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Container Shipping News

The latest container shipping news and analysis of ocean container shipping, logistics, supply chains, technology solutions and end-to-end connectivity. Coverage includes the movement of containerized cargo handled by marine terminals and container ports, depots, container lines, drayage, consignees, importers and shippers, forwarders, non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) and off-dock warehousing providers. The Journal of Commerce's container shipping news includes news from the trans-Pacific, Asia-Europe, North America-Caribbean, Central and South America trades, and intra-Asia trades.

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The latest Container Shipping News News & Analysis

FMC’s Bentzel seeks industry input for agency’s data initiative

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
With a formal request for information, Federal Maritime Commissioner Carl Bentzel believes the agency is introducing a more “transparent and inclusive process” with stakeholders when it comes to policymaking.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsLogistics Technology News

MSC reconnects India to Asia-USWC string as contract rates tick higher

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
MSC, which has implemented large-scale network realignments in recent months, halted Indian calls on the Sentosa service in April when it opened a standalone intra-Asia loop.
Trans-PacificContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American portsInternational ports

Revised terminal leases give PANYNJ cut of CMA CGM’s demurrage revenue

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said the new leases attempt to “strike a balance” to reflect current market realities, but other MTO sources called the practice of sharing demurrage uncommon.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesMarine terminals

US shippers should begin planning now for potential 2024 disruptions: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst |
In addition to the typical annual planning, such as for budgets and freight rates, US importers need to start weighing contingency plans for two potentially disruptive occurrences next year — continued low-water levels along the Panama Canal and the expiration of the International Longshoremen’s Association contract, writes Lars Jensen.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesLongshore laborNorth American portsInternational ports

Hamburg follows North Europe port rivals with H1 volume decline

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Weak European demand for containerized trade through the first half is hurting port throughput at the region’s top three gateways, but signs are emerging of recovering volume on certain routes.
Port NewsContainer Shipping NewsTrans-AtlanticAsia-EuropeInternational ports

Spot rate gains puts pressure on shippers delaying Asia-Europe contracts: Xeneta

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Additional upward pressure might soon be brought to bear on spot rates, with forwarders expecting carriers to ramp up blank sailings through the fourth quarter to mitigate a significant injection of new capacity.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesAsia-Europe

Carriers hold fast to trans-Pac capacity cuts amid unclear import demand

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Blank sailings during August held largely steady from July as the outlook for US import demand remains unclear, according to forwarders.
Trans-PacificContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

CEVA expands India footprint with contract logistics takeover

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The CMA CGM subsidiary’s latest acquisition will significantly increase its presence in South Asia that is growing in importance as supply chain routes shift across the region.
Supply chainForwardingIndustrial Real Estate NewsLast Mile NewsCool Cargo News

Lack of market clarity undermines positive sentiment: OOCL

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The Cosco Shipping subsidiary noted that significant uncertainties over economic growth prospects and the huge injection of capacity into major trade lanes made forecasting difficult.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificAsia-Europe

US July imports from Asia hit 11-month high, portending year-on-year fall growth

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
The fresh data also showed — starkly — how the West Coast’s share of imports from Asia eroded during the 13 months of contentious contract negotiations between the ILWU and waterfront employers.
Trans-PacificContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Shippers reluctant to shoulder high cost of decarbonization: executives

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Getting shippers to commit to premium-priced, low-emissions shipping services is a hard sell for ocean carriers and forwarders as cargo owners enjoy rates that are now mostly below pre-pandemic levels after two years of record highs.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesForwardingTrans-PacificTrans-AtlanticAsia-Europe

Forwarders warn of substantial Q4 rise in Asia-Europe blank sailings

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Carriers will have to withdraw large amounts of capacity to prevent a freefall in rate levels that are expected to be undermined by rising capacity and subdued demand, according to forwarders.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesAsia-Europe

FMC ‘refusal of service’ rule risks overreacting to pandemic market

Peter Tirschwell |
The proposed rulemaking shows how far the pendulum of power has swung in favor of shippers seeking to hold carriers accountable for practices that occurred during the pandemic, but which were rarely experienced prior to that period, writes Peter Tirschwell.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Port Houston joins Portchain’s growing network for vessel arrival software

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Portchain has pulled in 76 container terminals into its vessel arrival coordination platform with carriers in the past 18 months, with Port Houston the latest to join.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesPort NewsNorth American portsInternational ports

Zim bets on spot rates in challenging trans-Pacific market

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Despite the stability offered by contracted volume, the Israel-based carrier decided against locking in long-term rates at unsustainably low levels.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-Pacific

FMC walks tightrope on 'refusal of service' rulemaking

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
The clash between shippers and container lines highlights a major challenge for the FMC in finalizing rulemaking on when a carrier can refuse to serve shippers, most notably the risk that it could create a rule that’s so commercially restrictive that it’s unconstitutional.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Rate collapse drags trans-Atlantic trade to loss-making levels: Hapag-Lloyd CEO

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Rolf Habben Jansen has hinted that capacity cuts on the trans-Atlantic could be made “fairly soon” as supply outstrips weak demand for US imports.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-Atlantic

Logistics technology investment slowing post-pandemic: survey

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
A study of global logistics professionals around hurdles to technology investment found that respondents were uninterested in linking financial rewards with software adoption.
Logistics Technology NewsForwardingSupply chain

