CMA CGM

As with other ocean carriers, rising bunker fuel prices weighed on CMA CGM’s second-quarter results. Even so, its CEO and chairman remained positive regarding 2018’s second half, citing the rise in freight rates and sustained volumes, in addition to the quality of its service offering.

An invaded ship is the latest job action by dockworkers at the port of Santos. They say they extend their existing three-day job action that ends Saturday if Brazil’s government does not agree to their pay/pension demands.

Amid a slew of low water-level carrier surcharges, the Port of Montreal said concern that its future is limited by its shallow draft is overplayed.

The service, if added, would complement existing feeder services by other ocean carriers. A CMA CGM official said the company has held talks about the possible service.

Ocean carriers have begun investing directly in start-ups, and in some cases deploying these solutions more broadly. Furthermore, as the tech sector worked through initial roadblocks, the market for sensor technology to track international freight has been steadily warming the last two years, as shippers seek more-accurate and real-time information.

CMA CGM believes expanding into land routes with supply chain services is the key to maintaining growth following the consolidation of the container shipping market.

The increase in the price of bunker fuel, driven by crude oil’s 2017 to 2018 surge, is real. But beyond that ocean carriers face a tough sell with shippers regarding the inclusion of other surcharges, given spare capacity and a continued competitive market for shipper business.

Ocean carriers’ fixed costs rose in the first quarter, and surcharges ensued. However, the hikes occur even as the surplus capacity issue lingers, prompting debate regarding whether carriers can maintain the surcharges.

Is the decision by CMA CGM to take a 25 percent stake in CEVA the beginning of a wave in which ocean carriers seek to become one-stop shipper shops?

French line CMA CGM will buy a 25 percent share of logistics operator CEVA as the carrier tries to control more of its container supply chain.

After six years of losses, the container shipping industry ended 2017 with a profit of about $7 billion. Financial reports of the 13 carriers do show improvement but do not yet reflect a full recovery — a recovery that should continue in 2018, given the strengthening global economy, unless political issues intervene.

CMA CGM wants “to be more than a price tag” and to that end will roll out insurance, trade finance, and technology and digitization efforts to make the carrier more responsive to shipper needs.

This is the first, known announcement among the ocean carriers of any surcharges in the United States related to electronic logging devices.

The mega-ships continue to flood in to the Asia-North Europe container trade lane.

CMA CGM is strengthening its presence on the east coast of South America.

The merger will create a European-wide transportation company with 18 services.

French liner giant CMA CGM sits on both sides of the fence at the Kingston Freeport Container Terminal.