Journal of Commerce Logo
Journal of Commerce Logo

International ports

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

The latest International ports News & Analysis

Ocean carriers delay GRI attempts on India-US trades as rate slide continues

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent | Mar 23, 2023, 12:33 PM EDT

Local freight forwarder sources in India say they view GRIs more as a tool to slow the erosion in rates rather than effectively trying to increase prices.
MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesNorth American portsInternational ports

Hamburg strike action closes vital waterway to container shipping

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Mar 23, 2023, 10:50 AM EDT

The Port of Hamburg is once again being disrupted by strike action that is causing significant disruption to vessel schedules at Europe’s third-largest container hub.
PortsContainer shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsInternational ports

Disruptions always lurking in container shipping: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst | Mar 21, 2023, 10:52 AM EDT

While the ocean shipping market has largely normalized after COVID-19, stakeholders would be wise to pursue a business strategy that takes operationally disruptive events into account, writes analyst Lars Jensen.
Container shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsLongshore laborNorth American portsInternational ports

Berth upgrade work sparks vessel bunching, truck buildups at India’s JNPT

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent | Mar 17, 2023, 8:15 AM EDT

Delays began to build after an equipment upgrade project to enhance productivity and capacity at APM Terminals Mumbai put one of its berths out of commission for six months.
International portsContainer shippingContainer lines

MSC drops India calls on intra-Asia string amid network realignment

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent | Mar 14, 2023, 11:03 AM EDT

MSC and other leading carriers serving Indian trades have been reorganizing their service networks and vessel deployments in a bid to match excess capacity with weakening demand conditions.
Container shippingContainer linesInternational ports

Global supply chains not quite back to pre-pandemic norms: analyst

Jason Miller, associate professor of logistics at Michigan State University, and JOC analyst | Mar 14, 2023, 10:29 AM EDT

A variety of data sources suggest it is premature to conclude that supply chain bottlenecks have reverted to their pre-COVID levels, as issues continue to be more pervasive than before the pandemic, writes analyst Jason Miller.
Supply ChainContainer shippingNorth American portsInternational ports

Carriers face choppy first half ahead of more positive H2: Yang Ming

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Mar 9, 2023, 1:38 PM EST

Yang Ming echoed the warnings of its competitors, saying consumer spending power has fallen since the fourth quarter of last year because of inflation, while high inventory levels have also affected demand.
Container linesContainer shippingTrans-PacificInternational ports

Zim's Gold Star Line forms Vietnam shipping venture with Hai An Transport

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Mar 1, 2023, 12:10 PM EST

The JV will serve Vietnam's three major ports and link with nearby provinces where direct access to international and domestic shipping services is limited.
Container shippingContainer linesInternational ports

TPM23: Post-COVID China sourcing shift ‘definitely on’: CMA CGM

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | Feb 28, 2023, 4:40 PM EST

While the supply chain has mostly healed from COVID-19, the pandemic revealed the risk of relying too much on China for product sourcing, CMA CGM’s new US president told TPM23.
Container linesContainer shippingTrans-PacificNorth American portsInternational ports

Rate hikes resurface on India-US trades as carriers try capacity readjustments

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent | Feb 24, 2023, 10:11 AM EST

Encouraging carriers in their somewhat tentative bid to raise rates from recent lows are India’s trade indicators, including the country’s role as a sourcing alternative to China.
Container shippingContainer linesNorth American portsInternational ports

Loss of Russian trade pulls down Rotterdam container volume

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Feb 23, 2023, 12:27 PM EST

Europe’s three biggest container shipping ports reported falling volumes in 2022, with throughput dragged lower by geopolitics, COVID-19, and economic headwinds.
International portsContainer shippingAsia-EuropeMarine terminals

Operator ICTSI makes $343 million bid for new Melbourne container terminal

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | Feb 22, 2023, 1:52 PM EST

The port is unlikely to decide for another year or so how the terminal will be developed, meaning it could negotiate with ICTSI over its proposal or invite bids from other terminal operators.
MaritimeContainer shippingMarine terminalsInternational ports

Canada commits up to C$50 million for digital supply chain projects

Teri Errico Griffis | Feb 16, 2023, 2:06 PM EST

The funding commitment comes after port congestion in Western Canada last year, fueled by backlogs at key inland hubs such as Toronto and Montreal, slowed import shipments.
PortsInternational ports

New carrier connections heighten rate pressure on India-US trades

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent | Feb 16, 2023, 10:49 AM EST

Container shipping sources in India expect an even more dramatic impact on carrier pricing power in the coming weeks as new services added recently settle into the market.
Container shippingContainer linesNorth American portsInternational ports

Maersk must contend with volumes, market share in steady decline: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst | Feb 9, 2023, 2:32 PM EST

If Maersk’s volumes and market share continue to slip, the reduction in size will eventually challenge profitability aspirations in a market where some competitors are increasing their scale benefit, writes analyst Lars Jensen.
Container linesContainer shippingTrans-PacificTrans-AtlanticAsia-EuropeNorth American portsInternational ports

Uncertain market clouds outlook for South China terminal operator

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe | Feb 7, 2023, 10:59 AM EST

Slowing global trade and tough Chinese measures to combat COVID-19 infections dragged down volume last year at Hutchison Ports subsidiary HPH Trust.
MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesPortsInternational ports

MSC extends Asia-USWC string to India as primary market demand wanes

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent | Feb 6, 2023, 10:07 AM EST

With the extended port reach into India, carriers are looking to fill leftover capacity from Southeast Asia as primary market volumes slow and US sourcing within Asia diversifies beyond China, sources say.
MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificNorth American portsInternational ports

US retailers’ global sourcing strategy will take time to develop: analysts

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Feb 3, 2023, 3:32 PM EST

As the size of China’s workforce declines and production challenges increase, US retailers are shifting to global sourcing strategies, with each sector looking for the business model that meets its particular requirements.
MaritimeContainer shippingTrans-PacificInternational portsTransport, trade and regulation

MSC opens more direct port connections for Indian exporters as volumes taper

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent | Feb 2, 2023, 10:41 AM EST

The expansion of origin-to-destination ocean connectivity with predictable transit time improvements is a boon for Indian exporters trying to find untapped markets for their products amid slowing demand.
Container shippingContainer linesInternational ports

Sourcing shift from China pulls US import share to more than a decade low

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | Feb 1, 2023, 9:42 AM EST

Data shows US importers are walking the walk when it comes to sourcing diversification, slowly moving trade flows away from China and toward Vietnam, India, and South Korea, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
MaritimeContainer shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificNorth American portsInternational ports