New ships coming to trans-Pacific expected to overwhelm rate gains

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
A sharp increase in new vessel deliveries over the coming weeks is forecast to put more pressure on ocean carriers to blank sailings — or face falling rates.
Container Shipping NewsTrans-PacificNorth American ports

Shippers offer mixed reaction to Dye’s proposals to fix container terminal flow

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The National Shipper Advisory Committee saw some good in the FMC commissioner’s ideas, but said without a clear path for implementation, businesses will continue to be hurt by detention and demurrage charges.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer linesTrucking News

Most India-Europe rates falter amid shrinking export volumes

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
Average rates from West India to Europe and the Mediterranean have cooled between 10 to 15% from what carriers were quoting at the end of July, deepening the slide seen over the past year.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

Asia-US container spot rates keep rising amid more blank sailings

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
Spot rates in the eastbound trans-Pacific continue to move higher, although a planned general rate increase this week could be the last one for a while, as carriers are scheduled to add a significant amount of new capacity into the global fleet beginning later this year.
Trans-PacificContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesForwardingNorth American ports

Latest push in House for US shipping reform stalls, for now

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Stalled since May, the Ocean Shipping Reform Technical Act of 2023 may never be taken up by the House of Representatives as regulators are still struggling to implement last year’s original legislation.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Demand decline shrinks MSC’s lead atop US import carrier rankings

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
No carrier was untouched by a 22.4% drop in containerized US imports through May, with 36 of the 40 largest lines registering year-over-year volume declines, according to the Journal of Commerce’s Top 40 Container Carriers by US Imports and Exports.
Container Shipping News

Panama Canal delays raise risks for shippers, but not yet biting

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The Panama Canal’s limits on vessel drafts and transits have yet to make big impact on container shipping, but at least one forwarder is warning shippers not to be complacent.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Yang Ming, Wan Hai end profitable runs with Q2 loss

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The rapid normalization of container shipping markets claimed its first victims as tumbling rate levels dragged Yang Ming and compatriot carrier Wan Hai into the red in the second quarter.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

ILA flexes to fight on multiple beachheads

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Sources say USMX has made the ILA an offer on par with the increases the ILWU secured in its latest contract. However, the ILA also wants stronger protections for work jurisdiction and automation.
Longshore laborContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Logistics industry tiptoeing toward AI adoption: Freightos research

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Shippers and forwarders recently surveyed by Freightos believe artificial intelligence will reduce headcounts in the logistics industry, even if they have yet to figure out how best to use the still-emerging technology.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsForwardingAir Cargo Forwarder NewsSupply chain

Hapag-Lloyd, HMM predict H2 demand pickup amid faltering profits

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The first-half results of Hapag-Lloyd and HMM mirror those reported by their peers, with earnings severely challenged by the rapidly normalizing market.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificAsia-Europe

Parish lawsuit won’t derail new terminal project: Port NOLA CEO

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
A district attorney for the parish that would be home to the proposed new Louisiana International Terminal alleges the Port of New Orleans has no legal basis to operate there.
North American portsContainer Shipping News

Hapag-Lloyd’s steel-floor container aims to mitigate growing global pest infestations

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The Hamburg-based carrier is testing a prototype container with a steel floor that is easier to repair and clean than traditional wooden floors, decreasing the chance of cargo contamination, particularly invasive pests.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Robust Asia–Med demand continues to outpace North Europe growth

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Despite unfavorable comparisons with last year, volume between Asia and the Mediterranean has surpassed that recorded in pre-pandemic 2019.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesAsia-Europe

DB Schenker signs up to Hapag-Lloyd ‘book and claim’ green service

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The German forwarder aims to make significant cuts in emissions for customers on the ocean leg of their container transport.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

ILA seeks arbitration with carriers in new Leatherman suit

Michael Angell, Associate Editor, and Teri Griffis, Associate Editor |
The latest lawsuit from International Longshoremen’s Association ups the damages the union is seeking from ocean carriers that used the Port of Charleston’s Hugh K. Leatherman terminal.
Longshore laborContainer linesNorth American ports

MSC adds Italian airline to expanding air cargo offering

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
AlisCargo will join MSC’s air freight division in early 2024 as the ocean carrier steadily builds out its global air network.
Air CargoContainer linesAir Cargo Carriers News

New China–South India string to boost rising intra-Asia capacity

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
The latest China–India service follows the announcement of another new string from CULines and capacity increases from other carriers, including Pacific International Lines, Evergreen Marine and Regional Container Lines.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesAsia-Europe

ILWU Canada contract ratification ensures BC port peace

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
The disruption laid bare the limits the Trudeau government will exercise to push both sides to a deal that was ratified Friday by longshore union membership at the ports of Vancouver and Prince Rupert.
Longshore laborContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Maersk’s lagging ‘integrator’ plan now needs to winnow costs: Clerc

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Maersk has invested $10.5 billion in its logistics and services business to date, but results are falling behind plan after last year’s volumes evaporated.
Container linesContainer Shipping NewsForwardingSupply chainLast Mile News

Maersk’s contract business cushions impact of ‘normalizing’ market

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The carrier has more than two-thirds of its volume under long-term agreements, which provided some insulation from the tumbling second-quarter spot market.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

HMM puts larger ships into trans-Pacific as Yang Ming signs on for slots

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The deal with Yang Ming follows similar slot charter agreements that HMM inked with Hapag-Lloyd in mid-July and Ocean Network Express in March.
Container linesContainer Shipping News