Shipping News

Long Beach ITS terminal upgrade to boost capacity by about 50%

The project, due to begin Monday, will also improve truck access by upgrading the gate infrastructure and boost efficiency through the replacement of an outdated terminal operating system.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 20:00:00 GMT

OOCL’s Q2 revenue slides on lower trans-Pacific, Asia-Europe rates

The decline came despite a 4.4% increase in total container volumes to 2 million TEUs, the carrier said in a quarterly update Friday.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:50:14 GMT

US Bank eBL trial for US exporter notches another step toward 2030 goal

Adoption of digital bills of lading has been stronger in Asia, but US traction is necessary to help container lines meet a 2030 commitment to fully move to electronic documents.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:15:20 GMT

CMA CGM ends existing Indian VSAs with Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk

The Marseille-based liner has finalized operational plans to call off its remaining vessel-sharing agreements with the carriers after Gemini Cooperation-linked realignments.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:05:14 GMT

Global dockworker unions plan Lisbon gathering for anti-automation ‘call to action’

The gathering will be closely watched by ocean carriers, shippers and container terminal operators in the US and Europe for signs that global unions are developing a coordinated cross-border “solidarity strike” strategy.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 14:35:14 GMT

Taiwan’s ‘Big Three’ carriers see falling Q2 revenues as demand slump begins

Trans-Pacific carriers are facing rapidly declining demand and freight rates on the trade lane as the frontloading that occurred during the 90-day pause on new US tariffs — now extended to Aug. 1 — has largely lost steam.

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:51:14 GMT

New Houthi attacks likely kill hopes of shipping returning to Red Sea this year

With two attacks on commercial vessels in recent days, including one that killed three mariners, any thought that the risk in the Red Sea was easing to the point the Suez route might be restored in the near future has vanished.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:43:14 GMT

MSC outstripping rivals on new capacity for 2025: Alphaliner

Mediterranean Shipping Co. is furthering its lead in vessel tonnage so far this year as it absorbs more than double the amount of new capacity added by No. 2 carrier Maersk.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:57:13 GMT

US retailers upgrade import forecast after tariff deadline extended to Aug. 1

But the mini rush will be short-lived, with imports falling month to month between August and November, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said in their latest Global Port Tracker.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:56:13 GMT

India-US ‘Indamex’ string drops Charleston, adds more ships to bolster reliability

The moves by CMA CGM were made to improve westbound transit times that remain a challenge due to ongoing vessel diversions around southern Africa.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:47:17 GMT

Container lines cutting trans-Pacific capacity overhang

In the latest course correction in the US’ busiest trade lane, carriers are set to deploy less tonnage in August as spot rates fall and retail import forecasts weaken.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 21:04:14 GMT

BNSF-UP dispute threatens Oakland-SLC service, triggers STB petition

The routing impasse between the railroads threatens supply chain disruptions for ocean carrier CMA CGM, which has cargo booked on the service that is due to begin later this week.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 20:24:13 GMT

Europe’s port congestion forcing Gemini to switch up Asia service

Beginning in September, the joint service will make added stops at Aarhus in Denmark, Gothenburg in Sweden and Rotterdam in the Netherlands as the last three European calls.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:32:17 GMT

Oregon earmarks funds for proposed Coos Bay terminal

The just-concluded legislative session also puts aside emergency funding for the Port of Portland that is generated via lottery sales.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:47:14 GMT

USTR plan to tax ro/ro ships exceeds statutory authority: stakeholders

A plan to tax vehicle carriers $14 per net ton for each US port call will raise consumer costs and reduce the number of ports served, shipping executives warned Monday.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:26:14 GMT

Hapag-Lloyd megaships serve West Africa via Tanger Med hub

Instead of its 24,000-TEU ships making direct calls at West African ports, Hapag-Lloyd’s main Mediterranean hub is being used as a key transshipment point for Asia-Africa services.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 16:55:16 GMT

Container capacity from Asia to East Coast of South America loosens significantly

Carriers are pulling back on their blanking campaigns on the Asia-ECSA lane in July after two months of blanking campaigns largely neutralized capacity additions to the lane.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:55:13 GMT

US shipbuilding incentives need more oversight: GAO

The federal watchdog agency said the US Maritime Administration has financial levers to help the domestic shipbuilding industry but doesn’t know their effectiveness.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 18:15:13 GMT

Ocean carriers adjust calls as congestion chokes European hubs

Longer transits around southern Africa, restructured alliance networks and bottlenecks in Asia continue to cause ships to arrive outside their scheduled European arrival windows.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 17:43:14 GMT

Mixed US policy on carbon capture clouds project cargo demand

The push and pull of US support for decarbonization efforts puts a question mark over potential project cargo demand.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 14:30:14 GMT

Container lines pull back on India-US pricing push

While vessels on the lead West India-US East Coast networks have continued to sail full, forwarders have linked the “sold-out” experience to capacity cutbacks and consequent cargo rollovers.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:26:18 GMT

Excess capacity sinks planned July 1 rate increase in eastbound trans-Pacific

The fresh capacity carriers rushed into the US’ busiest trade lane in April and May is no longer needed, sending rates on a downward spiral and forcing carriers to shelve proposed price hikes.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:09:12 GMT

Yang Ming hit with new FMC complaint over service contracts

The complaint from Dollar General alleges the carrier sold more of its capacity in the high-flying spot market of 2021, leaving shippers under fixed-price contracts in the lurch.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 17:54:21 GMT

Growth in West African ports opens new transshipment options for MSC

The deployment of 24,000-TEU ships on its Africa Express service allows the carrier to better leverage billions of dollars invested in West Africa in recent years, reducing exposure to congested North European ports.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:26:14 GMT

HMM, CMA CGM to expand key Mediterranean transshipment hub

The $177 million plan to enlarge Spain’s TTI Algeciras is in line with the strategy of ocean carriers to diversify revenue and exert greater control over their supply chains.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:11:14 GMT

Strong China demand buoys intra-Asia rates despite capacity surge

The uptick in rates comes despite a 9% surge in deployed capacity on regional services since February, according to figures from British transport consultant MDS Transmodal.

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 18:27:22 GMT

Trans-Atlantic ocean trade readies for end to 90-day pause on US tariffs

Easing freight rates and demand suggest a “wait-and-see” approach by US importers as the July 9 end of the temporary reprieve on so-called “reciprocal” tariffs nears.

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:00:14 GMT

Congress seeks reauthorization of FMC through 2029

The procedural reauthorization bill would provide funding for the agency for the next three fiscal years and add more outside expertise on ports and ocean carriers.

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 21:04:13 GMT

Hede Shipping to launch third expedited service from China to Los Angeles

Although spot rates from Asia to the US are dropping due to waning demand and overcapacity, the carrier is zeroing in on the e-commerce sector with its expedited transit times and the quick delivery of containers upon discharge from vessels.

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:38:14 GMT

FMC probes legal standing of World Shipping Council agreement

The trade group of ocean carriers is exempt from US antitrust scrutiny under an agreement it filed with the FMC five years ago, but the agency is now questioning that arrangement.

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 18:57:13 GMT

Crowley launches first service linking Central America to US Northeast Coast

The carrier said vessels on the five-day transit to Philadelphia will carry food, apparel, industrial products and consumer goods.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:14:14 GMT

UWL locks in new vessel partner for trans-Pacific Vietnam service

Swire, UWL’s original partner for the express service to Seattle, will phase out its vessels during July while new partner Emirate Shipping Line rotates into the loop.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:53:18 GMT

Ocean carriers face three-year decline in profitability: HSBC

Tariff uncertainty, weakening demand and an abundance of capacity are hanging over the container shipping industry, the global bank said in a report Thursday.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:35:14 GMT

Mexico-US ocean market expands amid growing nearshoring interest

A new service from Green Tide Logistics will connect Veracruz to Philadelphia in five to six days via truck and multi-purpose vessels capable of handling 1,200 to 1,700 TEUs.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:46:13 GMT

Maersk launches AI customs tool to tackle rising regulatory chaos

The digital solution will be available for US imports this week and is set to roll out globally in August.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:25:14 GMT

Trans-Pacific sailing into slowdown; Asia-Europe outlook brightens: analysts

Peak shipping season began early on both trade lanes, but the advancing of US orders from China will hit trans-Pacific demand in the second half of the year.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:46:18 GMT

FMC’s Sola to leave agency months after being elevated to chairman’s slot

In a statement posted on the FMC’s website, Sola said his last day at the agency would be June 30 and did not give a reason for his departure.

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 20:17:14 GMT

Quick-hit, tariff-driven import surge on tap for US West Coast ports

The surge, however brief, will nonetheless be a welcome boost in business for the ports after a lackluster May and early June.

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 19:02:14 GMT

Indian exporters face overweight box surcharges as carriers push scalability

CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC and Cosco are among mainliners charging add-ons on overweight containers.

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:41:17 GMT

Rate dumping fears emerge as Chinese ro/ro operators eye European expansion

Global vehicle carriers are set to feel the sting of a growing Chinese-operated ro/ro fleet amid a fight for international car cargoes.

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:14:14 GMT

Long Beach ITS terminal upgrade to boost capacity by about 50%

The project, due to begin Monday, will also improve truck access by upgrading the gate infrastructure and boost efficiency through the replacement of an outdated terminal operating system.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 20:00:00 GMT

OOCL’s Q2 revenue slides on lower trans-Pacific, Asia-Europe rates

The decline came despite a 4.4% increase in total container volumes to 2 million TEUs, the carrier said in a quarterly update Friday.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:50:14 GMT

CMA CGM ends existing Indian VSAs with Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk

The Marseille-based liner has finalized operational plans to call off its remaining vessel-sharing agreements with the carriers after Gemini Cooperation-linked realignments.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:05:14 GMT

Taiwan’s ‘Big Three’ carriers see falling Q2 revenues as demand slump begins

Trans-Pacific carriers are facing rapidly declining demand and freight rates on the trade lane as the frontloading that occurred during the 90-day pause on new US tariffs — now extended to Aug. 1 — has largely lost steam.

