When Malcom McLean introduced the world to container shipping in 1956, it not only touched off a seismic shift in the way cargo was handled but also the equipment and infrastructure needed to support containerized operations. Loading and unloading cargo from ships piece by piece in breakbulk operations, a process that could take days and […]
Read MoreWith Chinese New Year starting Sunday, and manufacturing and logistics operations virtually shut down there for two weeks, experts say retail inventory levels are in a good place given recent gluts and proactive restocks, but the weeks following will bear watching and might bring issues. System shutdowns related to Chinese New Year, which runs from […]
Read MoreEconomic pressures continue to hamper consumer spending, and industry players are not expecting to see the usual increase in demand as factories close for the two-week holiday. According to a global freight forwarder, the year-end holiday in 2022 did not deplete stock levels. For this reason, a limited uptick in demand is expected after the […]
Read MoreAnalysts and transportation companies agree that despite ongoing COVID challenges in China, it will not result in a widespread crisis leading to a shortage of goods and congestion in supply chains. The decline in China’s industrial production cannot be solely attributed to a lack of Chinese labor due to the pandemic. It is also a […]
Read MoreDrewry’s WCI Asia-North Europe index recorded a 10% increase in the spot rate reading from pre-Christmas levels yet, export demand to North Europe ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year (CNY) remains dampened and that is expected to continue post-holiday. Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime says the rate spike on the tradelane needed to […]
Read MoreA slowdown in production typically takes place in the period around the Chinese Lunar New Year (CNY) with shipping lines blanking sailings to balance supply with demand. Yet, despite a market faced with stagnated demand growth and declining freight rates, carriers have not acted to reduce additional capacity during CNY 2023. Sea-Intelligence data […]
Read MoreThe ATA’s For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased a further 2.5% in November following a drop of 1.2% in October. The Tonnage Index is largely calculated on contract freight, rather than the spot market freight. “For-hire truck tonnage saw the largest single monthly decrease in November since the start of the pandemic and a total drop […]
Read MoreCargo volumes have slowed further in November at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The decline is expected to continue through the second quarter of 2023 or later. Port of Los Angeles Executive Director, Gene Seroka said during his monthly media briefing that between August and November, the port had experienced a 21% […]
Read MoreBooking levels are showing no signs of increasing through the peak shipping period. Having moved up shipping schedules and increasing inventories in response to supply chain disruptions, U.S. and European businesses remain well-stocked with goods this year. Container Trade Statistics (CTS) data shows the demand collapse escalated in October. In a LinkedIn post, Lars Jensen, […]
Read MoreCollaboration aimed at decarbonizing ocean cargo transport The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), Port of Long Beach, Port of Los Angeles, and C40 Cities have begun discussions to establish a green and digital shipping corridor between Singapore and the San Pedro Bay port complex. The corridor will focus on low- and zero-carbon ship […]
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