Shipping lines continue to rail against the introduction of new legislation in the US that is aimed at curbing some of the excesses that both importers and exporters have complained about over the past two years. A Senate version of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act is now under consideration in the US...
The massive road freight congestion on the Vietnam-China border is causing major headaches for intra-Asia cargo flows, with planes, and now trains, helping pick up the slack. On Tuesday, Alibaba logistics unit Cainiao said it had launched a daily charter flight between Ho Chi Minh City and Nanning to “safeguard” the cross-border...
Starting the year in lockdown and ending the year in lockdown, it all seems like a scene from the Bill Murray classic film Groundhog Day, but in between we did manage some valuable face-to-face networking. So here’s hoping we can finally kick this nasty virus into touch in 2022! Meanwhile, 2021 proved...
It’s one thing to be an importer with your goods ensnared in the chaotic port congestion seen in the major hubs around the world, but what about when it’s on your doorstep, day and night? This Bloomberg report takes a wander through the US Wilmington district (not to be confused with...
Goodbye 2021, we’re done. But watch out, here comes 2022! How lucky I recently argued that we are in a supply chain stalemate, as ports around the world remain congested due to excessive numbers of out-of-position empty containers not being loaded for repatriation by the world’s shipping lines, among other factors. But how can...
The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is planning to help shippers “get their money back” from “unreasonable” demurrage and detention (D&D) charges. In November, the FMC launched an investigation into shipping lines’ role in the country’s port congestion, including D&D charges, empty container returns and the practice by some of declining agricultural...
The main container ports in North Europe were eerily quiet at the weekend, due to the almost week-long blockage of the Suez Canal by the Ever Given. But now, an armada of late-running ULCVs is enroute from the Mediterranean, providing an intense challenge for vessel operators to turn ships around as quickly as...
The traditional April network adjustments by the three east-west alliances are likely to take a back seat this year as carriers navigate their way through the fall-out from the week-long Suez Canal blockage. Even before the enforced week-long delay of the waterway’s north and southbound convoys, THE Alliance was the only vessel...
The Suez Canal is set to resume operations today after the 20,388 teu Ever Given was re-floated overnight. While the vessel’s bow remained stuck on one side of the waterway this morning, the high spring tide this afternoon allowed salvors to re-float the entire ship and unblock the waterway after a week...
Asia-North Europe container spot rates eased back slightly this week, as carriers ‘hoovered up’ stockpiled cargo accumulated before Chinese New Year. However, rates from Asia to the US increased again. Today’s reading of the Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) for a 40ft from Asia to North Europe was $8,308, compared with $8,430 a week...