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:51:14 GMT

New Houthi attacks likely kill hopes of shipping returning to Red Sea this year

With two attacks on commercial vessels in recent days, including one that killed three mariners, any thought that the risk in the Red Sea was easing to the point the Suez route might be restored in the near future has vanished.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:43:14 GMT

MSC outstripping rivals on new capacity for 2025: Alphaliner

Mediterranean Shipping Co. is furthering its lead in vessel tonnage so far this year as it absorbs more than double the amount of new capacity added by No. 2 carrier Maersk.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:57:13 GMT

US retailers upgrade import forecast after tariff deadline extended to Aug. 1

But the mini rush will be short-lived, with imports falling month to month between August and November, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said in their latest Global Port Tracker.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:56:13 GMT

India-US ‘Indamex’ string drops Charleston, adds more ships to bolster reliability

The moves by CMA CGM were made to improve westbound transit times that remain a challenge due to ongoing vessel diversions around southern Africa.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:47:17 GMT

Container lines cutting trans-Pacific capacity overhang

In the latest course correction in the US’ busiest trade lane, carriers are set to deploy less tonnage in August as spot rates fall and retail import forecasts weaken.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 21:04:14 GMT

Europe’s port congestion forcing Gemini to switch up Asia service

Beginning in September, the joint service will make added stops at Aarhus in Denmark, Gothenburg in Sweden and Rotterdam in the Netherlands as the last three European calls.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:32:17 GMT

Hapag-Lloyd megaships serve West Africa via Tanger Med hub

Instead of its 24,000-TEU ships making direct calls at West African ports, Hapag-Lloyd’s main Mediterranean hub is being used as a key transshipment point for Asia-Africa services.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 16:55:16 GMT

Container capacity from Asia to East Coast of South America loosens significantly

Carriers are pulling back on their blanking campaigns on the Asia-ECSA lane in July after two months of blanking campaigns largely neutralized capacity additions to the lane.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:55:13 GMT

Ocean carriers adjust calls as congestion chokes European hubs

Longer transits around southern Africa, restructured alliance networks and bottlenecks in Asia continue to cause ships to arrive outside their scheduled European arrival windows.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 17:43:14 GMT

Container lines pull back on India-US pricing push

While vessels on the lead West India-US East Coast networks have continued to sail full, forwarders have linked the “sold-out” experience to capacity cutbacks and consequent cargo rollovers.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:26:18 GMT

Excess capacity sinks planned July 1 rate increase in eastbound trans-Pacific

The fresh capacity carriers rushed into the US’ busiest trade lane in April and May is no longer needed, sending rates on a downward spiral and forcing carriers to shelve proposed price hikes.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:09:12 GMT

Yang Ming hit with new FMC complaint over service contracts

The complaint from Dollar General alleges the carrier sold more of its capacity in the high-flying spot market of 2021, leaving shippers under fixed-price contracts in the lurch.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 17:54:21 GMT

Growth in West African ports opens new transshipment options for MSC

The deployment of 24,000-TEU ships on its Africa Express service allows the carrier to better leverage billions of dollars invested in West Africa in recent years, reducing exposure to congested North European ports.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:26:14 GMT

HMM, CMA CGM to expand key Mediterranean transshipment hub

The $177 million plan to enlarge Spain’s TTI Algeciras is in line with the strategy of ocean carriers to diversify revenue and exert greater control over their supply chains.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:11:14 GMT

Strong China demand buoys intra-Asia rates despite capacity surge

The uptick in rates comes despite a 9% surge in deployed capacity on regional services since February, according to figures from British transport consultant MDS Transmodal.

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 18:27:22 GMT

Trans-Atlantic ocean trade readies for end to 90-day pause on US tariffs

Easing freight rates and demand suggest a “wait-and-see” approach by US importers as the July 9 end of the temporary reprieve on so-called “reciprocal” tariffs nears.

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:00:14 GMT

Hede Shipping to launch third expedited service from China to Los Angeles

Although spot rates from Asia to the US are dropping due to waning demand and overcapacity, the carrier is zeroing in on the e-commerce sector with its expedited transit times and the quick delivery of containers upon discharge from vessels.

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:38:14 GMT

FMC probes legal standing of World Shipping Council agreement

The trade group of ocean carriers is exempt from US antitrust scrutiny under an agreement it filed with the FMC five years ago, but the agency is now questioning that arrangement.

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 18:57:13 GMT

Crowley launches first service linking Central America to US Northeast Coast

The carrier said vessels on the five-day transit to Philadelphia will carry food, apparel, industrial products and consumer goods.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:14:14 GMT

UWL locks in new vessel partner for trans-Pacific Vietnam service

Swire, UWL’s original partner for the express service to Seattle, will phase out its vessels during July while new partner Emirate Shipping Line rotates into the loop.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:53:18 GMT

Ocean carriers face three-year decline in profitability: HSBC

Tariff uncertainty, weakening demand and an abundance of capacity are hanging over the container shipping industry, the global bank said in a report Thursday.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:35:14 GMT

Mexico-US ocean market expands amid growing nearshoring interest

A new service from Green Tide Logistics will connect Veracruz to Philadelphia in five to six days via truck and multi-purpose vessels capable of handling 1,200 to 1,700 TEUs.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:46:13 GMT

Maersk launches AI customs tool to tackle rising regulatory chaos

The digital solution will be available for US imports this week and is set to roll out globally in August.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:25:14 GMT

Trans-Pacific sailing into slowdown; Asia-Europe outlook brightens: analysts

Peak shipping season began early on both trade lanes, but the advancing of US orders from China will hit trans-Pacific demand in the second half of the year.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:46:18 GMT

Quick-hit, tariff-driven import surge on tap for US West Coast ports

The surge, however brief, will nonetheless be a welcome boost in business for the ports after a lackluster May and early June.

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 19:02:14 GMT

Indian exporters face overweight box surcharges as carriers push scalability

CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC and Cosco are among mainliners charging add-ons on overweight containers.

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:41:17 GMT

Port Houston implementing reefer dwell fees to encourage container flow

The fees come as dwell times for refrigerated containers in Houston exceed a week and reefer volumes topped 10,000 TEUs for the first time in three years.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:30:14 GMT

Ocean carriers flex tonnage control, but overcapacity is mounting

Internal and external forces in the first half of 2025 mitigated container vessel overcapacity, but steep challenges lie ahead, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 18:10:14 GMT

Carriers ‘stand ready’ to cut Persian Gulf calls as security threat escalates

Iran has yet to make good on its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, but nervous carriers are preparing contingency plans as the region moves onto a war footing.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:13:14 GMT

Poor ocean reliability presents major challenge for US ag exporters

With little relief forthcoming, cargo owners need to build delays into their shipping plans as port and ship capacity remain tight, speakers at the Agriculture Transportation Coalition’s annual meeting said.

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:41:17 GMT

India-US liners attempt hefty peak season rate hikes despite trade volatility

But sources do not think carriers will have an opportunity to net full recovery of the proposed amounts in the current market environment unless strategic capacity cuts occur.

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:04:23 GMT

Cosco boosts feeder reach under pair of deals with X-Press

Consultancy MDS Transmodal said the two companies will have just under half of the almost 176,700 TEUs in feeder ship capacity deployed in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:29:14 GMT

Months of congestion ahead for North Europe ports: Antwerp-Bruges

Strong demand for much of the year has kept North European ports under pressure, slowing attempts to ease the bottlenecks.

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:13:14 GMT

Trans-Pacific spot rates falling as tariff-linked demand surge loses steam

A more than 30% one-week drop in rates from Asia to the US West Coast is showing that the import rush sparked by the temporary pause in higher US tariffs will apparently be short-lived.

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 20:11:14 GMT

Cargo bottlenecks persist at Mexico’s Manzanillo port one month after strike

Despite ongoing efforts to clear out logjams triggered by the brief work stoppage, berth waiting times for vessels arriving at the country’s busiest port have risen to their highest this year.

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:25:18 GMT

Cosco/OOCL saw big gains in US imports from Asia in early 2025

The China-based liners carried a combined 1.09 million TEUs in imports to the US through April, up 23% over the same period in 2024, according to Journal of Commerce rankings.

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:31:39 GMT

OOCL’s Q2 revenue slides on lower trans-Pacific, Asia-Europe rates

The decline came despite a 4.4% increase in total container volumes to 2 million TEUs, the carrier said in a quarterly update Friday.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:50:14 GMT

CMA CGM ends existing Indian VSAs with Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk

The Marseille-based liner has finalized operational plans to call off its remaining vessel-sharing agreements with the carriers after Gemini Cooperation-linked realignments.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:05:14 GMT

Taiwan’s ‘Big Three’ carriers see falling Q2 revenues as demand slump begins

Trans-Pacific carriers are facing rapidly declining demand and freight rates on the trade lane as the frontloading that occurred during the 90-day pause on new US tariffs — now extended to Aug. 1 — has largely lost steam.

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:51:14 GMT

New Houthi attacks likely kill hopes of shipping returning to Red Sea this year

With two attacks on commercial vessels in recent days, including one that killed three mariners, any thought that the risk in the Red Sea was easing to the point the Suez route might be restored in the near future has vanished.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 20:43:14 GMT

MSC outstripping rivals on new capacity for 2025: Alphaliner

Mediterranean Shipping Co. is furthering its lead in vessel tonnage so far this year as it absorbs more than double the amount of new capacity added by No. 2 carrier Maersk.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:57:13 GMT

US retailers upgrade import forecast after tariff deadline extended to Aug. 1

But the mini rush will be short-lived, with imports falling month to month between August and November, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said in their latest Global Port Tracker.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:56:13 GMT

India-US ‘Indamex’ string drops Charleston, adds more ships to bolster reliability

The moves by CMA CGM were made to improve westbound transit times that remain a challenge due to ongoing vessel diversions around southern Africa.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:47:17 GMT

Container lines cutting trans-Pacific capacity overhang

In the latest course correction in the US’ busiest trade lane, carriers are set to deploy less tonnage in August as spot rates fall and retail import forecasts weaken.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 21:04:14 GMT

Europe’s port congestion forcing Gemini to switch up Asia service

Beginning in September, the joint service will make added stops at Aarhus in Denmark, Gothenburg in Sweden and Rotterdam in the Netherlands as the last three European calls.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:32:17 GMT

Hapag-Lloyd megaships serve West Africa via Tanger Med hub

Instead of its 24,000-TEU ships making direct calls at West African ports, Hapag-Lloyd’s main Mediterranean hub is being used as a key transshipment point for Asia-Africa services.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 16:55:16 GMT

Container capacity from Asia to East Coast of South America loosens significantly

Carriers are pulling back on their blanking campaigns on the Asia-ECSA lane in July after two months of blanking campaigns largely neutralized capacity additions to the lane.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:55:13 GMT

Ocean carriers adjust calls as congestion chokes European hubs

Longer transits around southern Africa, restructured alliance networks and bottlenecks in Asia continue to cause ships to arrive outside their scheduled European arrival windows.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 17:43:14 GMT

Container lines pull back on India-US pricing push

While vessels on the lead West India-US East Coast networks have continued to sail full, forwarders have linked the “sold-out” experience to capacity cutbacks and consequent cargo rollovers.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:26:18 GMT

Excess capacity sinks planned July 1 rate increase in eastbound trans-Pacific

The fresh capacity carriers rushed into the US’ busiest trade lane in April and May is no longer needed, sending rates on a downward spiral and forcing carriers to shelve proposed price hikes.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:09:12 GMT

Yang Ming hit with new FMC complaint over service contracts

The complaint from Dollar General alleges the carrier sold more of its capacity in the high-flying spot market of 2021, leaving shippers under fixed-price contracts in the lurch.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 17:54:21 GMT

Growth in West African ports opens new transshipment options for MSC

The deployment of 24,000-TEU ships on its Africa Express service allows the carrier to better leverage billions of dollars invested in West Africa in recent years, reducing exposure to congested North European ports.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:26:14 GMT

HMM, CMA CGM to expand key Mediterranean transshipment hub

The $177 million plan to enlarge Spain’s TTI Algeciras is in line with the strategy of ocean carriers to diversify revenue and exert greater control over their supply chains.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:11:14 GMT

Strong China demand buoys intra-Asia rates despite capacity surge

The uptick in rates comes despite a 9% surge in deployed capacity on regional services since February, according to figures from British transport consultant MDS Transmodal.

