbound trade lane come as the shadow of potential labor disruption looms at ports along the US East and Gulf coasts.

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 15:49:38 GMT

There is growing pushback against the pending regulation that some sectors believe poses an impossible challenge in tracing and verifying the origins of certain products that could lead to their exclusion from the EU market.

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 14:03:42 GMT

The Cosco subsidiary benefited from a sharp increase in rates as early peak season demand on the main trades out of Asia filled all available vessel capacity.

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 14:57:18 GMT

How do you build a robust, resilient system in the face of operational and geopolitical disruptions that throw conventional container shipping networks into disarray?

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 17:35:58 GMT

Measures to mitigate the impact of a potential labor disruption at US East and Gulf coast ports could cause the trans-Atlantic market to follow the same path as the heavily disrupted trades out of Asia.

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:44:04 GMT

The customs pre-arrival security and safety program is being implemented in three steps, starting with ocean and inland waterway carriers in June.

Thu, 16 May 2024 14:47:12 GMT

The strains to the extended container shipping system amid the ongoing Red Sea disruption are showing again, largely due to higher-than-expected demand in Europe and the US for Asia imports.

Wed, 08 May 2024 15:59:27 GMT

The carrier has pledged to remain loyal to its core container shipping segment but at the same time is rapidly expanding its terminal business and increasing its share of inland transport capacity.

Tue, 16 Apr 2024 14:53:51 GMT

Firm growth in imports from Europe in the first quarter has lifted rates to more sustainable levels for carriers as the trans-Atlantic trade lane appears to have finally turned the page on a dismal 2023.

Fri, 12 Apr 2024 15:20:20 GMT

The import strength goes beyond restocking, showing the impact of a recovery in housing and the US manufacturing resurgence, writes Peter Tirschwell.

Thu, 11 Apr 2024 12:26:27 GMT

Ocean carriers have signaled their belief that US consumer buying will remain strong into the second half of the year by announcing the launch or restart of 11 services involving the trans-Pacific and north-south trades.

Tue, 09 Apr 2024 20:47:09 GMT

Carriers have been unable to shake a perception among shippers that surcharges were being set above cost-recovery levels, with a report this week directly accusing carriers of “profiteering” from the ETS.

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 11:00:00 GMT

With the fifth-largest container port on the US East Coast now effectively isolated from waterborne traffic, the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge after it was struck by a container ship will, at least temporarily, reconfigure the region’s supply chain.

Tue, 26 Mar 2024 21:45:00 GMT

Hapag-Lloyd's CEO insists the total cost of the network will be lower because Gemini will be able to better utilize controlled assets and deliver more efficient cargo connections in the hub and spoke model.

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 14:48:23 GMT

Even as the industry seemingly adjusts to the new status quo of routing ships around southern Africa, there are significant — yet less apparent — changes afoot in container shipping, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Fri, 01 Mar 2024 14:00:00 GMT

A drop in schedule reliability was expected on trade lanes such as Asia-Europe and Asia-US East Coast, but the diversions around southern Africa have also affected routes not directly connected to the Red Sea.

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 15:35:57 GMT

The Port of Jacksonville said the first ship on the newly combined trans-Atlantic and north-south service from Mediterranean Shipping Co. called the port this month.

Tue, 27 Feb 2024 18:51:39 GMT

The move has already prompted Busan, one of the ports most affected by the downgrade, to urge Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd to rethink their Gemini vessel schedules and restore some calls at the South Korean gateway.

Fri, 23 Feb 2024 19:00:21 GMT

Container shipping networks from Asia to North Europe and the Mediterranean are being reshaped as carriers redeploy capacity to compensate for the additional transit time needed to sail around southern Africa.

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 15:38:19 GMT

Rates on the westbound trade lane were at loss-making levels last year and have only deteriorated further, giving carriers no leverage to lift prices.

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 17:13:06 GMT

The Cosco subsidiary’s operational update did not provide profit and loss figures but gives an indication of the impact plunging rate levels will have on ocean shipping’s annual results.

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 16:27:33 GMT

Rates on the headhaul corridor have been loss-making for the last few months, so carriers are trying to get prices up to what they consider more sustainable levels.

