Container Shipping News

The U.S. trade deficit was $42.2 billion in October, widening 5 percent from $40.3 billion in September, reported the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Hanjin Shipping is introducing a new West Australia Express service (WAX), effective the middle of January.

As ocean shippers and carriers prepare for the New Year, the foremost issue on their minds is whether carriers will be able to sustain the rate increases they need to rebuild their balance sheets, but the early signs are not encouraging.

When the Panama Canal’s third set of locks opens sometime in mid-2015, it won’t be the last time the Panama Canal Authority expands the canal, former administrator Alberto Aleman Zubieta says.

The ongoing dispute between Japan and China over an East China Sea island chain will continue to cast a shadow over the Japanese economy and trade outlook into next year, according to leading operators and analysts.

International Longshoremen’s Association President Harold Daggett won authorization from ILA delegates to call a strike if a bargaining impasse isn’t settled before the union’s contract expires Dec. 29.

The 2012 U.S. corn crop is high quality and improves upon last year’s good marks across a range of test factors, despite the worst drought in decades this year...

German ocean shipping company Hamburg Sud will launch a direct liner service between North America, Central America and South America on Jan. 1, replacing the current Cartagena-California service.

Container industry hopes that the current glut of vessel capacity might come into balance with demand by 2015 appear to be doomed.

Nineteen U.S. agricultural associations have sent a letter to President Obama urging him to use his authority to maintain navigation on the Mississippi River between St. Louis and Cairo, Ill.

The Retail Industry Leaders Association and National Retail Federation have urged the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance to reach...

The Dutch Coast Guard today pulled a fifth body from the North Sea after the sinking of a car carrier that collided Wednesday with a container ship 40 miles southwest of the Port of Rotterdam.

The lead negotiators for striking office clerical workers and waterfront employers in Los Angeles-Long Beach say they negotiated a good contract that their membership will be able to live with.

Transportation and logistics company Crowley Maritime Corp. today appointed Frank Larkin to senior vice president and general manager of logistics.

Container transportation company APL today introduced a new weekly East Asia service connecting Japan and Thailand, through a vessel sharing agreement with Hanjin Shipping...

CSCL and Cosco are unlikely to merge their container operations anytime soon, according to leading analysts.

Striking workers from the Office Clerical Unit of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63’s and employers at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have reached a tentative deal on a new contract, ending the strike that has crippled operations at the two ports since last week.

Chilean Fresh Fruit Association today named Karen Brux North American managing director of the trade group.

Cosco Container Lines has announced a currency adjustment factor surcharge of 7 percent on top ocean freight for eastbound shipments from the Far East and Indian subcontinent to Canada...

Evergreen Line plans to launch a new joint service with X-Press Feeders connecting ports on the west coast of Central America, with a first sailing scheduled on Dec. 19, 2012.

Singapore-based ship management company Thome Group has set up its first office outside of Singapore in Bangkok.

Taiwan-based ocean shipping company Yang Ming has announced a new direct service from Kasai, Japan, to Taiwan and Southeast Asia, starting Dec. 11.

Dutch heavy lift shipping company Dockwise have rejected a 682 million euro ($887 million) takeover offer from Boskalis

Troy Container Line has expanded and relocated its Charlotte, N.C.-based import office to another part of the city to provide extra space for staff.

Fort Smith, Ark.-based freight transportation company ABF Global Supply Chain Services is now serving Europe and Turkey with ocean transport...

Isabella Shipping has begun its Tex-Col Express service, which offers U.S. Gulf exporters direct service between Port Freeport in Texas and Cartagena, Colombia.

Container shipping lines in the Westbound Transpacific Stabilization Agreement have individually announced general rate increases on refrigerated cargo moving from the U.S. to Asia.