The long-awaited surge in inactive tonnage, driven by a wave of new large vessels delivered from shipyards, appears to have temporarily subsided. However, this lull may be short-lived as the industry faces a further increase in idle capacity. Despite the influx of larger vessels, box ships with capacities of 12,500 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) and […]
Read MoreLogistics depots across Europe are struggling to cope with a surge of empty shipping containers as the economic downturn in the Eurozone and falling trade volumes exacerbate the issue. Industry experts at Container xChange claim that the cost of repositioning empty containers now surpasses their asset value, discouraging container lessors from shipping them back […]
Read MoreAfter four weeks of gains, spot container freight rates are expected to decline in November, as shipping lines continue to add capacity despite weak demand. The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI) closed on 3 November with Transpacific rates still up, but Shanghai-North Europe rates had already begun to retreat. This is due to carriers adding […]
Read MoreA recent report by analyst Maritime Strategies International (MSI) predicts a positive outlook for container carriers operating between Asia and North Europe in 2024. The report cites emerging signs of a demand recovery in the medium term, as inventories are replenished. The Trans-Pacific route is expected to experience healthy growth in the upcoming year, while […]
Read MoreThe Port of Long Beach has reported its busiest September ever, with cargo volumes increasing by 11.8% compared to the same period last year. This is the first monthly year-over-year cargo increase for the port in 14 months. The increase was driven by high consumer demand for holiday-related goods, as well as the recent […]
Read MoreBeijing’s global maritime operations double as intelligence-gathering outposts. Introduction: Maritime trade, which accounts for ninety percent of global trade, plays a pivotal role in connecting markets worldwide. However, its vulnerability to disruptions, whether due to pandemics, port congestion, or shipping incidents, underscores the need for safeguarding this critical sector. Unlike traditional naval embargoes, modern warfare […]
Read MoreFreight rates are higher and scheduling complications are worse than pre-COVID ‘normal’. Container rates for U.S. imports have normalized. Rates for America’s exports have not. Both spot and contract rates for U.S. exports are still up double digits from pre-COVID levels. And rates are not the biggest cost issue exporters face, according to Peter […]
Read MoreThe World Shipping Council (WSC) has released its annual report on containers lost at sea, revealing positive developments in container safety within the international liner shipping industry. The report covers the year 2022, showing that 661 containers were lost overboard during the year. “The reduction in containers lost at sea in 2022 is positive […]
Read MoreThe average time that a container remained at the San Pedro Bay Port complex before being sent out from July 2023 was 3.2 days, according to the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association (PMSA). This is consistent with the average of 2.9 days in June 2023. A three-day average is within the normal range and indicates […]
Read MoreTrade activity at the Port of Long Beach (POLB) experienced a cooling trend in June as retailers worked to clear their warehouses. Last month, dockworkers and terminal operators handled a total of 597,076 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), marking a significant 28.5% decline compared to the same period in the record-setting June of 2022. Notably, imports […]
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