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 15:11:45 GMT

While carriers have been revising their ETS surcharges with carbon pricing on the markets becoming clearer ahead of the implementation date, the price differences have shippers and analysts scratching their heads.

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 13:00:00 GMT

While the preferred approach by carriers is to calculate exposure to the ETS and recover costs per container in a separate surcharge, that will not be possible for Chinese exports to Europe under Shanghai Shipping Exchange regulations.

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 16:18:41 GMT

Carriers are reporting some successes in convincing shippers to use their emissions-reduction services, but acceptance of premium — and costly — green products remains a hard sell in a market where rate levels are at record lows.

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 17:33:29 GMT

Carriers and shippers, however, believe there is little room left to fall for spot rates that are already below pre-pandemic levels.

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 15:09:02 GMT

Carriers are already beginning to adjust schedules ahead of Europe’s new shipping carbon tax, something forwarders say could reduce direct port connections and boost transshipment activity.

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:40:37 GMT

The Cosco subsidiary reported mostly positive volume metrics for both the third quarter and nine months through September, although revenues were down sharply.

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 14:53:11 GMT

To comply with the European emissions trading system, ocean carriers will essentially need to become experts in carbon credit trading, on top of monitoring, verifying and reporting CO2 emissions.

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 14:57:37 GMT

A significant misalignment in ETS surcharges among ocean carriers can be expected if the per-FEU levies already announced by Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are any indication, according to Sea-Intelligence Maritime Analysis.

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 13:14:17 GMT

Cargo owners want complete transparency from carriers in their “emission surcharges” that will be levied on customers from the first quarter of 2024 and are looking at how the surcharges can be handled in long-term rate agreements.

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 15:18:35 GMT

Carriers appear reluctant to make the drastic capacity reductions required to match supply with demand on the westbound trade lane, leaving rates far below pre-pandemic levels.

Thu, 21 Sep 2023 13:51:21 GMT

The spot market from North Europe to the US East Coast continues to weaken and lackluster attempts by carriers to withdraw capacity are having little effect on balancing supply and demand.

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 14:54:15 GMT

The completion of the terminal acquisitions gives the carrier a stronger footprint in the US’s largest East Coast gateway.

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 14:39:09 GMT

Dwell times at marine terminals in the Northwest Seaport Alliance have doubled in recent weeks as intermodal container moves spiked amid peak season imports.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:13:13 GMT

A big jump in spot rates was pegged to the cascading impacts of blank sailings and a volume rush from shippers ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday in October.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:21:14 GMT

After five rounds of negotiations and a series of 24-hour warning strikes at Germany’s ports, the union and port employers may finally be close to an agreement.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:28:16 GMT

Despite sources telling the Journal of Commerce that management has reached out more than 10 times since June seeking new talks, none have been scheduled and there now appears to be little motivation on the part of management or labor to secure a deal to avert a strike.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:02:15 GMT

The International Longshoremen’s Association is starting to coordinate local labor actions as its executive leaders note the ongoing “impasse” in talks with maritime employers.

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 22:11:14 GMT

Multipurpose carriers are reluctant to invest in newbuildings for several reasons, including uncertainty around the availability of carbon-neutral fuels for tramp shipping.

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 16:44:14 GMT

New cranes on order will serve the larger ships that are coming with the expected 2025 completion of a multi-year project to widen Houston’s ship channel to accommodate two-way traffic of neo-Panamax vessels, Charlie Jenkins tells the Journal of Commerce.

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:52:15 GMT

Mundra — India’s top container port — is dealing with operational chaos after it was forced to halt operations for a few days last week in the aftermath of severe weather.

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 13:18:13 GMT

Cargo Services will expand the global port operator’s reach in Asia across a range of industry verticals.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:44:19 GMT

A new warehouse due to open early next year in Portland for frozen and ambient-temperature cargoes could cut transportation costs for shippers now using out-of-state storage and ports.

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 19:53:14 GMT

The added capacity — 14 extra-loaders at each port — comes amid peak season demand and an anticipated boost in discretionary cargo diverted from ports along the US East and Gulf coasts as shippers protect themselves from potential longshore labor disruption.