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 18:27:22 GMT

Hede Shipping to launch third expedited service from China to Los Angeles

Although spot rates from Asia to the US are dropping due to waning demand and overcapacity, the carrier is zeroing in on the e-commerce sector with its expedited transit times and the quick delivery of containers upon discharge from vessels.

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:38:14 GMT

FMC probes legal standing of World Shipping Council agreement

The trade group of ocean carriers is exempt from US antitrust scrutiny under an agreement it filed with the FMC five years ago, but the agency is now questioning that arrangement.

Fri, 27 Jun 2025 18:57:13 GMT

Crowley launches first service linking Central America to US Northeast Coast

The carrier said vessels on the five-day transit to Philadelphia will carry food, apparel, industrial products and consumer goods.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:14:14 GMT

UWL locks in new vessel partner for trans-Pacific Vietnam service

Swire, UWL’s original partner for the express service to Seattle, will phase out its vessels during July while new partner Emirate Shipping Line rotates into the loop.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:53:18 GMT

Ocean carriers face three-year decline in profitability: HSBC

Tariff uncertainty, weakening demand and an abundance of capacity are hanging over the container shipping industry, the global bank said in a report Thursday.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 14:35:14 GMT

Mexico-US ocean market expands amid growing nearshoring interest

A new service from Green Tide Logistics will connect Veracruz to Philadelphia in five to six days via truck and multi-purpose vessels capable of handling 1,200 to 1,700 TEUs.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:46:13 GMT

Maersk launches AI customs tool to tackle rising regulatory chaos

The digital solution will be available for US imports this week and is set to roll out globally in August.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:25:14 GMT

Trans-Pacific sailing into slowdown; Asia-Europe outlook brightens: analysts

Peak shipping season began early on both trade lanes, but the advancing of US orders from China will hit trans-Pacific demand in the second half of the year.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:46:18 GMT

Quick-hit, tariff-driven import surge on tap for US West Coast ports

The surge, however brief, will nonetheless be a welcome boost in business for the ports after a lackluster May and early June.

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 19:02:14 GMT

Indian exporters face overweight box surcharges as carriers push scalability

CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC and Cosco are among mainliners charging add-ons on overweight containers.

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 14:41:17 GMT

Ocean carriers flex tonnage control, but overcapacity is mounting

Internal and external forces in the first half of 2025 mitigated container vessel overcapacity, but steep challenges lie ahead, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 18:10:14 GMT

Poor ocean reliability presents major challenge for US ag exporters

With little relief forthcoming, cargo owners need to build delays into their shipping plans as port and ship capacity remain tight, speakers at the Agriculture Transportation Coalition’s annual meeting said.

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:41:17 GMT

India-US liners attempt hefty peak season rate hikes despite trade volatility

But sources do not think carriers will have an opportunity to net full recovery of the proposed amounts in the current market environment unless strategic capacity cuts occur.

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:04:23 GMT

Cosco boosts feeder reach under pair of deals with X-Press

Consultancy MDS Transmodal said the two companies will have just under half of the almost 176,700 TEUs in feeder ship capacity deployed in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:29:14 GMT

Trans-Pacific spot rates falling as tariff-linked demand surge loses steam

A more than 30% one-week drop in rates from Asia to the US West Coast is showing that the import rush sparked by the temporary pause in higher US tariffs will apparently be short-lived.

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 20:11:14 GMT

Cosco/OOCL saw big gains in US imports from Asia in early 2025

The China-based liners carried a combined 1.09 million TEUs in imports to the US through April, up 23% over the same period in 2024, according to Journal of Commerce rankings.

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:31:39 GMT

Are we entering a ‘golden age’ for major ocean carriers?

It is reasonable to assume the larger container carriers are now going to earn above historical returns, but they will not be immune from significant dips when supply significantly exceeds demand, writes Jeremy Masters.

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 17:59:14 GMT

Closure of Strait of Hormuz would further stretch global container capacity

While just 2% to 3% of global container traffic transits the key chokepoint, any restrictions would further tie up global vessel capacity and cut off the ports of Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi.

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:59:14 GMT

Carriers ride wave of ‘disruptive’ operating model, but for how long?

Liners have enjoyed the higher rates and profits that come from external market shocks, but it’s fair to wonder how sustainable that is, writes Peter Tirschwell.

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 15:52:14 GMT

Asia-USWC spot rates weakening as vessel overcapacity takes hold

A widening spread between the West and East coasts comes as carriers have added fresh capacity, especially to Southern California, to take advantage of what had been a sharp jump in demand and rates following the US pause on higher tariffs against China.

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 20:53:13 GMT

APM clearing out New Jersey rail container backlog ahead of a summer surge

The terminal operator said it has reduced the inventory of rail-bound containers at its Elizabeth facility to about 1,600, down from about 4,000 in early May.

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 20:06:17 GMT

China-ECSA spot rates climb amid bullish market pressure

The shift of some capacity to the Asia-US trade to meet surging demand there is contributing to tighter vessel space in the ECSA market, forwarders tell the Journal of Commerce.

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:25:14 GMT

OOCL’s Q2 revenue slides on lower trans-Pacific, Asia-Europe rates

The decline came despite a 4.4% increase in total container volumes to 2 million TEUs, the carrier said in a quarterly update Friday.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:50:14 GMT

Trans-Atlantic ocean trade readies for end to 90-day pause on US tariffs

Easing freight rates and demand suggest a “wait-and-see” approach by US importers as the July 9 end of the temporary reprieve on so-called “reciprocal” tariffs nears.

Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:00:14 GMT

Quick-hit, tariff-driven import surge on tap for US West Coast ports

The surge, however brief, will nonetheless be a welcome boost in business for the ports after a lackluster May and early June.

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 19:02:14 GMT

Ocean carriers flex tonnage control, but overcapacity is mounting

Internal and external forces in the first half of 2025 mitigated container vessel overcapacity, but steep challenges lie ahead, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 18:10:14 GMT

Months of congestion ahead for North Europe ports: Antwerp-Bruges

Strong demand for much of the year has kept North European ports under pressure, slowing attempts to ease the bottlenecks.

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:13:14 GMT

Appeals court temporarily restores US tariffs

Within a span of roughly 24 hours, one court decision blocked the US tariffs and a separate ruling restored the tariffs through June 9, if not longer.

Thu, 29 May 2025 21:51:14 GMT

Federal court ruling blocking tariffs resets shipping outlook

The US Court of International Trade on Wednesday stated that President Donald Trump’s tariffs exceed his authority.

Thu, 29 May 2025 01:24:14 GMT

USWC recovered import market share last year amid East, Gulf coast labor woes

The Port of Los Angeles took the top spot for containerized imports in 2024 and edged out Houston and Savannah as the busiest gateway for exports.

Tue, 20 May 2025 14:54:14 GMT

US retailers project first year-over-year import cut in 19 months as tariffs bite

The National Retail Federation also warned the negative growth will accelerate, with imports through the summer expected to be at least 20% lower than the corresponding month last year. 

Fri, 09 May 2025 17:44:14 GMT

Top 100 Importer/Exporter Rankings: Largest US shippers outpace hot market

US imports rebounded to a record high in 2024 amid widespread frontloading, while exports expanded slightly for the second straight year.

Wed, 07 May 2025 19:07:15 GMT

No end to the congestion choking gateway ports in North Europe

A range of factors including full yards, labor unrest and carrier network changes are making it difficult for the hubs to clear container bottlenecks.

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:36:15 GMT

Antwerp-Bruges passes Rotterdam to become Europe’s busiest box port

But executives at both northern range hubs highlighted the extreme volatility of the first three months and the US tariff-driven uncertainty that lies ahead.

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:22:15 GMT

Fewer drinkers keep lid on US wine and spirits imports

The alcoholic beverage industry is in decline as consumer tastes change, which is being felt in the import business as it deals with flat volumes.

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 21:01:16 GMT

Uncertain trade environment especially fraught for US ag shippers

In addition to various ongoing supply chain disruptions that US agricultural shippers face, they must now contend with the highly volatile tariff environment that is forcing them to seek new markets for their products.

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:41:14 GMT

Scaled back USTR port tariff to hit Chinese carriers hardest

The US Trade Representative (USTR) laid out actions to counter China’s maritime dominance that could put Cosco Shipping and subsidiary OOCL on the hook for millions when their ships call the US.

Fri, 18 Apr 2025 14:30:22 GMT

Early signs of rising tariff-driven demand emerge on the trans-Atlantic

While no surge in volume has been reported on the trade lane, capacity deployment data shows ocean carriers are expecting an increase in demand over the coming weeks as shippers use the 90-day tariff pause to advance US orders.

Thu, 17 Apr 2025 13:57:18 GMT

US tariffs could help undo solid start to 2025 for ocean carriers

First-quarter carrier earnings are likely to be buoyed by high rates and strong demand that has spilled over from 2024, but tariffs, slowing volume and excess capacity are darkening the outlook for the rest of the year.

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:47:17 GMT

Gemini Cooperation holds early lead on ocean service reliability: analysts

A full evaluation of on-time performance will not be possible until July once the transition to the new deep-sea services has been completed, but data for February and March is positive for the Maersk/Hapag-Lloyd alliance.

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:24:14 GMT

US retailers issue big downgrade in import forecast amid expected tariff pullback

The latest Global Port Tracker demonstrates the uncertainty that has overtaken global supply chains since the White House’s announcement on tariffs a week ago.

