North American ports

News and analysis of North American ports, terminals, dredging, expansion, inland distribution, labor, disruption, congestion, cargo flow

The latest North American ports News & Analysis

UP boosts intermodal service with new Houston connections, Phoenix ramp

Michael Angell, Associate Editor and Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
The Class I railroad sees an opportunity to tap growth at the Gulf Coast’s busiest port with new intermodal lanes, while expanding its inland reach from Los Angeles and Long Beach.
North-American railNorth American portsIntermodal providers

India-US contract rates hit fresh lows despite lower capacity from sailing cuts

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
Given the persistent downward pressure on demand, it remains to be seen if India-US carriers will be able to push through a new round of modest rate hikes planned for December.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American portsInternational ports

ONE readies India-US East Coast service as part of 2024 network rollout

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The carrier is looking to expand beyond its two current services jointly offered with other liners with a standalone service meant to take advantage of the growing shift in sourcing from India.
Container linesContainer Shipping NewsNorth American ports

Ashcroft Terminal to expand railcar storage to alleviate Vancouver congestion

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The project, in coordination with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, is due to be completed in late 2024 and will help move cargo faster through Western Canada.
North-American railTrans-PacificNorth American portsPort infrastructure

Virginia’s resins export market gets boost with new $60 million investment

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The Norfolk expansion plans from resin logistics specialist Katoen Natie come as more plastics production is going onstream in the Northeast US.
North American portsContainer Shipping News

Soft US import volumes crimping container availability for agricultural exports

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
With peak season at hand for ag exports, shippers say weak US import volumes have constrained the supply of repositioned containers they need to send goods overseas, risking disruption to their supply chains.
MaritimeContainer linesNorth American portsNorth-American rail

New logistics center under construction to tap into Port of Savannah’s growth

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The four-phase, seven-building project with CSX rail connections will support the growing needs of importers and exporters using the port.
Industrial Real Estate NewsNorth American portsNorth-American rail

US imports from Asia hit 2023 high in October despite muted peak season

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
While October is typically one of the busiest months of the year for West Coast ports, the region’s market share of imports from Asia slipped markedly from September, but carrier executives said that was an anomaly linked to capacity cuts in the eastbound trans-Pacific.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsTrans-PacificNorth American ports

House bill seeks to ensure funding for CBP capital costs linked to port inspections

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The bill is a response to growing CBP demands that ports pay for new inspection-related equipment, or risk having the agency reduce the amount of time its officers spend performing inspections.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsNorth American ports

Rate spread between US East-West coasts erodes amid shifts in volume, sourcing

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The long-standing spread, typically about $1,000, is now half that as volume growth returns to West Coast ports and shippers increasingly tap into Southeast Asia manufacturing.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

GPA invests $262 million to upgrade Brunswick’s ro/ro facilities

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
GPA's ability to handle growing volumes has attracted the likes of Rivian and Hyundai, both planting roots in Georgia to export vehicles from new facilities through Brunswick.
Ro/ro cargoHeavy-haul transportNorth American portsPort infrastructure

Seaboard Marine includes Wilmington in new Central America service

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The direct service that kicks off at the end of the month will add further options to transport apparel, textiles, poultry, pork and agricultural products between Central America and the US East Coast.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsCool Cargo News

ILA looking for local ports to bring in more union foremen

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Alongside broader talks on wages for its members, the International Longshoremen’s Association said individual ports need to use more union supervisors and foremen, particularly throughout the South.
Longshore laborContainer Shipping NewsNorth American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Weak US imports via Western Canada reveal BC port challenge

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
The cracks in the gateway’s attractiveness to importers and exporters out of the US Midwest were showing before this July’s work stoppage and the decline in import demand across North America.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth-American rail

Mobile looks to boost container terminal capacity to handle intermodal demand

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Once fully complete by 2025, the current expansion project would allow the port to handle 1.1 million TEUs annually, up from 650,000 TEUs.
North American portsIntermodal providersNorth-American rail

ONE finalizes terminal deals in Los Angeles, Oakland, Rotterdam

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The Singapore-based carrier has now expanded its access to capacity in the strategic locations of the US West Coast, North Europe and Southeast Asia.
Port NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American portsInternational ports

ILA's Daggett raises possibility of 2024 strike at US East, Gulf coast ports

Peter Tirschwell |
Ahead of an International Longshoremen’s Association conference, president Harold Daggett has warned union rank-and-file to be prepared for the “possibility of a coast-wide strike.”
Longshore laborContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Delaware’s planned Edgemoor terminal gets grant from US port funding program

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Along with the grant for the Port of Wilmington’s proposed container terminal, Tacoma and Long Beach received grants for improving truck and rail access, respectively.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Southeast governors say ILA could ‘weaponize’ Leatherman court decision

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Six amicus briefs have been filed to the US Supreme Court supporting the South Carolina Ports Authority’s position that the ILA is illegally forcing carriers to boycott Charleston’s Hugh Leatherman Terminal as a means to acquire jobs that belong to state employees.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLongshore laborTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

USWC-bound ships boost reliability in September amid cargo push

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
On-time performance to the West Coast improved during the busiest month of 2023 for Asian imports to date, but East Coast reliability took a dip.
Trans-PacificContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