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 21:17:14 GMT

While some customers worry rail container dwell times could worsen, port stakeholders say they are accustomed to the ebb and flow and can manage the recent import surge.

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 19:55:02 GMT

The port is looking to employ the landlord model used at other West Coast ports that would allow a private operator to manage the T6 terminal’s daily operations and market the facility to ocean carriers and shippers.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:27:14 GMT

While manufacturers remain optimistic for the longer term thanks to hefty order backlogs, they have faced recent headwinds in the form of project slowdowns, rising interest rates, higher commodity costs and, in some cases, defective turbines.

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:04:14 GMT

The Port of Vancouver is still berthing ships for now, but ocean carriers are reviewing future calls due to the potential for congestion caused by the Canadian railroad work stoppage.

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:29:14 GMT

Canada’s western ports have little capacity to handle idled intermodal cargo should railroad workers strike, but eastern ports have more space to manage any delays.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 21:23:22 GMT

Ports along the US Gulf are beefing up infrastructure, equipment, capacity and dock strength to handle king-sized onshore turbines.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 19:48:08 GMT

Many European shippers are locked into the peak season that will extend the high volume of Asian imports through the third quarter despite the early movement of orders to mitigate disruption from the longer Red Sea routing.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:37:32 GMT

As competitive pressures build from a capacity boost on the trade lane, carriers are said to be extending significantly lower rates to their select customers, generally with a validity of one or two weeks.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:19:22 GMT

Slowing trade with China and carriers adjusting port schedules were factors behind a drop in first-half volume at Europe’s third-largest port.

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:02:14 GMT

Container lines calling in Tacoma say the congestion is being caused by a surge in import volumes and a shortage of rail cars that is likely to last at least through August.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:36:14 GMT

A prolonged work stoppage at ports along the East and Gulf coasts would put global shipping under stress in a manner similar to the forced vessel diversions around southern Africa, Zim’s Xavier Destriau told the Journal of Commerce.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:32:14 GMT

Major roll-on/roll-off carriers reported climbing net rates in the first half even as demand for machinery and rolling stock faltered and a congested shipping market tightened capacity.

Fri, 16 Aug 2024 18:11:53 GMT

Canada’s labor minister said he won’t force binding arbitration between Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and their main union, setting the stage for a lockout next week.

Thu, 15 Aug 2024 21:26:07 GMT

Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen’s view that the threat of a longshore strike has risen since early 2024 comes after Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said a strike was “highly unlikely.”

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 21:53:39 GMT

HHLA’s container volume and financial performance in the first six months has been a marked improvement on a disappointing 2023.

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 15:17:12 GMT

Maritime employers say they are offering dockworkers along the East and Gulf coasts a better deal than the one received by their West Coast counterparts last year, but the union says the proposal is inadequate.

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 17:00:36 GMT

Acquiring a majority stake in Loconi International continues the Singapore-based terminal operator’s growth strategy designed to expand control of its cargo handling beyond the quay.

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 13:48:29 GMT

The closure of one of China’s busiest container ports will add to the lengthening vessel delays being seen on the main Asian export trade lanes, while North Europe grapples with its own congestion woes on the other end.

Fri, 09 Aug 2024 15:47:47 GMT

Vincent Clerc instead expects the ILA and maritime employers to extend the current deal while talks continue rather than shutting down terminals when the contract expires at the end of September.

Wed, 07 Aug 2024 15:11:22 GMT

The $83 million project, which took two years to complete, adds another 455,000 TEUs of annual on-dock rail capacity at NIT.

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 19:03:22 GMT

The intermodal logistics provider said it will change its business model as state and federal laws make it more difficult to classify drivers as independent contractors.

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 18:55:13 GMT

The crisis has surfaced on the heels of recent capacity expansions from major liners, particularly Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Co., to tap booming apparel exports and associated input material inflows from China.

Tue, 06 Aug 2024 14:15:19 GMT

The disclosure of a 76% wage increase proposal comes as ILA sent a 60-day notice to the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) warning that the union is prepared to strike if a new labor deal is not signed before the current contract’s Sept. 30 expiration.