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:41:14 GMT

Cosco on course for big jump in first-quarter net profit

The parent company of Cosco Shipping and OOCL expects a 72% increase in first-quarter net profits, but the rapidly escalating trade war between the US and China is clouding its outlook for the rest of the year.

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:52:14 GMT

Plan to tax Chinese ships turned maritime malaise into ‘brainstorming session’

In creating the threat of a clearly significant penalty, the US Trade Representative essentially forced observers to not merely give a thumbs up or down to the proposal, but to offer alternative solutions.

Fri, 28 Mar 2025 19:21:14 GMT

Maersk holds top spot for US Gulf import carriers in 2024; MSC leads for exports

The top 10 carriers for imports collectively hauled 2.43 million TEUs into the Gulf Coast last year and had a market share of almost 94%, according to the latest Journal of Commerce rankings.

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 18:48:14 GMT

Jittery US wine coalition urges hold on EU imports over Trump tariff threat

The latest salvo in the US-induced global tariff war comes as the EU said Thursday that a 50% tax on imports of US-produced whiskey will take effect from mid-April.

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 15:21:15 GMT

Tariff uncertainty prompts US retailers to downgrade spring import forecast

The National Retail Federation now says it expects a downward shift in the second quarter as importers face challenges from tariffs and elevated inventories in the wake of significant cargo frontloading.

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 20:27:14 GMT

Mediterranean-US East Coast container services get revamp for 2025

SeaLead is offering a new service from Turkey after Hapag-Lloyd ended one of its standalone loops following the launch of the Gemini alliance with Maersk.

Tue, 18 Feb 2025 20:58:14 GMT

Import upgrade from US retailers comes despite Trump tariff uncertainty

But Hackett Associates founder Ben Hackett said US port cargo “could be badly hit” if tariffs on Asian and European countries increase prices and prompt US consumers to buy less.

Fri, 07 Feb 2025 19:32:15 GMT

Ocean carriers warn of disruption as storms bear down on Europe

Ports in the UK are already seeing rising operational delays as a string of storms moves in from the Atlantic and major ports in Europe issue high wind warnings.

Wed, 29 Jan 2025 17:15:16 GMT

CU Lines claims Amazon backed out of service contract as ocean rates fell

The FMC complaint is a rare instance of a container line accusing a shipper of not living up to the terms of a service contract.

Fri, 24 Jan 2025 20:50:08 GMT

Maersk rejigs standalone services ahead of Gemini Cooperation launch

The ocean carrier made the changes ahead of the launch of its partnership with Hapag-Lloyd, referring shippers to the new alliance’s services as an alternative.

Wed, 22 Jan 2025 19:28:14 GMT

Cosco forecasts 95% jump in 2024 net profit on robust volumes, freight rates

The carrier’s top-line financials are a clear signal that container shipping is firmly back in profitable territory following a poor end to 2023 that left several carriers nursing losses.

Fri, 10 Jan 2025 17:09:14 GMT

Limited disruption likely as new carrier alliances roll out: Alphaliner

With the threat of a US port strike averted, the transition to new global service networks will not be accompanied by widespread disruption, the analyst believes.

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:45:15 GMT

High price to pay for non-compliance with FuelEU rules: Lloyd’s Register

Carriers adopting a “wait-and-see” approach to the new regulation will face significant penalties and a potential loss of income from decarbonization-focused customers, according to a report from the classification society.

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:08:14 GMT

Continued volatility to keep container line profits on course in 2025

Despite a glut of capacity on the water, Suez Canal diversions and healthy volumes will keep container shipping vessel supply tight, analysts predict.

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 16:25:14 GMT

Restabilized trans-Atlantic facing dual strike, tariff threats

The market’s normal tranquility is threatened by President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to raise imports tariffs, as well as a potential second strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association.

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMT

New Year heralds triple threat to US container shipping

The risk of an East and Gulf coast port strike, US tariffs on China, and service disruptions through the launch of new alliances and networks await the industry in the first two months of 2025, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Wed, 18 Dec 2024 16:10:29 GMT

Ocean carriers outline new trans-Atlantic services from Feb. 1

Holes in the Atlantic port network are being plugged as ONE, the Ocean Alliance and HMM prepare for February’s launch of the new container shipping groupings.

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 14:38:15 GMT

Carriers roll out new fuel surcharges as EU emissions rules tighten

Customer advisories from Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd show the carriers plan to “simplify the process” by merging compliance with the EU ETS and FuelEU regulations into one fuel surcharge.

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 14:54:14 GMT

FMC probing reports Spain blocked US-flag Maersk ships

US maritime regulators are investigating reports that the Spanish government has blocked US-flag Maersk ships carrying military cargoes for Israel from calling Algeciras.

Thu, 05 Dec 2024 22:17:14 GMT

Europe rolls out its advance cargo filing ICS2 program

The regulation is designed to enhance security across global supply chains and brings the EU in line with other major exporting countries.

Wed, 04 Dec 2024 17:31:13 GMT

Hapag-Lloyd says Gemini alliance cargo bookings to open Dec. 3

The news from Gemini came as MSC released the latest update to its standalone east-west network that will also launch in February.

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 19:24:14 GMT

Container lines pull back on India-US pricing push

While vessels on the lead West India-US East Coast networks have continued to sail full, forwarders have linked the “sold-out” experience to capacity cutbacks and consequent cargo rollovers.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:26:18 GMT

Excess capacity sinks planned July 1 rate increase in eastbound trans-Pacific

The fresh capacity carriers rushed into the US’ busiest trade lane in April and May is no longer needed, sending rates on a downward spiral and forcing carriers to shelve proposed price hikes.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:09:12 GMT

Mexico-US ocean market expands amid growing nearshoring interest

A new service from Green Tide Logistics will connect Veracruz to Philadelphia in five to six days via truck and multi-purpose vessels capable of handling 1,200 to 1,700 TEUs.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 18:46:13 GMT

Cosco/OOCL saw big gains in US imports from Asia in early 2025

The China-based liners carried a combined 1.09 million TEUs in imports to the US through April, up 23% over the same period in 2024, according to Journal of Commerce rankings.

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:31:39 GMT

Targeted takeovers drive M&A activity among smaller global forwarders

Organic growth in the logistics business is hard to find with the global economy slowing and trade heavily disrupted by US tariffs, so forwarders have moved into acquisition mode.

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 14:41:14 GMT

China-ECSA spot rates climb amid bullish market pressure

The shift of some capacity to the Asia-US trade to meet surging demand there is contributing to tighter vessel space in the ECSA market, forwarders tell the Journal of Commerce.

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:25:14 GMT

Pause in tariff hikes drives big gains in trans-Pacific spot rates

Carriers are looking to ride the higher rates as long as they can before the fresh vessel capacity that is making its way to the trans-Pacific begins to dull the momentum.

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 21:05:44 GMT

Appeals court temporarily restores US tariffs

Within a span of roughly 24 hours, one court decision blocked the US tariffs and a separate ruling restored the tariffs through June 9, if not longer.

Thu, 29 May 2025 21:51:14 GMT

Restrained capacity sparks India-US ocean rate momentum

Sources have linked some of the US-India blankings to carriers shifting capacity to capitalize on surging volumes on the eastbound trans-Pacific trade following a temporary 90-day tariff truce between the US and China.

Thu, 29 May 2025 15:45:18 GMT

Federal court ruling blocking tariffs resets shipping outlook

The US Court of International Trade on Wednesday stated that President Donald Trump’s tariffs exceed his authority.

Thu, 29 May 2025 01:24:14 GMT

India-US West Coast rates jump as capacity suffers from Asia cargo rush

Indian capacity to the West Coast is in large part confined to extended Asian networks connecting over regional hubs, so space availability remains exposed to demand volatility at origin load ports.

Thu, 22 May 2025 13:59:14 GMT

UK-EU trade deal designed to ease Brexit-driven border frictions

Strained relationships between London and Brussels have plagued trade negotiations over the past five years around complex issues including tariffs, regulations, fishing rights and the movement of people.

Tue, 20 May 2025 13:57:14 GMT

Trans-Pacific carriers announce massive June rate hikes

Container lines are looking to capitalize on a ramp-up in Asia-US bookings during the 90-day tariff reduction that followed Monday’s deal between the Trump administration and China.

Thu, 15 May 2025 19:34:14 GMT

Eastbound trans-Pac spot rates in revival mode in wake of US-China trade deal

Rates are climbing quickly amid fresh Chinese volumes headed to the US, with an expected crunch in vessel capacity and the potential for port congestion driving the gains. 

Wed, 14 May 2025 19:34:14 GMT

US retailers project first year-over-year import cut in 19 months as tariffs bite

The National Retail Federation also warned the negative growth will accelerate, with imports through the summer expected to be at least 20% lower than the corresponding month last year. 

Fri, 09 May 2025 17:44:14 GMT

Port-focused US logistics provider takes majority stake in Mexican forwarder

PSA BDP acquired a majority stake in Mexico-based forwarder ED International, expanding PSA’s cross-border forwarding network.

Tue, 06 May 2025 21:28:14 GMT

US ocean freight from China fell ‘significantly’: Expeditors

The forwarder offered an unsettled outlook for the trans-Pacific in 2025 as shippers navigate the Trump administration’s 145% tariffs on goods made in China.

Tue, 06 May 2025 19:16:14 GMT

NYSHEX enters container index fray targeting floating rate contract adoption

The broader goal of NYSHEX’s new container index is to provide rate information that will support the use of hedging tools for shippers, NVOs and carriers against increased volatility.

Fri, 02 May 2025 15:11:18 GMT

C.H. Robinson’s forwarding business faces muddy Q2 on China uncertainty

While the second quarter is typically strong for freight demand, the logistics provider said the market is far from normal after the Trump administration’s tariffs spooked its customers.

Thu, 01 May 2025 20:22:18 GMT

DSV embarks on ‘mammoth test’ as DB Schenker integration begins: CEO

After getting the year off to a solid start in the first quarter, Jens Lund said the real work begins now to bring the two global forwarders together under the DSV brand.

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 17:29:14 GMT

CEVA expands reach in Turkey with $440 million acquisition

If regulatory approval is achieved, the deal will nearly double the size of CMA CGM subsidiary CEVA Logistics’ footprint in a rapidly expanding region.

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 15:04:14 GMT

US exporters see rise in canceled orders from Chinese buyers amid trade war

The export decline is already showing up in some data, with bookings for US exports to China for the week of April 8–15 down 5.4% from the prior week.

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 18:12:14 GMT

Europe on alert to track any wave of diverted Chinese imports

With the door to US trade effectively slammed shut by tariffs, Chinese manufacturers are urgently looking for alternative markets in which to offload their surplus inventory.

