Port Saint John gains rail service to US Northeast Port Saint John is making a push to become an alternative gateway for parts of the northern United States. Port of Saint John has unveiled a new direct intermodal rail service between the Canada port and the Boston market, giving US shippers a Canadian alternative to […]
Read More →Slack season, closed China factories raise prospect of new rate war
on September 13, 2017in Industry News
Slack season, closed China factories raise prospect of new rate war The areas of China impacted by Beijing’s factory closures. Credit: Gary Huang Carriers are slipping back into market share chasing mode as the slack October period approaches, threatening an end to the pricing discipline that has driven profitability at shipping companies up to levels […]
Read More →What’s good for carriers of little benefit for BCOs, shippers say
on September 12, 2017in Industry News
What’s good for carriers of little benefit for BCOs, shippers say Carriers and shippers disagree about the merits of shipping alliances. Shippers are seeing little improvement in service levels from the new container shipping alliances that were launched on April 1, even as most global carriers bank a profitable first half and are looking forward […]
Read More →US Southeast ports to reopen but cargo delays to last days
on September 12, 2017in Industry News
US Southeast ports to reopen but cargo delays to last days Members of the US Coast Guard inspect the Port of Charleston during Hurricane Irma. The US ports that closed ahead of Hurricane Irma’s landfall are preparing to reopen, but with fuel stores low, many still without power, and roads and rail lines in disrepair, […]
Read More →Analysts: Carriers profits up but overcapacity slows recovery
on September 11, 2017in Industry News
Analysts: Carriers profits up but overcapacity slows recovery There is no arguing that supply and demand are more closely aligned this year, the debate is over how much. A wide-ranging improvement in carrier profitability is being driven by better market fundamentals and greater pricing discipline, and it has container shipping analysts weighing in on whether […]
Read More →New equipment to help ease Chittagong port congestion
on September 11, 2017in Industry News
New equipment to help ease Chittagong port congestion Shippers have long been clamoring for more port equipment such as reach stackers in Chittagong. The Chittagong port on Friday received 46 pieces of container-handling capacity shippers have long demanded to boost capacity at the oft-congested port that is operating well beyond its designed TEU capacity. The […]
Read More →Tech startups intent on revolutionizing container shipping
on September 9, 2017in Industry News
Tech startups intent on revolutionizing container shipping Two decades after the arrival of the internet sparked a wave of largely unsuccessful technology-fueled startups designed to cut costs or improve efficiency in container shipping, there’s a sense that technology will propel the industry beyond incremental gains. The confluence of changing demographics, an industry stressed by physical […]
Read More →US import surge in July belies fall slowdown
on September 8, 2017in Industry News
US import surge in July belies fall slowdown Containerized US imports are projected to set a new record this year. An unexpected surge in imports in July will take some of the steam out of peak-season volumes this fall, although 2017 will still be a record year for US imports, according to the Global Port […]
Read More →Trans-Pac spot rates tread water ahead of Golden Week
on September 8, 2017in Industry News
Trans-Pac spot rates tread water ahead of Golden Week Trans-Pacific spot rates have slid steadily since July. Spot rates in the eastbound Pacific continued to tread water this week, although space on vessels leaving Asia should tighten noticeably later this month before factories in China close on Oct. 1 for the annual Golden Week celebration. […]
Read More →Rocketing air cargo volume keeps up rate pressure
on September 8, 2017in Industry News
Rocketing air cargo volume keeps up rate pressure Air cargo growth was strongest in Africa and weakest in Latin America. Air cargo demand rose 11.4 percent in July, more than double the 3.7 percent expansion in capacity, setting the stage for higher rates as shippers rush to meet peak season demand. July’s performance was the […]
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