Mon, 05 Aug 2024 20:12:58 GMT

With major liners on the trade lane reporting full ships over the last few weeks, incidents of cargo rolling have been more pervasive, forwarders say.

Fri, 02 Aug 2024 14:31:05 GMT

As the clock ticks down toward the expiration of ILA’s current contract, the window for frontloading to the East and Gulf coasts is closing and there is limited potential for diversions through Canada and Mexico, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMT

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is looking to create more space for container operations with a multi-year project to move dry bulk operations from one port area to another.

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 20:44:50 GMT

SeaLead and TS Lines have a new vessel-sharing agreement within SeaLead’s recently launched Asia-US West Coast service, harking back to the pandemic-era rush of new market entrants.

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:12:35 GMT

Strong demand, tight vessel capacity and delays at some key Brazilian ports are pushing freight rates close to the record levels hit during the pandemic.

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 18:02:02 GMT

British Columbia's maritime employers warn of a port-wide strike vote taking place as Canada’s labor tribunal considers a union proposal about staffing at DP World’s Centerm.

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 17:04:29 GMT

Dwell times at marine terminals in the Northwest Seaport Alliance have doubled in recent weeks as intermodal container moves spiked amid peak season imports.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 18:13:13 GMT

A big jump in spot rates was pegged to the cascading impacts of blank sailings and a volume rush from shippers ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday in October.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 17:21:14 GMT

After five rounds of negotiations and a series of 24-hour warning strikes at Germany’s ports, the union and port employers may finally be close to an agreement.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:28:16 GMT

Despite sources telling the Journal of Commerce that management has reached out more than 10 times since June seeking new talks, none have been scheduled and there now appears to be little motivation on the part of management or labor to secure a deal to avert a strike.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 15:02:15 GMT

With just three weeks to go until the union’s master contract with port employers expires, US importers are scrambling for options but are finding there are no ideal alternatives.

Fri, 06 Sep 2024 13:56:17 GMT

The International Longshoremen’s Association is starting to coordinate local labor actions as its executive leaders note the ongoing “impasse” in talks with maritime employers.

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 22:11:14 GMT

Multipurpose carriers are reluctant to invest in newbuildings for several reasons, including uncertainty around the availability of carbon-neutral fuels for tramp shipping.

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 16:44:14 GMT

New cranes on order will serve the larger ships that are coming with the expected 2025 completion of a multi-year project to widen Houston’s ship channel to accommodate two-way traffic of neo-Panamax vessels, Charlie Jenkins tells the Journal of Commerce.

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 17:52:15 GMT

Shippers with substantial cargo volumes and just-in-time inventories look for an optimum mix of frequency, transit time and schedule reliability in ocean services, writes analyst Jeremy Masters.

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:06:13 GMT

Mundra — India’s top container port — is dealing with operational chaos after it was forced to halt operations for a few days last week in the aftermath of severe weather.

Wed, 04 Sep 2024 13:18:13 GMT

Forwarders booking less-than-containerload business from shippers face documentation and pricing challenges that cut into their ability to carve out margin.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 19:01:14 GMT

Strong economic growth in the region has led to the deployment of more capacity and increased the number of services from China.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 18:35:14 GMT

While rates remain more than four times higher than this point last year, forwarders and carriers report an easing of demand ahead of the traditional end to the peak shipping period.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 15:21:16 GMT

Cargo Services will expand the global port operator’s reach in Asia across a range of industry verticals.

Tue, 03 Sep 2024 14:44:19 GMT

A new warehouse due to open early next year in Portland for frozen and ambient-temperature cargoes could cut transportation costs for shippers now using out-of-state storage and ports.

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 19:53:14 GMT

EPCs report revenue gains and hefty project backlogs as manufacturing and traditional and alternative energy projects gain momentum.

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 16:48:14 GMT

Forwarders say carrier executives are seeking volume-linked pricing expectations after dictating terms over the last two months or so.

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 13:51:16 GMT

The added capacity — 14 extra-loaders at each port — comes amid peak season demand and an anticipated boost in discretionary cargo diverted from ports along the US East and Gulf coasts as shippers protect themselves from potential longshore labor disruption.

