Container Shipping News

Blockchain technology has the potential to disrupt multiple industries, but potential use cases in shipping are still a few years away, panelists tell the TPM 2019 Conference in Long Beach.

Using connected devices to track container cargo shipments could transform the industry, but much of their value will remain unrealized if the systems they feed can't communicate with one another.

Rising European containerized import volume in January was quickly followed by tumbling Chinese exports in February.

Whether the mandate takes effect on Jan 1, 2020, and enforcement kicks in during March — as the IMO and its 171 member countries are on track to do — or if the mandate is delayed, this is just the beginning.

Despite challenges with capacity and looming low-sulfur fuel costs, supply-demand economics points to balance — and profits — for container carriers in the short term, according to SeaIntelligence Consulting CEO Lars Jensen.

Contrary to what some BCOs believe, carrier pricing to account for higher low-sulfur fuel costs can be simple, transparent, and fair, Rolf Habben Jansen tells TPM19.

Soren Skou tells TPM19 Maersk's latest foray into integrated logistics will be more successful thanks to its dominant market share and widespread digitization throughout the container shipping industry.

With far fewer carriers operating much larger vessels, the maritime shipping landscape has changed dramatically since the first stages of containerization 60 years ago, and the industry may be on the cusp of the next phase in its evolution.

Faced with risks both new and familiar in 2019, refrigerated cargo carriers are focusing on collaboration and technology to improve and expand service.

Long-haul container carriers are looking to take advantage of a recent change in India cabotage rules intended to lure transshipment cargo away from foreign hub ports.

In an era of minute-by-minute supply chain demand, ocean shippers say they need carriers to improve on-time performance, but carriers say it's not so simple.

As Amazon-era demands for speed are multiplying, time is as important a consideration as cost for BCOs weighing merchant and carrier container haulage.

Container carrier executives tell TPM 2019 poor forecasting is an industry-wide problem, but solving it could greatly reduce overbooking and "no-show" cargo, benefiting shippers and carriers alike.

Last year's decline in US container exports, especially those bound for Asia, has continued into the early part of this year as the US-China trade war lingers and outbound rail costs rise.

Carriers are showing greater capacity discipline on the trans-Pacific trade, but the added costs from IMO's looming low-sulfur fuel regulations are clouding an otherwise positive outlook.

President Donald Trump will want to ensure voters in northern tier states don’t see heating oil and diesel prices skyrocket before the 2020 election as a result of the new IMO low-sulfur fuel rule, IHS Markit vice chairman Daniel Yergin tells the TPM 2019 Conference.

Despite carrier efforts to reduce capacity via blank sailings, spot rates declined for the third consecutive week following annual factory closures in Asia during Lunar New Year festivities.

With shippers already pushing back on low-sulfur fuel fees, tough annual contract talks lie ahead as carrier reliability on the trans-Pacific drops to new lows in January.

Upcoming trans-Pacific service contract talks give BCOs an opportunity to reassess haulage options, but choosing between carrier and merchant models requires a delicate balance between cost and control.

The risk of severe disruption in early 2020 should be on the minds of all beneficial cargo owners and forwarders leading up to the Jan. 1 imposition of the IMO's low-sulfur fuel rules.

APL is taking its expedited EXX service from Shanghai to LA, guaranteeing rapid rail delivery to key inland hubs despite congestion at West Coast ports and on intermodal rail routes.

Two of the three top container lines say that the Department of Justice has closed its investigation into the container shipping industry and released them from their related obligations.

The first full year for a merged Hapag-Lloyd-UASC entity saw a better operating result, but strong volume gains in 2018 were held back by lower freight rates and higher fuel costs.

NVOs' sweet spot in 2019 service contracts will be those BCOs who had booked space with carriers during the 2018 peak season, but turned to NVOs once those carriers failed to keep their commitments for space and price.

To lease or not to lease? That is the question for ocean carriers looking to expand their refrigerated container fleet.

Detention and demurrage cost shippers thousands every year, and although no one can completely eliminate these penalties, there are a few ways shippers can lower their financial risk.

Early indications leading up to the TPM conference March 3 are that BCOs can expect a sizable increase in base service contract rates this year, with additional charges later in the year when carriers shift to low-sulfur fuel to comply with the IMO global mandate.

The higher cost of low-sulfur fuel remains one of the greatest threats to carrier profitability over the next year.

The $421 million acquisition of P&O Ferries builds on the Dubai-based terminal operator’s purchase of European shortsea and feeder specialist Unifeeder last August.

The European Commission is reviewing submissions regarding a five-year extension of the exemption covering liner carrier consortia in advance of a 2020 expiration of the current extension.

Unlike their larger counterparts, smaller BCOs won’t be able to create their own bunker adjustment factor (BAF) formula and will have to accept varying formulas from carriers, which will likely translate to higher per TEU fuel prices.

With less than a year to go before the IMO's global requirement for the use of low-sulfur fuel, vessel operators still lack clarity into plans by refiners and suppliers to ensure sufficient fuel and infrastructure at major US gateways.

Rapid consolidation of container carriers hasn't spurred large-scale rate increases, but it has resulted in increasingly divergent strategies, with some firms focusing solely on ocean transport while others opt for a more "end-to-end" approach.

The deal gives the company more trade compliance firepower to accelerate its evolution to an integrator able to provide deeper supply chain management to shippers.

US retailers project solid middle-single-digit growth in imports through June despite large amount of front-loading that has taken place the past three months.

While blockchain hasn't happened yet in shipping, it remains for many an inchoate concept.

The Bangladesh government is introducing pre-arrival processing of import documents at ports in July.

The injection of vessels comes as demand growth of Asia-Europe westbound volume slows.

New research shows blockchain technology has a way to go before convincing the majority of enterprises of its near-term value.

CEVA Logistics wants shareholders to bear in mind the benefits of its strategic partnership with CMA CGM and turn down a bid by the carrier, highlighting the growth inherent in the company.