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Trans-Pacific westbound spot rate plunge set to deepen

Spot rates in the westbound Pacific took a sizable drop this month due to declining US exports to Asia, which are resulting in especially low vessel utilization rates. The normal strong rebound, which should begin in November, could be muted as a result.

Risk of more Golden Week blanked sailings rises

Carriers could react to the continuing decline in spot rates in the eastbound trans-Pacific by canceling more sailings during Oct. 2-7 Golden Week and beyond.

US-Canada truck preclearance moves closer to reality

A new agreement between the US and Canada will allow the two countries to fully clear cargo before railroads and trucks reach landside ports of entry, reducing congestion and freeing up customs officials.

THE, OCEAN pacts set to dominate evolving trans-Pacific

Carrier market share in the trans-Pacific is not expected to change much in the next few months, in part because carriers will manage capacity by blanking individual sailings and deploying extra-loader vessels to handle import surges.

Decarbonization pressures driving changes in container shipping

Container carriers have already begun voluntarily reducing their carbon footprints, but shippers need to be prepared for the disruptive — and expensive — changes that must take place for the wider industry to reach IMO-mandated emissions reduction targets.

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Essential Reads

Maersk boosts profits, warns of tariffs slowing trade

It was a modest second quarter result, but Maersk Line continues to improve its profitability by improving reliability and resisting any temptation to chase market share.

Top 50 trucking company rankings 2018

The largest domestic truckload and less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers reported double-digit percentage revenue gains in 2018 thanks to strong US economic growth and the tightest trucking market on record.

Yang Ming sees darkening container outlook

Yang Ming improved its revenue and volume in the first half of the year, but the Taiwanese carrier raised concerns over growing capacity and weaker demand.

US East Coast reaps gains from rise in Mexican ro-ro

Ro-ro volumes from Mexico handled by US East Coast ports are on the rise as shippers are turning increasingly to waterborne options at the expense of truck and rail.

European airport gateways feel cargo slump

There was little to celebrate at Europe’s main air cargo gateways in the first half of the year amid weak freight handling volumes that show no signs of improving.

JOC Shipping & Logistics Pricing Hub

The pricing data found here allows shippers and transport providers to more accurately benchmark and forecast for their supply chains. The various spot prices and indices are collected from third-party sources and updated weekly, monthly and quarterly, depending on the data set.

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Trans-Pacific westbound spot rate plunge set to deepen

The US-China trade war, which shows no signs of letting up, is only one driver of the declining freight rates in the westbound Pacific. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com.

New extra-loaders put downward pressure on trans-Pacific rates

Carriers continue to send mixed messages as they respond to the uncertainties over four rounds of tariffs on imports from China by the Trump administration this past year. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com.

A 10-week peak-season-only service launched Aug. 5 by Cosco and OOCL amid weakening spot rates adds a new level of confusion in the eastbound trans-Pacific, which is only being heightened by single-voyage extra-loader services by other carriers.

Zim swings to profit on higher rates, 2M pact

The volume of cargo handled by Zim in the second quarter of 2019 was lower than in the quarter a year ago, but its freight rates increased 9.5 percent. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com.

Zim’s broadening partnership with the 2M Alliance helped the Israeli carrier record a profit in the second quarter of 2019 and an increase in freight rates for the quarter over the same period in 2018.

Maersk integrator strategy takes US shape

Maersk said it has already doubled volumes on its destination cargo management solution, offering large and medium US retailers tracking of their shipments on the water, forecasting of discharge dates, and handling of pick-up orders to truckers in advance of the vessel arrival. Photo credit: Maersk.

The strong quarter for Maersk will strengthen its resolve in making what amounts to an existential bet that the integrator path is the best response to the commodification of ocean shipping.

Trucking News

Trucking Logistics

Shift higher coming for truck spot rates, demand: forecast

Small carriers are hurting this year with falling spot market rates, but Coyote Logistics says the industry has hit bottom and business should improve to end 2019. Photo credit: Ari Ashe/JOC.com

Coyote Logistics reports its spot market index is down 24.9% year over year, but the 3PL believes an inflection point is near when demand will begin to pick up and rates climb again.

Maersk integrator strategy takes US shape

The strong quarter for Maersk will strengthen its resolve in making what amounts to an existential bet that the integrator path is the best response to the commodification of ocean shipping.

US truck index signals rebounding demand

A Werner Enterprises truck on Interstate 40 in Arizona. Some data shows the trucking industry is contracting while others have a stronger view of business conditions. Photo credit: Wikicommons.