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:20:06 GMT

Last regulatory hurdles cleared for DSV takeover of DB Schenker

With the integration now set to begin, DSV has announced a round of executive appointments with candidates promoted from within both DSV and DB Schenker.

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 12:59:17 GMT

Trans-Pacific blank sailings set to rise after China bookings drop sharply

Some ships are leaving China just half-full as the Trump administration’s rush of tariffs sends shippers into contortions about what to do with their freight.

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 18:24:14 GMT

Tariff uncertainty causes plunge in US cargo bookings at Asia load ports

And the chilling effect of the tariffs is extending further down the calendar, with forwarders in the trans-Pacific saying US retailers are holding off making purchase orders with factories in Asia for fall and holiday merchandise for 30 to 60 days.

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 20:41:14 GMT

US retailers issue big downgrade in import forecast amid expected tariff pullback

The latest Global Port Tracker demonstrates the uncertainty that has overtaken global supply chains since the White House’s announcement on tariffs a week ago.

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 18:41:14 GMT

Trans-Pac GRI offers resistance to retailers’ push for lower contract rates

A general rate increase implemented by carriers in the eastbound trans-Pacific on April 1 has largely stuck, giving shippers less leverage in attempting to lower contract rates for 2025–26 service year.

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 15:53:14 GMT

‘K’ Line to expand logistics operations in joint venture with Kamigumi

The deal will merge “K” Lines’ traditional logistics activities in ocean and air freight with Kamigumi’s niche business in project cargo logistics.

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 13:59:14 GMT

New US tariffs forcing shippers to recalculate supply chains on the fly

Some US-based shippers are racing to beat the April 9 imposition of new tariffs on most goods, while others are holding back product in Asia on the chance the levies will be reduced by President Donald Trump, whose tariff implementation strategy in recent weeks has been marked by a large dose of impulsiveness.

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 19:05:14 GMT

Largest US importers finalizing contracts in ‘unsettled’ trans-Pacific

Shippers, carriers and forwarders say uncertainty around consumer demand, tariffs and geopolitical disruptions has produced a wider range of service contract rates this year.

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 20:51:13 GMT

Kuehne + Nagel says gaining market share key to driving earnings growth

CEO Stefan Paul told the company’s annual capital markets event in London that while K+N will focus on organic growth, it will also make bolt-on acquisitions “if they make sense.”

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 18:01:17 GMT

Oversupplied ocean carriers sailing into new downcycle: analysts

Despite banking a collective operating profit of about $60 billion in 2024, a worsening supply-demand imbalance could make the next three years difficult for the container shipping industry.

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 14:27:14 GMT

Tariffs, falling spot market weaken contract resolve of trans-Pac carriers

Fresh questions about the direction of the US economy after the tariff chaos unleashed by the Trump administration in recent weeks has container lines resetting their rate expectations for the 2025–26 service year.

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 15:30:31 GMT

Lack of carrier API progress belies market adaptation to other visibility options

While shippers might have expected ocean carriers to make application programming interfaces widely available by 2025, negative incentives have inhibited that progress.

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:54:14 GMT

Tariff uncertainty prompts US retailers to downgrade spring import forecast

The National Retail Federation now says it expects a downward shift in the second quarter as importers face challenges from tariffs and elevated inventories in the wake of significant cargo frontloading.

Wed, 12 Mar 2025 20:27:14 GMT

TPM25: Carriers, shippers face year of turmoil and uncertainty

Analyst Lars Jensen’s closing message to conference participants planning their supply chains for the coming year is to move slowly and carefully because it will take months before clarity emerges.

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 20:06:14 GMT

DHL Global Forwarding buoyed by good Q4, but acknowledges weak spots

DHL group CEO Tobias Meyer recognized that the division’s performance remained lackluster, with the “volatile” gross profit/EBIT conversion rate below DHL’s 35% target.

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 17:45:17 GMT

TPM25: DSV’s Lund says more global forwarding consolidation is needed

Large customers are looking for large logistics partners that can offer more control over supply chains as international trade becomes more complex, the CEO tells TPM25.

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 20:27:15 GMT

Next phase of digital forwarding on collision course with AI revolution

Digital forwarders that emerged over the past decade are coming of age in the era of AI, but not all will make it to the other end.

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

OOCL’s Q2 revenue slides on lower trans-Pacific, Asia-Europe rates

The decline came despite a 4.4% increase in total container volumes to 2 million TEUs, the carrier said in a quarterly update Friday.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:50:14 GMT

CMA CGM ends existing Indian VSAs with Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk

The Marseille-based liner has finalized operational plans to call off its remaining vessel-sharing agreements with the carriers after Gemini Cooperation-linked realignments.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:05:14 GMT

MSC outstripping rivals on new capacity for 2025: Alphaliner

Mediterranean Shipping Co. is furthering its lead in vessel tonnage so far this year as it absorbs more than double the amount of new capacity added by No. 2 carrier Maersk.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:57:13 GMT

Europe’s port congestion forcing Gemini to switch up Asia service

Beginning in September, the joint service will make added stops at Aarhus in Denmark, Gothenburg in Sweden and Rotterdam in the Netherlands as the last three European calls.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:32:17 GMT

Hapag-Lloyd megaships serve West Africa via Tanger Med hub

Instead of its 24,000-TEU ships making direct calls at West African ports, Hapag-Lloyd’s main Mediterranean hub is being used as a key transshipment point for Asia-Africa services.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 16:55:16 GMT

Ocean carriers adjust calls as congestion chokes European hubs

Longer transits around southern Africa, restructured alliance networks and bottlenecks in Asia continue to cause ships to arrive outside their scheduled European arrival windows.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 17:43:14 GMT

Trans-Pacific sailing into slowdown; Asia-Europe outlook brightens: analysts

Peak shipping season began early on both trade lanes, but the advancing of US orders from China will hit trans-Pacific demand in the second half of the year.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:46:18 GMT

Ocean carriers flex tonnage control, but overcapacity is mounting

Internal and external forces in the first half of 2025 mitigated container vessel overcapacity, but steep challenges lie ahead, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 18:10:14 GMT

Carriers ‘stand ready’ to cut Persian Gulf calls as security threat escalates

Iran has yet to make good on its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, but nervous carriers are preparing contingency plans as the region moves onto a war footing.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:13:14 GMT

Months of congestion ahead for North Europe ports: Antwerp-Bruges

Strong demand for much of the year has kept North European ports under pressure, slowing attempts to ease the bottlenecks.

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:13:14 GMT

India-Europe ocean rates rebound on space, equipment pressures

Forwarders moving cargo on monthly contracts have pegged average week-to-week gains at $200 to $300 per FEU for bookings from West India to Felixstowe/London Gateway or Rotterdam.

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 13:42:31 GMT

Robust demand emerges on Asia-Europe ocean trade as peak season begins

But all eyes are on the July 9 end to the 90-day pause on US tariffs that forwarders believe will determine the level of demand through the rest of the year.

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:39:18 GMT

MSC juggles India-Europe network rotations amid Asia cargo rush

Adding to recent capacity cutbacks, the carrier has redeployed vessels serving its premier Himalaya Express service between India, Europe and the Mediterranean onto Asian trades.

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 13:50:14 GMT

Asia-Europe ocean rates spike on congestion, capacity shift

Labor shortages and low water levels in Europe are intensifying persistent port bottlenecks, while the trans-Pacific demand is pulling vessels out of Asia-Europe.

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:15:14 GMT

CMA CGM unveils plans for Suez return on India-Mediterranean service

The Marseille-based carrier has finalized operational plans to shift vessels deployed on its MEDEX service back to the normal sailing journey through the Suez Canal beginning next month, sources say.

Tue, 27 May 2025 14:36:23 GMT

Ocean carriers line up hefty rate hikes on oversupplied Asia-Europe trade

The carriers want to raise prices by more than 50% in a bid to stem the slide in rates that began at the end of December and is showing no signs of slowing.

Fri, 16 May 2025 15:28:14 GMT

CMA CGM fleet will not need to pay Chinese tonnage tax: CFO

With less than half of CMA CGM’s fleet built in China, CFO Ramon Fernandez believes US services can be structured to avoid the incoming tonnage fees.

Fri, 16 May 2025 15:14:14 GMT

Overcapacity, trade seasonality push India-Europe rates to multi-year low

On top of the persistent pressure of overcapacity and muted demand, industry sources have also linked the market softening to the historical seasonal pattern of the Indian export trade.

Wed, 14 May 2025 16:28:14 GMT

Yang Ming expects stable Q2 on non-US-China trades

The carrier was commenting after reporting its first-quarter results along with Taiwan’s other two mainline carriers, Evergreen Marine and Wan Hai Lines.

Tue, 13 May 2025 15:48:14 GMT

West India container trade facing delays, vessel skips after regional tensions

Despite a ceasefire announced over the weekend between India and Pakistan, the combined impact of the recent tensions and enhanced port security protocols has left container supply chains out of India’s west coast corridor in a state of flux.

Mon, 12 May 2025 13:49:21 GMT

US-Houthi ceasefire claim not sufficient for carrier return to Red Sea: Maersk

There remains no guarantee of safety for ships, crew and cargo passing through the waterway, which means it would likely be out of bounds for the rest of the year, says CEO Vincent Clerc.

Fri, 09 May 2025 13:54:17 GMT

CMA CGM levies emergency surcharges on Pakistani trade amid India tensions

Sources anticipate the additional rerouting costs in the region will force other ocean carriers to follow suit on similar surcharges.

Thu, 08 May 2025 13:44:18 GMT

Apparent Houthi ceasefire raises container shipping overcapacity risk

The freeing up of vessel capacity that has been diverted around southern Africa for the past 18 months could inject as much as 2 million TEUs of functional capacity into the global container shipping market.

Tue, 06 May 2025 21:12:14 GMT

India’s ban on Pakistan cargo raises disruption risk

The restrictions have “effectively” made direct vessel calls to either Karachi or Port Qasim on India services operationally impossible, according to major container lines.

Mon, 05 May 2025 18:24:14 GMT

Shift in ocean capacity from trans-Pacific spells trouble for Asia-Europe

While ongoing port congestion in North Europe and longer voyages around the Cape of Good Hope will help to absorb incoming vessels, it will also leave the trade lane open to volatile shifts in capacity that cannot be planned for, a Journal of Commerce webinar was told.

Fri, 02 May 2025 14:33:14 GMT

No end to the congestion choking gateway ports in North Europe

A range of factors including full yards, labor unrest and carrier network changes are making it difficult for the hubs to clear container bottlenecks.