ILA contract expiration, Panama Canal limits favor West Coast ports: Matson

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
Pacific-focused Matson has already enjoyed the return of some cargoes that had been diverted to the East and Gulf coasts but are now returning to the West Coast after the ILWU ratified its contract in September.
Trans-PacificContainer Shipping NewsNorth American ports

New MSC-backed Baltimore container terminal on track for 2028 debut

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Developers of the Sparrows Point Container Terminal are starting the permitting process with the US Army Corps of Engineers that will allow construction to begin in 2025.
North American portsContainer Shipping News

Georgia tells Supreme Court ILA ruling could jeopardize plans for third ocean terminal

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The Georgia Ports Authority plans to open a third ocean terminal in Savannah in 2030 and says updating its current hybrid labor model to an all-union workforce could cost the port $600 million in its first operating year.
North American portsLongshore laborTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Port of Montreal labor talks head to mediation at longshore union’s request

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
While neither side has made public its terms for a new collective bargaining agreement, sources familiar with the talks say the union is looking for a 20% increase in wages over four years and a faster seniority path for dockworkers.
Longshore laborContainer Shipping NewsNorth American ports

Hobbled Panama Canal pinched further as eastern Asia factory growth favors Suez

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
The Panama Canal faces the prospect of transit and loading limitations becoming a regular feature of all-water transits to eastern North America, while a shift of trade out of China increasingly favors Suez Canal routings in the longer-term, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificNorth American ports

THE Alliance culls US, Europe services amid weak Southeast Asia import demand

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The latest service suspensions signal that US and European demand for some Asia-sourced consumer goods will remain tepid following the record spending splurge of the previous two years.
Container linesContainer Shipping NewsNorth American portsInternational ports

Carrier wants SSA Marine to refund $9 million in Long Beach congestion fees

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The FMC complaint is atypical in that it’s an ocean carrier challenging fees rather than a cargo owner, forwarder or trucker pushing back against detention and demurrage charges.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsNorth American ports

Trans-Pac ships tapping Lázaro Cárdenas amid Panama draft limits

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Mexico’s second-largest port is being added as regular and irregular call to trans-Pacific services due to draft restrictions and increasing availability of intermodal rail.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

Export rebound, manufacturing imports keeping Gulf Coast volumes afloat

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Amid a down year overall, Gulf Coast port volumes are holding up thanks to petrochemical exports, as well as growing imports related to energy projects and specialized manufacturing in the region.
North American portsContainer Shipping News

Prince Rupert to build large export transload facility to balance cargo mix

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
Construction of the C$750 million, 400,000-TEU facility for Canadian and US agricultural and resin exports will be key to achieving more balanced two-way trade through the Western Canadian port.
MaritimePort NewsNorth American portsNorth-American rail

India-US rates pushed lower amid excess capacity, muted peak season

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
After jettisoning previously planned October rate hikes, some India-USEC carriers have published new, modest rate increase plans for November.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American portsInternational ports

Planned bridge raising opens door to upgrade of North Charleston Terminal

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
SC Ports says the work will allow the terminal to attract growing volumes of cargo moving through the Suez Canal on large ships that are too big to call the facility now.
Port infrastructureContainer Shipping NewsNorth American ports

Labor peace drives West Coast rebound in market share of Asian imports

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
Discretionary cargo is returning to the West Coast as the confidence of retailers is boosted by ratification of the longshore labor contract in late August and the ability of the ports to immediately handle more cargo.
MaritimePort NewsLongshore laborNorth American ports

Norfolk continues to drive warehousing boom in Southeast US

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Demand for industrial warehousing is surging along the Southeast US, with Virginia attracting more than 11 million square feet in the last three years.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsIndustrial Real Estate News

CMA CGM’s NY-NJ ‘home’ offers it Southeast Asia trade growth: Saade

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
CMA CGM chairman Rodolphe Saade said he is seeing more customer demand than ever for Southeast Asia services that will eventually call at the carrier’s two recently acquired terminals at the Port of New York and New Jersey.
Marine terminalsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Savannah seeks new dredging project to attract larger ships, India cargo

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Deepening Savannah’s shipping channel, which would take about 10 years to complete, would put the port on par with other major Southeast ports such as Charleston and Norfolk.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsPort infrastructure

New cranes put NY-NJ port on track to handle more ultra-large ships by 2025

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
While more port dredging will also be necessary, New York-New Jersey marine terminals are installing more of the cranes needed to handle 18,000-TEU ships that may eventually call the port.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesMarine terminals

India-US Indamex 2 service drops Norfolk call as demand pressure persists

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
Hapag-Lloyd and CMA CGM jointly opened the IN2 in September 2021 as a complementary loop to their sought-after Indamex service to capitalize on pandemic-linked demand swings.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Montreal port gets federal funds for mega-terminal after operators balk at risk

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The Montreal Port Authority said the funding will allow it to “implement a new delivery model” for the Contrecoeur terminal project after talks with initial bidders did not lead to a “satisfactory” result.
North American portsContainer Shipping News

US retailers downgrade import forecast through January amid sufficient inventories

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
With retailers shipping early this year and showing caution in placing orders with Asian factories for holiday merchandise, a major retail group has lowered its forecast for US imports in the coming months.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsPort NewsNorth American ports