US retail spending is increasing despite inflationary pressures, while bookings and port volumes remain strong, suggesting the inventory warnings of Walmart and Target have not hit the larger retail industry yet.
Maritime News
Maritime News
Maritime news articles about every aspect of the industry, including ports, container and breakbulk lines; and ships and ship chartering. Coverage also includes the impact of recent industry mergers and acquisitions, and of emerging new technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things.
From the largest container lines such as Maersk Line, MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Co.), COSCO Shipping/OOCL, CMA CGM and Ocean Network Express (ONE), to smaller carriers such as SM Line and Eimskip, JOC.com covers the entire industry with unequaled intelligence, data, insight, statistics, and analysis. JOC.com regularly updates its proprietary data about the activity of largest ports, container lines, breakbulk lines and other stakeholders in the maritime shipping sector.
News & Analysis
05 Apr 2022
The differential between short- and long-term rates on Asia-North Europe has narrowed dramatically in the past few days, while spot rates on the trans-Atlantic have taken off.
04 Apr 2022
The Panama Canal Authority is proposing a new tolling plan that would assess the first fees on empty containers returning from North America to Asia.
04 Apr 2022
Third-party logistics providers (3PLs) took advantage of 2021’s roaring rate environment to expand their net revenue, with rapid growth among the largest forwarders further compounded by merger and acquisition activity.
04 Apr 2022
Although OSRA22 is now almost certain to become law, it’s not clear how the law’s provisions regarding fair rates, reasonable accessorial charges, and determination of best practices will be implemented.
01 Apr 2022
Carriers and analysts warn that higher-than-expected demand and resulting shifts in vessel rotations have made the US East Coast “the next hot spot” for port congestion.
31 Mar 2022
The Senate’s passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2022 brings the container shipping industry one step closer to new US regulations affecting container storage fees and the willingness of carriers to accept export cargoes.
31 Mar 2022
A report from McKinsey & Co. says that ocean freight rates will only return to pre-COVID-19 levels if US demand for consumer goods slows and port congestion clears.
31 Mar 2022
Chinese carrier Cosco believes the high-riding container shipping sector will need to navigate a growing series of global challenges that could influence the industry’s long-term performance.
29 Mar 2022
Demand for shipping containers — and very likely prices — are expected to climb again due to a flurry of new container ship deliveries in 2023 and 2024.
29 Mar 2022
Global liner schedule reliability saw an uptick in February thanks to less lengthy delays for ships on the eastbound trans-Pacific to the US West Coast.
28 Mar 2022
Shippers need to do a deep dive into freight rates, capacity offered, and schedule reliability if they want to properly understand ocean freight market dynamics as well as their own performance within the market, says JOC analyst Lars Jensen.
28 Mar 2022
A new loop from a consortium of carriers linking India and key ports in Asia demonstrates how carriers have been working to keep pace with resurgent export demand out of the country.
25 Mar 2022
Orient Overseas Container Line saw 2021 operating profit increase more than seven times over 2020 as high ocean freight rates offset flat volume growth.
25 Mar 2022
Ocean carriers are stepping up efforts to sweep up empty containers that are congesting ports on the US West and East coasts ahead of an expected surge of new imports.
24 Mar 2022
New complaints to the US Federal Maritime Commission over the alleged failure of carriers to move volumes committed in ocean freight contracts suggests shipper frustration with capacity availability and rates remains high.
23 Mar 2022
ONE chief Jeremey Nixon said he’d seen some improvement in port congestion on the US West Coast, but there is “still a long way to go.”
22 Mar 2022
The Federal Maritime Commission is adding the availability of export capacity to its ongoing scrutiny of how ocean carriers are operating in the US.
22 Mar 2022
Already elevated fuel prices are increasing across freight transport modes in the wake of oil market volatility related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, shifting shippers' focus back to costs after two years in which speed of delivery has been paramount.
21 Mar 2022
Trans-Pacific carriers are wrapping up service contract talks with small and mid-size shippers at much higher rates than large retailers secured just months ago.
18 Mar 2022
The temporary suspension of P&O Ferries’ services has rocked a UK logistics industry already struggling to cope with a host of supply chain issues caused by Brexit, the pandemic, and ongoing manpower shortages.
18 Mar 2022
Democratic senators took the opportunity of a recent committee meeting to drill FMC Chairman Daniel Maffei on sky-high freight rates charged by ocean carriers amid declining service levels.
17 Mar 2022
The upward spiral in freight rates that has allowed carriers to earn record profits was caused by the same fundamentals that held rates and profits down before pandemic: supply and demand.
16 Mar 2022
Mediterranean Shipping Co. is launching the first container service into the US East Coast that will call three Baltic countries directly, as congestion woes on the trans-Atlantic mount.
16 Mar 2022
German startup Flowfox is working with Kuehne + Nagel to pilot its platform that automates import clearance and container re-use at European ports with an eye toward global expansion of the solution.
15 Mar 2022
US ports, labor unions, and US-flag interests are joining container lines in a bid to stop the Biden administration and Congress from stripping the limited antitrust immunity carriers enjoy.
15 Mar 2022
The Justice Department’s probe of the US supply chain comes amid increased pressure from the Biden administration to more closely monitor container line pricing activities in the wake of historic rate levels.
15 Mar 2022
The need to share data among supply chain participants has become a priority amid record volumes of US imports that have resulted in vessel backlogs, terminal congestion, and a stressed inland logistics sector.
15 Mar 2022
Maritime groups say they have addressed concerns that have slowed progress in creating an R&D fund meant to find global shipping’s green fuel of the future.
11 Mar 2022
Maersk is selling its stake in a publicly traded Russian ports operator whose market value has plunged in recent weeks owing to the war in Ukraine.
11 Mar 2022
OOCL’s Rail-Sea service to the US East Coast has been shifted away from a Russian transshipment port and instead is using a route through Poland amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
11 Mar 2022
Geopolitical turmoil is pushing up bunker prices, significantly adding to carrier costs that will be passed on to shippers through fuel surcharges in long-term contracts.
11 Mar 2022
Yang Ming is extending waivers on fees related to import containers lingering at marine terminals because of congestion, which truckers claim is due to empty boxes.
10 Mar 2022
Maersk has signed strategic agreements with global green methanol producers as it accelerates progress towards revised greenhouse gas emissions targets.
10 Mar 2022
Hapag-Lloyd has acquired Africa specialist carrier as the German container line expands its footprint in a continent the carrier’s CEO believes holds long-term potential.
09 Mar 2022
In reporting a $4.6 billion profit in 2021, Zim Integrated Shipping Services warns shipping disruption could bleed into 2023 but it expects some spot rate normalization in the second of half of this year.
Commentary
Today's shippers want it all
Maersk — an update on the ‘one-stop shipper shop’ project
2018 — So far, two distinct markets for shippers
On my ‘watch’ list — in a container shipping year that bears watching
Blockchain and shipping: the platform hurdle