Thu, 01 May 2025 17:36:15 GMT

ONE makes big cut in FY 2025 profit forecast due to economic uncertainty

The carrier and competitor Hapag-Lloyd announced strong financial results Wednesday, but both said the success of early 2025 won’t be replicated through the balance of the year given market headwinds linked to the global trade conflict.

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 19:07:25 GMT

Antwerp-Bruges passes Rotterdam to become Europe’s busiest box port

But executives at both northern range hubs highlighted the extreme volatility of the first three months and the US tariff-driven uncertainty that lies ahead.

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:22:15 GMT

Europe on alert to track any wave of diverted Chinese imports

With the door to US trade effectively slammed shut by tariffs, Chinese manufacturers are urgently looking for alternative markets in which to offload their surplus inventory.

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:20:06 GMT

US tariffs could help undo solid start to 2025 for ocean carriers

First-quarter carrier earnings are likely to be buoyed by high rates and strong demand that has spilled over from 2024, but tariffs, slowing volume and excess capacity are darkening the outlook for the rest of the year.

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:47:17 GMT

Gemini Cooperation holds early lead on ocean service reliability: analysts

A full evaluation of on-time performance will not be possible until July once the transition to the new deep-sea services has been completed, but data for February and March is positive for the Maersk/Hapag-Lloyd alliance.

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 14:24:14 GMT

Cosco on course for big jump in first-quarter net profit

The parent company of Cosco Shipping and OOCL expects a 72% increase in first-quarter net profits, but the rapidly escalating trade war between the US and China is clouding its outlook for the rest of the year.

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 15:52:14 GMT

Ocean Alliance rolls out series of blank sailings on Asia-North Europe

While strong volume and congestion at both ends of the trade lane are filling the available capacity, the canceled sailings suggest carriers expect demand to falter.

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 12:59:14 GMT

Asia-Europe carriers hold back on blanks despite rate weakness

There is a seasonal element to the second quarter increase in capacity deployed on the trade, but the reluctance by ocean carriers to withdraw capacity comes amid increasing signs of a price war.

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 14:18:14 GMT

Escalating tariffs will cause ‘profound’ trade pattern changes: Cosco

Cosco said changes in the shipping alliances this year will trigger competition in digitization and decarbonization.

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 19:13:04 GMT

Oversupplied ocean carriers sailing into new downcycle: analysts

Despite banking a collective operating profit of about $60 billion in 2024, a worsening supply-demand imbalance could make the next three years difficult for the container shipping industry.

Mon, 17 Mar 2025 14:27:14 GMT

OOCL banks $2.5 billion 2024 net profit on solid demand, high rates

The Cosco Shipping subsidiary recorded another highly profitable year but pointed to growing geopolitical uncertainties and industry-specific challenges that will test container shipping in the year ahead.

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 16:17:14 GMT

Houthi militants threaten to restart attacks on Red Sea shipping

The threat underscores the fragility of the Red Sea security situation and the reluctance of ocean carriers to return to Suez Canal transits until the safety of crew, ships and cargo can be guaranteed. 

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 16:26:14 GMT

TPM25: Carriers, shippers face year of turmoil and uncertainty

Analyst Lars Jensen’s closing message to conference participants planning their supply chains for the coming year is to move slowly and carefully because it will take months before clarity emerges.

Thu, 06 Mar 2025 20:06:14 GMT

TPM25: Months of port congestion face carriers’ Red Sea return: Rotterdam

The bleak timeline from Europe’s busiest port is based on the chaos that resulted when the Ever Given was freed after six days of blocking the Suez Canal in 2021.

Wed, 05 Mar 2025 18:33:17 GMT

OOCL’s Q2 revenue slides on lower trans-Pacific, Asia-Europe rates

The decline came despite a 4.4% increase in total container volumes to 2 million TEUs, the carrier said in a quarterly update Friday.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:50:14 GMT

CMA CGM ends existing Indian VSAs with Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk

The Marseille-based liner has finalized operational plans to call off its remaining vessel-sharing agreements with the carriers after Gemini Cooperation-linked realignments.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:05:14 GMT

Taiwan’s ‘Big Three’ carriers see falling Q2 revenues as demand slump begins

Trans-Pacific carriers are facing rapidly declining demand and freight rates on the trade lane as the frontloading that occurred during the 90-day pause on new US tariffs — now extended to Aug. 1 — has largely lost steam.

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 18:51:14 GMT

MSC outstripping rivals on new capacity for 2025: Alphaliner

Mediterranean Shipping Co. is furthering its lead in vessel tonnage so far this year as it absorbs more than double the amount of new capacity added by No. 2 carrier Maersk.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 19:57:13 GMT

US retailers upgrade import forecast after tariff deadline extended to Aug. 1

But the mini rush will be short-lived, with imports falling month to month between August and November, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said in their latest Global Port Tracker.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:56:13 GMT

Container lines cutting trans-Pacific capacity overhang

In the latest course correction in the US’ busiest trade lane, carriers are set to deploy less tonnage in August as spot rates fall and retail import forecasts weaken.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 21:04:14 GMT

Container capacity from Asia to East Coast of South America loosens significantly

Carriers are pulling back on their blanking campaigns on the Asia-ECSA lane in July after two months of blanking campaigns largely neutralized capacity additions to the lane.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:55:13 GMT

Container lines pull back on India-US pricing push

While vessels on the lead West India-US East Coast networks have continued to sail full, forwarders have linked the “sold-out” experience to capacity cutbacks and consequent cargo rollovers.

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 13:26:18 GMT

Excess capacity sinks planned July 1 rate increase in eastbound trans-Pacific

The fresh capacity carriers rushed into the US’ busiest trade lane in April and May is no longer needed, sending rates on a downward spiral and forcing carriers to shelve proposed price hikes.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:09:12 GMT

Hede Shipping to launch third expedited service from China to Los Angeles

Although spot rates from Asia to the US are dropping due to waning demand and overcapacity, the carrier is zeroing in on the e-commerce sector with its expedited transit times and the quick delivery of containers upon discharge from vessels.

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 19:38:14 GMT

UWL locks in new vessel partner for trans-Pacific Vietnam service

Swire, UWL’s original partner for the express service to Seattle, will phase out its vessels during July while new partner Emirate Shipping Line rotates into the loop.

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 17:53:18 GMT

Trans-Pacific sailing into slowdown; Asia-Europe outlook brightens: analysts

Peak shipping season began early on both trade lanes, but the advancing of US orders from China will hit trans-Pacific demand in the second half of the year.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 15:46:18 GMT

Poor ocean reliability presents major challenge for US ag exporters

With little relief forthcoming, cargo owners need to build delays into their shipping plans as port and ship capacity remain tight, speakers at the Agriculture Transportation Coalition’s annual meeting said.

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:41:17 GMT

Trans-Pacific spot rates falling as tariff-linked demand surge loses steam

A more than 30% one-week drop in rates from Asia to the US West Coast is showing that the import rush sparked by the temporary pause in higher US tariffs will apparently be short-lived.

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 20:11:14 GMT

Cargo bottlenecks persist at Mexico’s Manzanillo port one month after strike

Despite ongoing efforts to clear out logjams triggered by the brief work stoppage, berth waiting times for vessels arriving at the country’s busiest port have risen to their highest this year.

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:25:18 GMT

Cosco/OOCL saw big gains in US imports from Asia in early 2025

The China-based liners carried a combined 1.09 million TEUs in imports to the US through April, up 23% over the same period in 2024, according to Journal of Commerce rankings.

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:31:39 GMT

June expected to be peak for niche carriers in the trans-Pacific: analyst

Sea-Intelligence said elevated freight rates are drawing small carriers to the eastbound trade lane, but the additional capacity should dwindle by mid-August.

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 20:27:14 GMT

Asia-USWC spot rates weakening as vessel overcapacity takes hold

A widening spread between the West and East coasts comes as carriers have added fresh capacity, especially to Southern California, to take advantage of what had been a sharp jump in demand and rates following the US pause on higher tariffs against China.

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 20:53:13 GMT

Pause in tariff hikes drives big gains in trans-Pacific spot rates

Carriers are looking to ride the higher rates as long as they can before the fresh vessel capacity that is making its way to the trans-Pacific begins to dull the momentum.

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 21:05:44 GMT

Asia-Europe ocean rates spike on congestion, capacity shift

Labor shortages and low water levels in Europe are intensifying persistent port bottlenecks, while the trans-Pacific demand is pulling vessels out of Asia-Europe.

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:15:14 GMT

Asia port disruption wave reaches Singapore

That the port is the largest transshipment hub makes it convenient for carriers to transship cargo as they redeploy vessels from European and other long-haul trades to US-focused services.

Fri, 30 May 2025 19:54:14 GMT

Appeals court temporarily restores US tariffs

Within a span of roughly 24 hours, one court decision blocked the US tariffs and a separate ruling restored the tariffs through June 9, if not longer.

Thu, 29 May 2025 21:51:14 GMT

Restrained capacity sparks India-US ocean rate momentum

Sources have linked some of the US-India blankings to carriers shifting capacity to capitalize on surging volumes on the eastbound trans-Pacific trade following a temporary 90-day tariff truce between the US and China.

Thu, 29 May 2025 15:45:18 GMT

Federal court ruling blocking tariffs resets shipping outlook

The US Court of International Trade on Wednesday stated that President Donald Trump’s tariffs exceed his authority.

Thu, 29 May 2025 01:24:14 GMT

Ocean carriers bring in more trans-Pacific container services amid rate surge

Whether the expected capacity injection on tap for June is enough to stem further rate increases remains unclear.

Tue, 27 May 2025 19:57:59 GMT

India-US West Coast rates jump as capacity suffers from Asia cargo rush

Indian capacity to the West Coast is in large part confined to extended Asian networks connecting over regional hubs, so space availability remains exposed to demand volatility at origin load ports.

Thu, 22 May 2025 13:59:14 GMT

Trans-Pacific services set for restart as carriers scramble to restore capacity

Carriers may find it difficult to bring trans-Pacific capacity back quickly because they repositioned ships into other trades outside of the region amid the tariff-linked demand drop in April and early May.

Wed, 21 May 2025 19:39:14 GMT

Scheduling linked to 10% tariffs causing confusion, angst for US importers

A calendar quirk is causing consternation for importers of non-Chinese goods with long lead times who believed they had avoided the first salvo of US tariffs by loading their cargo before the prescribed “load-by” date and are now facing unexpected costs.

Wed, 21 May 2025 16:16:19 GMT

US supply chain planning must involve a mix of the known and unknown

Importers can get a fairly good sense of how to proceed over the next few months based on developments to date, but things will get fuzzy when the separate cooldown periods for tariffs on China and the rest of the world expire this summer, writes Lars Jensen.

