After a series of coordinated and disruptive work actions led by the ILWU at the West Coast’s largest ports between June 2 and June 7, operations have generally improved at the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland. However, the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma continue to suffer significant slowdowns as a result of […]
Read MoreDespite the looming possibility of a US economic recession, different industry verticals may be impacted in various ways, and freight markets might not experience a severe downturn, according to a prominent transport analyst. Lee Klaskow, Senior Freight and Transportation Logistics Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, believes that while a US recession is probable, the destocking efforts […]
Read MoreThe US economy added 339,000 jobs in May, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Friday. This was well above the consensus forecast of 190,000 jobs and marked the 29th consecutive month of job growth. The unemployment rate rose to 3.7% in May, from 3.6% in April. However, this was […]
Read MoreRecent news reporting has covered disruptions at West Coast ports stemming from negotiations between the ILWU and the PMA. On Friday June 2nd 2023, the ILWU staged “concerted and disruptive work actions that effectively shut down operations at some marine terminals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach,” said the Pacific Maritime Association […]
Read MoreWASHINGTON/LOS ANGELES, June 5 (Reuters) – Major retailers and manufacturers are urging the White House to step in and mediate the labor negotiations at West Coast ports, expressing concerns about potential disruptions to shipping during crucial holiday shopping seasons. This call comes after the closure of the largest terminal at the Port of Long Beach […]
Read MoreThe official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) came in at 48.8, down from 49.2 in April. This marks the second consecutive month that the PMI has fallen below the 50-point mark, which separates contraction from expansion. The decline in the PMI was driven by a number of factors, including weaker demand, rising costs, and […]
Read MoreThe month of May brought further challenges for airfreight rates as a combination of weak demand and a steady influx of returning belly capacity continued to impact the industry. Experts anticipate that this pressure on rates will persist throughout the year. Bruce Chan, director and senior research analyst at investment bank Stifel, expressed concerns about […]
Read MoreSeaweed, with its vibrant hues of purples, golds, and greens, is garnering attention as a potential game-changer in the fight against climate change. Startups are touting its diverse benefits, including carbon absorption, mitigation of methane emissions from cattle, biofuel production, and global food security. Varieties like sugar kelp, sea lettuce, dulse, bladderwrack, and Irish moss […]
Read MoreBIMCO has recently published its Shipping Market Overview & Outlook for Q2 2023, focusing on the supply and demand dynamics in the container shipping market. The report highlights the challenges faced by liner operators due to a weakened supply/demand balance. Regarding the demand side, BIMCO’s base case scenario suggests that global container volumes will […]
Read MoreThe transportation of hazardous and combustible goods through containers has been on the rise, posing an increasing risk to both container shipping and car carrier vessels. Additionally, the prevalence of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries has added to the potential dangers. Larger vessels now handle these hazardous cargos, amplifying the consequences of fires and resulting in more […]
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