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 21:17:14 GMT

The carrier said it was “cautiously optimistic” about business prospects in the second half of the year, while acknowledging that a “complex geopolitical situation,” delivery of new capacity and rising costs could provide headwinds in the coming months.

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 19:03:14 GMT

The US maritime regulator said the ocean carrier did not simply have a contractual dispute with a shipper but instead clearly violated the US Shipping Act.

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:26:17 GMT

The longer the bigger and more established carriers divert away from the Suez, the more we will see niche carriers solidify not only their financial position but also their customer relations in the region, writes analyst Lars Jensen.

Wed, 28 Aug 2024 18:26:16 GMT

While some customers worry rail container dwell times could worsen, port stakeholders say they are accustomed to the ebb and flow and can manage the recent import surge.

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 19:55:02 GMT

Maersk’s recent big order of dual-fuel ships — some of which will be powered by LNG — illustrates the quandary the carrier, and by extension container shipping, is currently in when it comes to achieving a zero-carbon future, writes Peter Tirschwell.

Tue, 27 Aug 2024 15:27:13 GMT

The port is looking to employ the landlord model used at other West Coast ports that would allow a private operator to manage the T6 terminal’s daily operations and market the facility to ocean carriers and shippers.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:27:14 GMT

A Journal of Commerce analysis reveals that the average age of MPVs now trading globally is rapidly approaching 20 years, with almost 12% of vessels 25 years or older.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:15:14 GMT

Competition to fill ships in the eastbound trans-Pacific has become so intense in recent weeks that ocean carriers are offering a variety of special rates that are much lower than the spot rates they are quoting.

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 16:46:51 GMT

Most of the recent interest from shippers is for mode-malleable cargo — freight that can be easily switched between breakbulk and container modes.

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 19:19:14 GMT

While manufacturers remain optimistic for the longer term thanks to hefty order backlogs, they have faced recent headwinds in the form of project slowdowns, rising interest rates, higher commodity costs and, in some cases, defective turbines.

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 16:04:14 GMT

Hong Kong-based OOCL will contribute two vessels to the rebranded Indamex service that CMA CGM kicked off last week as a standalone operation after relinquishing its long-time consortium arrangement with Hapag-Lloyd.

Fri, 23 Aug 2024 15:30:14 GMT

The Port of Vancouver is still berthing ships for now, but ocean carriers are reviewing future calls due to the potential for congestion caused by the Canadian railroad work stoppage.

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 20:29:14 GMT

The Cosco subsidiary said its ships on the trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe trade lanes are fully loaded with volume secured at high rate levels.

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 15:11:17 GMT

Canada’s western ports have little capacity to handle idled intermodal cargo should railroad workers strike, but eastern ports have more space to manage any delays.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 21:23:22 GMT

Ports along the US Gulf are beefing up infrastructure, equipment, capacity and dock strength to handle king-sized onshore turbines.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 19:48:08 GMT

Many European shippers are locked into the peak season that will extend the high volume of Asian imports through the third quarter despite the early movement of orders to mitigate disruption from the longer Red Sea routing.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 16:37:32 GMT

As competitive pressures build from a capacity boost on the trade lane, carriers are said to be extending significantly lower rates to their select customers, generally with a validity of one or two weeks.

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:19:22 GMT

Slowing trade with China and carriers adjusting port schedules were factors behind a drop in first-half volume at Europe’s third-largest port.

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 15:02:14 GMT

The first signs of US importers beginning to advance shipments from Europe to get ahead of possible terminal closures along the US East and Gulf coasts at the end of September are being reported by carriers and forwarders.

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 14:39:11 GMT

Container lines calling in Tacoma say the congestion is being caused by a surge in import volumes and a shortage of rail cars that is likely to last at least through August.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:36:14 GMT

A prolonged work stoppage at ports along the East and Gulf coasts would put global shipping under stress in a manner similar to the forced vessel diversions around southern Africa, Zim’s Xavier Destriau told the Journal of Commerce.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 21:32:14 GMT

Most of Freightos’ traction in air and ocean freight procurement has centered around spot pricing, but the purchase of Shipsta will give it access to contract data from enterprise shippers.

Mon, 19 Aug 2024 19:48:14 GMT