Tue, 20 May 2025 16:03:13 GMT

USWC recovered import market share last year amid East, Gulf coast labor woes

The Port of Los Angeles took the top spot for containerized imports in 2024 and edged out Houston and Savannah as the busiest gateway for exports.

Tue, 20 May 2025 14:54:14 GMT

Zim restarts China-Los Angeles service to capture fresh import demand

The Zim Central China Xpress will restart next week, little more than a month after Zim announced its suspension as part of the carrier’s broader 30% to 35% trim in its trans-Pacific network.

Mon, 19 May 2025 18:46:24 GMT

US tariff-linked cargo rush causes port congestion, box shortages in China

Forwarders expect congestion and container shortages to worsen in the next few weeks as carriers redeploy vessels to trans-Pacific services from Asia-Europe trades to meet increased demand from shippers.

Mon, 19 May 2025 17:46:14 GMT

MSC, Zim plan to rework Asia-US Gulf network as demand drops

MSC plans to provide all of the tonnage in a US Gulf service, with Zim slated to get a lower share of slot space as weaker demand forces service changes.

Fri, 16 May 2025 18:19:14 GMT

CMA CGM fleet will not need to pay Chinese tonnage tax: CFO

With less than half of CMA CGM’s fleet built in China, CFO Ramon Fernandez believes US services can be structured to avoid the incoming tonnage fees.

Fri, 16 May 2025 15:14:14 GMT

Trans-Pacific carriers announce massive June rate hikes

Container lines are looking to capitalize on a ramp-up in Asia-US bookings during the 90-day tariff reduction that followed Monday’s deal between the Trump administration and China.

Thu, 15 May 2025 19:34:14 GMT

Revised China tonnage tax less disruptive, still costly

Industry backlash mitigated the costliest components of the US Trade Representative’s proposed fees, but surcharges from some carriers are still likely on the way, writes Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Thu, 15 May 2025 17:44:14 GMT

Eastbound trans-Pac spot rates in revival mode in wake of US-China trade deal

Rates are climbing quickly amid fresh Chinese volumes headed to the US, with an expected crunch in vessel capacity and the potential for port congestion driving the gains. 

Wed, 14 May 2025 19:34:14 GMT

China-US ocean bookings surge since weekend trade deal: Hapag-Lloyd

The predicted rush to get US imports from China on the water has begun as shippers take advantage of the 90-day cut in tariffs, according to CEO Rolf Habben Jansen.

Wed, 14 May 2025 14:12:13 GMT

Yang Ming expects stable Q2 on non-US-China trades

The carrier was commenting after reporting its first-quarter results along with Taiwan’s other two mainline carriers, Evergreen Marine and Wan Hai Lines.

Tue, 13 May 2025 15:48:14 GMT

US retailers project first year-over-year import cut in 19 months as tariffs bite

The National Retail Federation also warned the negative growth will accelerate, with imports through the summer expected to be at least 20% lower than the corresponding month last year. 

Fri, 09 May 2025 17:44:14 GMT

Long Beach ITS terminal upgrade to boost capacity by about 50%

The project, due to begin Monday, will also improve truck access by upgrading the gate infrastructure and boost efficiency through the replacement of an outdated terminal operating system.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 20:00:00 GMT

Global dockworker unions plan Lisbon gathering for anti-automation ‘call to action’

The gathering will be closely watched by ocean carriers, shippers and container terminal operators in the US and Europe for signs that global unions are developing a coordinated cross-border “solidarity strike” strategy.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 14:35:14 GMT

US retailers upgrade import forecast after tariff deadline extended to Aug. 1

But the mini rush will be short-lived, with imports falling month to month between August and November, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said in their latest Global Port Tracker.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 18:56:13 GMT

India-US ‘Indamex’ string drops Charleston, adds more ships to bolster reliability

The moves by CMA CGM were made to improve westbound transit times that remain a challenge due to ongoing vessel diversions around southern Africa.

Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:47:17 GMT

BNSF-UP dispute threatens Oakland-SLC service, triggers STB petition

The routing impasse between the railroads threatens supply chain disruptions for ocean carrier CMA CGM, which has cargo booked on the service that is due to begin later this week.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 20:24:13 GMT

Europe’s port congestion forcing Gemini to switch up Asia service

Beginning in September, the joint service will make added stops at Aarhus in Denmark, Gothenburg in Sweden and Rotterdam in the Netherlands as the last three European calls.

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 19:32:17 GMT

Oregon earmarks funds for proposed Coos Bay terminal

The just-concluded legislative session also puts aside emergency funding for the Port of Portland that is generated via lottery sales.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:47:14 GMT

Container capacity from Asia to East Coast of South America loosens significantly

Carriers are pulling back on their blanking campaigns on the Asia-ECSA lane in July after two months of blanking campaigns largely neutralized capacity additions to the lane.

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:55:13 GMT

Excess capacity sinks planned July 1 rate increase in eastbound trans-Pacific

The fresh capacity carriers rushed into the US’ busiest trade lane in April and May is no longer needed, sending rates on a downward spiral and forcing carriers to shelve proposed price hikes.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 19:09:12 GMT

Growth in West African ports opens new transshipment options for MSC

The deployment of 24,000-TEU ships on its Africa Express service allows the carrier to better leverage billions of dollars invested in West Africa in recent years, reducing exposure to congested North European ports.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 15:26:14 GMT

HMM, CMA CGM to expand key Mediterranean transshipment hub

The $177 million plan to enlarge Spain’s TTI Algeciras is in line with the strategy of ocean carriers to diversify revenue and exert greater control over their supply chains.

Wed, 02 Jul 2025 14:11:14 GMT

Quick-hit, tariff-driven import surge on tap for US West Coast ports

The surge, however brief, will nonetheless be a welcome boost in business for the ports after a lackluster May and early June.

Tue, 24 Jun 2025 19:02:14 GMT

Port Houston implementing reefer dwell fees to encourage container flow

The fees come as dwell times for refrigerated containers in Houston exceed a week and reefer volumes topped 10,000 TEUs for the first time in three years.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 20:30:14 GMT

Ocean carriers flex tonnage control, but overcapacity is mounting

Internal and external forces in the first half of 2025 mitigated container vessel overcapacity, but steep challenges lie ahead, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 18:10:14 GMT

Carriers ‘stand ready’ to cut Persian Gulf calls as security threat escalates

Iran has yet to make good on its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, but nervous carriers are preparing contingency plans as the region moves onto a war footing.

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:13:14 GMT

Poor ocean reliability presents major challenge for US ag exporters

With little relief forthcoming, cargo owners need to build delays into their shipping plans as port and ship capacity remain tight, speakers at the Agriculture Transportation Coalition’s annual meeting said.

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:41:17 GMT

India-US liners attempt hefty peak season rate hikes despite trade volatility

But sources do not think carriers will have an opportunity to net full recovery of the proposed amounts in the current market environment unless strategic capacity cuts occur.

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 14:04:23 GMT

Cosco boosts feeder reach under pair of deals with X-Press

Consultancy MDS Transmodal said the two companies will have just under half of the almost 176,700 TEUs in feeder ship capacity deployed in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 13:29:14 GMT

Trans-Pacific spot rates falling as tariff-linked demand surge loses steam

A more than 30% one-week drop in rates from Asia to the US West Coast is showing that the import rush sparked by the temporary pause in higher US tariffs will apparently be short-lived.

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 20:11:14 GMT

Cargo bottlenecks persist at Mexico’s Manzanillo port one month after strike

Despite ongoing efforts to clear out logjams triggered by the brief work stoppage, berth waiting times for vessels arriving at the country’s busiest port have risen to their highest this year.

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:25:18 GMT

Cosco/OOCL saw big gains in US imports from Asia in early 2025

The China-based liners carried a combined 1.09 million TEUs in imports to the US through April, up 23% over the same period in 2024, according to Journal of Commerce rankings.

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:31:39 GMT

BC ports, longshore unions need new bargaining process: report

A wide-ranging report commissioned by Canada’s Labor Ministry says British Columbia’s ports are vulnerable to strikes in part because of disparate longshore unions involved in contract talks.

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 19:49:14 GMT

Closure of Strait of Hormuz would further stretch global container capacity

While just 2% to 3% of global container traffic transits the key chokepoint, any restrictions would further tie up global vessel capacity and cut off the ports of Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi.

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 15:59:14 GMT

Panama Canal mulls developing Corozal to allay neutrality fears over Hutchison deal

ACP Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales says developing the terminal would help ease the concerns of ocean carriers that the canal’s existing container terminals are concentrated among a handful of operators.

Wed, 11 Jun 2025 16:55:33 GMT

Asia-USWC spot rates weakening as vessel overcapacity takes hold

A widening spread between the West and East coasts comes as carriers have added fresh capacity, especially to Southern California, to take advantage of what had been a sharp jump in demand and rates following the US pause on higher tariffs against China.

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 20:53:13 GMT

Congress takes aim at China’s maritime industry with new legislation

A trio of bills would change US shipping law to reflect the current wariness surrounding China’s maritime industry and promote cargo preference for US fleets.

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 19:21:14 GMT

US chassis providers getting equipment ready for US import surge

TRAC Intermodal, DCLI and FlexiVan Leasing began unstacking chassis shortly after the Trump administration last month announced a 90-day pause on the 145% tariffs on Chinese imports.

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:50:14 GMT

Cargo origin will determine trade war winners and losers among US coasts

Because the West Coast’s share is higher for China-originating freight than any other region, any move away from China by importers can be expected to negatively affect the USWC’s share of inbound cargo, writes Larry Gross.

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 14:54:17 GMT

BC longshore foremen reach deal with port employers on new contract

Maritime employers along Canada’s West Coast have a new agreement that will avert the type of labor actions seen late last year.

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 21:32:14 GMT

APM clearing out New Jersey rail container backlog ahead of a summer surge

The terminal operator said it has reduced the inventory of rail-bound containers at its Elizabeth facility to about 1,600, down from about 4,000 in early May.

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 20:06:17 GMT

China-ECSA spot rates climb amid bullish market pressure

The shift of some capacity to the Asia-US trade to meet surging demand there is contributing to tighter vessel space in the ECSA market, forwarders tell the Journal of Commerce.

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 14:25:14 GMT

Gemini ‘game changer’ for Wilhelmshaven as volume soars

The hub in northern Germany is expecting rapid volume growth for the rest of the year following a record first quarter spurred on by the launch of the carrier alliance.

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:48:15 GMT

Maersk’s contract logistics business adds New Jersey warehouse

The carrier continues to ramp up its non-ocean businesses that were acquired from Performance Team with the lease of a new warehouse located about 10 miles from the Port of Philadelphia.

