Ports

News and analysis of ports, terminals, dredging, expansion, hinterland connectivity, labor, disruption, congestion, cargo flow

The latest Ports News & Analysis

ILWU, state of Maryland throw support to ILA in Leatherman case

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | May 15, 2023, 4:36 PM EDT

The International Longshoremen’s Association should be able to sue ocean carriers that do not abide by work preservation rules, according to several briefs filed in support of the union’s dispute involving jobs at the Port of Charleston’s new terminal.
Longshore laborContainer shippingNorth American ports

FLOW gains momentum with ‘give-to-get' data-sharing model

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 15, 2023, 2:12 PM EDT

The growth in participation in FLOW is a signal that the private sector views the voluntary nature of the project as more amenable than governmental data-sharing mandates or legislation.
Logistics technologyContainer shippingContainer linesForwardingPortsTransport, trade and regulation

Top US Shippers: Recession fears pulling at the seams of growing clothing imports

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | May 15, 2023, 10:43 AM EDT

Unlike last year, when apparel importers front-loaded volumes in the first half, apparel shippers are waiting for more clarity on consumer spending before they bring back-to-school and holiday inventory into the US.
Supply ChainContainer shippingNorth American ports

NY-NJ port stakeholders improve trucker experience as downturn cuts work

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | May 12, 2023, 3:19 PM EDT

The influx of new drivers to the New York-New Jersey port helped it handle record volumes in 2022, but the downturn means less work and possibly more turnover.
DrayageContainer shippingNorth American ports

Top US Shippers: Supply chain bottlenecks put cork in US alcohol imports

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | May 11, 2023, 10:12 AM EDT

US imports of beer, wine and spirits could have been even stronger over the last two years if not for widespread supply chain disruptions stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supply ChainContainer shippingNorth American ports

Battle joined over costs linked to detention/demurrage maneuvering

Peter Tirschwell | May 11, 2023, 9:52 AM EDT

The decision by ocean carriers to not charge per diem fees when gates are closed will result in money remaining in the pockets of importers and exporters rather than flowing to carriers and terminal operators — and anyone who thought that would happen without a fight is dreaming, writes Peter Tirschwell.
Container shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

ONE becomes latest carrier to drop per diem fees at closed US marine terminals

Teri Errico Griffis | May 10, 2023, 2:03 PM EDT

The change comes in advance of the FMC’s final rule on detention and demurrage billing that is due to be published in mid-June and has already generated pushback from marine terminal operators.
Container linesContainer shippingNorth American portsTransport, trade and regulation

Top US Shippers: US toy imports ‘normalizing’ after slipping from record 2022

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor | May 10, 2023, 9:58 AM EDT

Toy and game manufacturers front-loaded traditional holiday merchandise in 2022, resulting in an exceptional first half of the year followed by a weak fourth quarter that coincided with a broader decline in consumer spending.
Supply ChainContainer shippingTrans-PacificNorth American portsInternational ports

Western Canadian ports missing out on USWC cargo diversions: analyst

Larry Gross, president and founder, Gross Transportation Consulting; and JOC analyst | May 10, 2023, 9:42 AM EDT

One might expect that Western Canadian ports have benefited from cargo bound for the US Midwest being diverted from the US West Coast to avoid potential labor disruption, but that has not been the case, notes analyst Larry Gross.
Container shippingLongshore laborNorth American portsIntermodal providers

Top US Shippers: Price inflation pulls the plug on surging US electronics imports

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor | May 9, 2023, 11:48 AM EDT

Last year’s dip in electronics imports is a sign that US consumers were holding back on some discretionary purchases after two years of heightened spending during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Supply ChainContainer shippingTrans-PacificNorth American portsInternational ports

Savannah doubles down on terminal expansion with $1.4 billion investment

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor | May 9, 2023, 10:14 AM EDT

Nearly three years of record Asia imports tested Savannah’s cargo flow at times, underscoring the port’s need to ensure it had sufficient buffer capacity to handle growth.
North American portsContainer shippingMarine terminals

Softer peak season import forecast trending toward pre-pandemic levels: US retailers

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | May 8, 2023, 6:00 PM EDT

Consumer spending in the coming months will be compromised somewhat by high inflation, while retailers are being conservative in placing purchase orders with factories in Asia because of bloated inventories, according to the Global Port Tracker.
Container shippingContainer linesTrans-PacificNorth American ports

Vancouver will use two-phased approach for building, operating new terminal

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | May 8, 2023, 1:51 PM EDT

Obtaining all required governmental approvals and choosing a contractor and operator is likely to push the opening of Vancouver’s Roberts Bank Terminal 2 into the early 2030s.
North American portsContainer shippingMarine terminals

Top US Shippers: Continued poor service threatens budding ag export recovery

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | May 8, 2023, 10:12 AM EDT

Better vessel reliability helped fuel a return to growth in US agriculture exports in the second half of 2022, but those green shoots could be ripped up at the root if service doesn’t continue to improve.
Supply ChainContainer shippingTrans-PacificNorth American portsInternational ports

China to remain top for logistics investment despite regional sourcing shift

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent | May 5, 2023, 2:30 PM EDT

Logistics and industrial investment in the Asia-Pacific region was estimated at about $50 billion last year, down from a record $72 billion in 2021.
Transport, trade and regulationInternational portsIndustrial real estate

NY-NJ terminals alter free time tariff as FMC rule on closed gates looms

Michael Angell, Associate Editor and Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor | May 5, 2023, 1:38 PM EDT

The rule changes will not have much of an initial cost impact on shippers as almost all New York-New Jersey terminals are closed on weekends and holidays, thereby not counting toward free time, and containers are now moving off the port faster.
North American portsContainer shippingTransport, trade and regulation

US warehouse vacancy rose in first quarter as demand waned

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | May 4, 2023, 2:19 PM EDT

CBRE’s latest figures on industrial real estate demand show the supply of new and existing warehouses grew faster than tenant demand, with vacancy spikes expected through 2023.
Industrial real estateContainer shippingNorth American ports

Weak Southern California port volumes hurting domestic intermodal

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor | May 4, 2023, 10:19 AM EDT

Activity at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach has a direct impact on the domestic intermodal market, large intermodal providers say, which is why rail volumes were so poor in the first quarter.
North-American railNorth American ports

ILWU, management approve manning deal for non-automated LA-LB terminals

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | May 3, 2023, 5:00 PM EDT

An agreement on manning requirements at conventional terminals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach could open the door for a deal on a tentative coastwide contract in the next couple of weeks, sources say.
Longshore laborContainer shippingContainer linesMarine terminalsNorth American ports

FMC crackdown on ocean carrier billing prompts Houston per diem change

Michael Angell, Associate Editor | May 3, 2023, 4:19 PM EDT

The Port of Houston is changing its tariff to align with ocean carriers who are no longer charging detention and demurrage fees when terminal gates are closed, but it’s also increasing its own fees to incentivize cargo movement.
North American portsContainer shippingTransport, trade and regulation