One of the few positive indicators in trucking is the ATA Tonnage Index, which rose 7.3 percent in July year over year -- a signal that some don’t believe the industry is in turmoil.

WiseTech gains foothold tracking US containers/chassis

WiseTech Global is making a big push into the US with the acquisition of Depot Systems, which runs container yards and handles container bookings. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com.

WiseTech’s purchase of Depot Systems allows it to gain yard container management technology in the US.

Port News

Halifax picks harbormaster of Australia’s Fremantle as CEO

Captain Allen Gray will from November head the Halifax Port Authority, steering a port that includes container, cruise and break bulk terminals, as well as other facilities. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com

Five NY-NJ terminals to hike demurrage

Port Newark Container Terminal is one of five terminals in the Port of New York and New Jersey that have raised demurrage fees as part of the annual fee revision. Photo credit: Hugh R. Morley.

The five terminals that comprise the New York Terminal Conference in the Port of New York and New Jersey will increase demurrage fees in October as part of their annual fee revision process.

Chinese port volumes slow amid trade war

Volumes handled by China’s top ports, such as Shanghai (above), through July were up 4.1 percent from the same period last year, but that was a slower rate of growth compared with the first seven months of 2018. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com.

Charleston, Savannah dredging projects advance

The Wando Welch Terminal. The Army Corps of Engineers awarded a contract for the final phase to deepen the inner harbor to the Wando terminal to 52 feet. Photo credit: Ari Ashe/JOC.com.

The Army Corps of Engineers awarded two contracts this week for the final steps to complete the harbor deepening in Savannah and Charleston.

Technology News

Technology

Logistics software vet launches process automation venture

The idea of equipping logistics service providers with machine learning tools to make their processes more efficient and their operations leaner is gaining momentum. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com.

The founder of industry stalwart software provider Catapult has started a new venture aiming to provide logistics companies with a way to automate repetitive and time-consuming data entry processes.

Maersk joins Indian logistics startup for truckload offering

Maersk’s newest partner, Bangalore-based BlackBuck, is one of the most capitalized logistics technology startups in Asia, with venture capital investors having poured $285.2 million into the company. Photo credit: Maersk India.

Maersk’s latest linkup signals the carrier’s intent to continue building out its digital offerings to shippers.

WiseTech gains foothold tracking US containers/chassis

WiseTech’s purchase of Depot Systems allows it to gain yard container management technology in the US.

Maersk works to monetize TradeLens

Maersk wants its blockchain TradeLens platform to be a fully diversified driver of revenue apart from its physical liner and logistics operations. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com.

Monetization of TradeLens would give the largest global container line another revenue stream not tied to ocean shipping, furthering its effort to become an integrator.

Breakbulk News

Breakbulk

US ro-ro imports surge at top ports

Private helicopter landing on Mafi trailers at WW Solutions’ Terminal in Brunswick, Georgia. Photo credit: Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean.

Ro-ro high and heavy imports are strong into the United States despite gathering economic storm clouds.

Ulrichs named CEO of BBC Chartering

Three cranes, a 550 metric ton (mt) ship-to-shore crane, a 320 mt gantry crane, and a 125 mt ship loader are loaded aboard the BBC Amber at Yangzhong, China, for transport to Indonesia. Photo credit: BBC Chartering.

Ulrich Ulrichs takes the helm of prominent global MPV/HL carrier BBC Chartering as Svend Andersen steps down.

Mallory Alexander building project cargo unit

Michael Confessore, forwarder Mallory Alexander’s new director of project and breakbulk services, says there’s still plenty of value for project forwarders to provide despite the growing trend of shippers taking more freight-related tasks in-house. Photo credit: Mallory Alexander.

The Memphis-based freight forwarder has hired long-time project forwarding veteran Michael Confessore to help build a dedicated project team from the ground up.

Toepfer Multipurpose Index gains in August

Iron ore mining in Pilbara, Western Australia. A similar mining project, recently awarded, is expected to require shipments of 450,000 freight tons of project cargo. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com.

Toepfer’s multipurpose index posted a slight gain as of mid-August as competitors stayed occupied elsewhere and one large freight contract was awarded.

Trans-Pacific westbound spot rate plunge set to deepen

Risk of more Golden Week blanked sailings rises

US-Canada truck preclearance moves closer to reality

THE, OCEAN pacts set to dominate evolving trans-Pacific

Decarbonization pressures driving changes in container shipping

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