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:23:13 GMT

Disruption lingers at Mexico’s Manzanillo port weeks after brief strike

While terminal operators had hoped that problems stemming from the mid-May work stoppage would be mostly over, forwarders are still reporting cargo delays.

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:49:14 GMT

Asia port disruption wave reaches Singapore

That the port is the largest transshipment hub makes it convenient for carriers to transship cargo as they redeploy vessels from European and other long-haul trades to US-focused services.

Fri, 30 May 2025 19:54:14 GMT

Appeals court temporarily restores US tariffs

Within a span of roughly 24 hours, one court decision blocked the US tariffs and a separate ruling restored the tariffs through June 9, if not longer.

Thu, 29 May 2025 21:51:14 GMT

LA port stakeholders warming to plan to mitigate impact of bridge project

The industry says consistency and communication are the key to minimizing disruption to port traffic during the project to repair the deck of the Vincent Thomas Bridge.

Thu, 29 May 2025 19:21:14 GMT

Port Houston secures $131 million in federal funds for ship channel work

A portion of the money will be used for Project 11, which will ultimately allow an additional 1,400 vessels of all types to call the port each year by deepening portions of the channel to accommodate larger ships. 

Thu, 29 May 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Federal court ruling blocking tariffs resets shipping outlook

The US Court of International Trade on Wednesday stated that President Donald Trump’s tariffs exceed his authority.

Thu, 29 May 2025 01:24:14 GMT

CMA CGM signs deal to develop $600 million Haiphong terminal complex

The facility, the carrier’s first investment in northern Vietnam, will have a combined capacity of 1.9 million TEUs when operational in 2028.

Tue, 27 May 2025 16:38:14 GMT

US Bank eBL trial for US exporter notches another step toward 2030 goal

Adoption of digital bills of lading has been stronger in Asia, but US traction is necessary to help container lines meet a 2030 commitment to fully move to electronic documents.

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 15:15:20 GMT

Maersk launches AI customs tool to tackle rising regulatory chaos

The digital solution will be available for US imports this week and is set to roll out globally in August.

Wed, 25 Jun 2025 16:25:14 GMT

Former partner reaches settlement with DAT over recent acquisition

OTR Solutions had alleged in a lawsuit that load board provider DAT violated a non-compete agreement by acquiring a rival factoring company.

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 16:57:18 GMT

Court orders DAT to temporarily halt trucking factoring service

OTR Capital argues DAT, the largest load board for truckload freight in North America, violated a non-compete clause when it acquired factoring company Outgo in May.

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 20:18:14 GMT

Cargo sensors present benefits, challenges for regulatory agencies: WCO

The lack of interoperability between a wide-ranging set of tracking hardware products presents an obstacle for customs authorities to overcome, a new report has found.

Tue, 10 Jun 2025 16:59:53 GMT

Cross-border truckload marketplace expands into Canada

Demand from Cargado’s freight broker customers to add US-Canada carriers to its vetted network led the company to move to the northern border.

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:27:19 GMT

Truckstop begins ‘strategic realignment,’ names founder as interim CEO

The change at the top of the freight-matching platform comes as the truckload sector enters the fourth year of a freight downturn that began in 2022.

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 20:43:19 GMT

New investment for AI platform signals ongoing surge for logistics venture funding

Pallet is building tools to automate functions such as data entry, email and web portal integrations across ordering, quoting and tracking in the logistics industry.

Wed, 28 May 2025 18:01:13 GMT

WiseTech makes $2 billion gamble on overturning complicated software history

The company’s deal for E2open shows it is betting it can thread the needle between keeping its customers happy while targeting the customers of those customers.

Wed, 28 May 2025 16:20:14 GMT

WiseTech notches biggest acquisition with $2.1 billion deal for E2open

The widely used forwarding software platform has long been acquisitive, but its pending purchase of logistics and planning platform E2open represents a new foray into shipper-focused technology.

Mon, 26 May 2025 13:57:14 GMT

DAT adds in-house factoring services with latest acquisition

The purchase of Outgo, founded in 2022, is meant to help DAT gather more transactional data but also to make its freight marketplace more complete for carriers and brokers.

Thu, 15 May 2025 20:09:14 GMT

AI continues its advance across truckload fleets, drayage

Technology providers are rolling out artificial intelligence tools to help augment transportation teams and service providers with limited resources.

Tue, 13 May 2025 16:34:13 GMT

Logistics vets bridging shipper-small carrier divide sans broker

In launching TruSygnal, Burns Logistics CEO Ed Burns wanted to provide a way to allow small carriers to create relationships with shippers that typically shy away from brokers.

Mon, 05 May 2025 21:14:14 GMT

Truckload technology providers partner on cargo theft initiative

Rapidly growing occurrences of cargo theft in the US have compelled two early-stage technology companies to use data around truckload movements to assist law enforcement.

Fri, 02 May 2025 17:49:14 GMT

Mexico potential leads investors to back cross-border load board

The $12 million investment in Cargado will be used to expand the load board with other tools for freight brokers to tap into cross-border freight growth.

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 14:48:15 GMT

TMS provider Turvo turns to SMC3 to enable LTL ambitions

The partnership will see SMC3 provide less-than-truckload rating, booking and tracking data into Turvo’s transportation management system, which primarily serves US freight brokers and third-party logistics providers.

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 17:31:14 GMT

China to maintain pivotal production role globally despite tariffs: CSCMP

Firms sourcing from Vietnam, India or Mexico rely heavily on components, raw materials and equipment from China, which will remain an essential link in the production supply chain even if it’s no longer the only one.

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:52:14 GMT

Freight futures get second look amid increased risk, trading volumes

Ongoing supply chain disruption and a significant increase in trading of container freight futures among speculative investors could accelerate the adoption of financial hedging tools among shippers and other physical industry players.

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 15:11:14 GMT

Uber Freight offering drop-and-hook option as dedicated-like product for shippers

In a move to better utilize its leased pool of trailers, Uber Freight has partnered with software vendor Optimal Dynamics to bundle loads for drivers across 10 trailer pool locations.

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:56:32 GMT

Descartes snaps up rival to double down on domestic TMS market

Acquisitions continue in the domestic freight market, with Descartes buying 3GTMS to continue a decade-long spree of purchases.

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 19:08:20 GMT

Lack of carrier API progress belies market adaptation to other visibility options

While shippers might have expected ocean carriers to make application programming interfaces widely available by 2025, negative incentives have inhibited that progress.

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 14:54:14 GMT

Shippers investing in data warehousing capability to increase software options

The explosion of logistics software-as-a-service tools is leading shippers to build data foundations that reside outside of their internal systems.

Tue, 11 Mar 2025 17:16:13 GMT

FourKites’ exit from Gartner visibility assessment highlights evolving market

The visibility market has bifurcated into standalone vendors too small to be captured by Gartner’s “Magic Quadrant” report and larger vendors whose platforms extend far beyond what the report evaluates.

Fri, 07 Mar 2025 18:57:18 GMT

Next phase of digital forwarding on collision course with AI revolution

Digital forwarders that emerged over the past decade are coming of age in the era of AI, but not all will make it to the other end.

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 13:00:00 GMT

Triumph acquires broker-focused pricing technology provider Greenscreens.ai

Acquisition activity in the truckload space continues, with price benchmarking vendor Greenscreens.ai the latest to sell.

Wed, 26 Feb 2025 22:50:14 GMT

Trade groups renew push for ocean carrier movement on digitization

Shipper, forwarder and customs broker associations want to see the members of the Digital Container Shipping Association accelerate efforts to create interoperable process standards.

Tue, 25 Feb 2025 19:49:14 GMT

Technology providers take aim at automating core US customs tasks

Automation of the customs entry process, which software provider Magaya announced this week, is being enabled by advances in data extraction from emails and offline files.

Wed, 19 Feb 2025 19:18:14 GMT

Incumbents, upstarts strive for lead in agentic AI arms race

project44 is the latest established software provider to release a suite of artificial intelligence agents amid a torrent of startups building tools for logistics providers and shippers.

Wed, 12 Feb 2025 17:01:14 GMT

Shippers want more visibility data than terminals are providing: survey

A new report from software vendor Kaleris has found that terminal operators around the globe believe they are providing better visibility data than shippers say are they receiving.

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 19:31:17 GMT

Project cargo sector disadvantaged by lag in AI adoption

Unstructured data, security concerns and value questions are holding back the progression of technology in the breakbulk industry.

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:59:14 GMT

Marine insurer group greenlights streamlined eBL vendor approval process

Regulatory uncertainty around the allowance of digital trade documents is one factor that has slowed the adoption of electronic bills of lading in the shipping industry.

Wed, 05 Feb 2025 16:12:17 GMT

Approvals from Europe, US among last hurdles in DSV’s takeover of DB Schenker

DSV CEO Jens Lund said the size of the Schenker acquisition meant it could take up to two years before the companies were fully integrated into the world’s largest forwarder.

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 16:33:14 GMT

Truckload visibility vendor gets funding to expand sensor network

GenLogs uses a network of highway sensors to help freight brokers manage freight fraud and also identify sales and capacity opportunities.

Mon, 03 Feb 2025 20:12:15 GMT

Flexport alums arm 3PLs with tools to refine shipper outreach

A startup founded and backed by ex-Flexport sales executives is aiming to help shippers manage the flood of outbound sales efforts they receive from logistics providers.

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:50:14 GMT

Visibility vendors move to extend reach and relevancy in rebalancing market

A handful of companies unveiled new products in the last week intended to enable decision-making based off the visibility data they provide.

Wed, 15 Jan 2025 15:29:13 GMT

CBP seeks industry input on rules curbing low-value shipment abuse

The US is seeking to amend rules regarding so-called de minimis shipments, which have skyrocketed since the pandemic.

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 19:47:14 GMT

Drayage outsourcing a path to solving diversification challenge

Shippers have long outsourced drayage to third parties, but farming out allocation decisions to managed transportation providers threads the needle between access to capacity and neutrality.

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 17:54:13 GMT

BlueGrace joins logistics M&A wave, adding FreightCenter to its portfolio

The acquisition is part of a surge in logistics M&A transactions aimed at simplifying access to systems and services for shippers and brokers.

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:47:14 GMT

US LTL carriers widen market reach through spot pricing technology

More uptake of transactional pricing in the less-than-truckload market is a sign that some carriers are targeting smaller or more infrequent LTL shippers.

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 16:06:15 GMT

Drayage diversification emerging as shipper priority amid supply chain volatility

Shippers must weigh the merits of a single-source relationship on drayage through key ports over splitting volume among regional and national carriers, or even brokers.

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 17:21:14 GMT