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THE Alliance diverts ships through Suez ahead of Panama Canal transit cuts

Michael Angell, Associate Editor, and Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
Liner operators in THE Alliance will switch transits on three services as low water levels on the Panama Canal reduce the number of ships that can use the main artery for container trade between the US East Coast and Asia.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

US truckload rates unlikely to see major holiday bump amid tepid peak season

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
As US port volumes remain lackluster, there is not as much freight to move on trucks, causing the market to stay relatively stagnant ahead of what typically is the busy holiday season.
Trucking NewsTruckload

Carrier CEOs issue COP28-linked statement urging action on energy transition

Peter Tirschwell |
The rare joint statement reiterates earlier comments by container lines that a greenhouse gas pricing mechanism is needed to make green fuel competitive with traditional bunkers during the phase when both fuels will be in use.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

MPV/HL carriers weigh costly, time-consuming alternatives to Panama Canal

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Low water restrictions and “exorbitant” costs for rare transit slots through the drought-hit waterway mean tramp breakbulk and heavy-lift carriers must use longer ocean routes, thus increasing voyage costs.
Breakbulk NewsMaritimeBreakbulk carriersProject cargo

Swire Projects launches project cargo liner service to avoid Panama Canal delays

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
The service was previously operated on an ad hoc basis but is being upgraded due to growing demand for breakbulk and project cargo into the US West Coast to avoid restrictions and delays through the drought-hit waterway.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersProject cargo

US warehouse fluidity returning to normal amid import drop, inventory discipline

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
US importers have finally cleared out most of the inventory overhang that kept their warehouses at capacity and created bottlenecks in their supply chains.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsTrans-PacificLast Mile News

Global liner performance unchanged in October, but USWC ticked higher

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
While container volumes have largely returned to normal historical levels, ocean carriers still have not been able to restore performance to pre-pandemic levels.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Shippers eye varied ‘training wheel’ approach to origin management technology

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Getting the most out of global logistics software sometimes involves using a forwarder as a co-pilot until a shipper is ready to run processes similarly to procurement and order management internally.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsForwardingSupply chain

Order book more ‘manageable’ if measured in ship numbers, not TEUs: analyst

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Although the incoming capacity will outstrip demand on the major trades over the next two years, the capacity overhang that has been touted in many corners of the shipping sector is being overstated, says an industry analyst.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-PacificAsia-Europe

Roadrunner to enter Canada as K+N, Canada Cartage make cross-border acquisitions

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
The expansion of the three companies, all representing different modes across the US-Canadian border, underscores the depth of the relationship between the two economies.
SurfaceForwardingTrucking NewsTruckloadLTL

USDA invests $200 million to boost agricultural sector’s export efforts

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The fresh funding is part of recent federal efforts to increase economic opportunities for farmers and reduce food costs for US residents.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping News

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

Oversupplied Asia-Europe ocean trade readies for two December rate hikes

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The westbound trades out of Asia are heading into tender season with carriers attempting to lift rate levels before locking in long-term contracts being eroded by surplus capacity.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesAsia-Europe

New CMA CGM service adds to intra-Asia capacity boost for Indian shippers

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
The move complements a flurry of Asia-India service additions by niche regional carriers and newer feeder operators in recent months.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

FMC judge rules in favor of HMM in rolled cargo complaint

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Despite initially failing to meet capacity commitments, the carrier extended the contract for three months at the original rate, saving the shipper $180,000.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer lines

End of EU block exemption a ‘missed opportunity’ for regulators: ITF’s Merk

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
European regulators have never had enough information to effectively monitor the container shipping industry since the consortia block exemption rule was introduced in 2009, according to Olaf Merk.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Busy intra-Asia market bucks trend in driving container demand growth: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and Journal of Commerce analyst |
The intra-Asian region is expected to be a hotbed of mergers and acquisitions in container shipping because that is where the growth in container demand is centered, writes analyst Lars Jensen.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

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

Control of US LTL capacity in 2024 hangs on sale of Yellow terminals

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
An auction of Yellow’s 174 owned terminals is scheduled for Tuesday, with winning bids to be disclosed on Friday while a separate battle continues over 149 leased terminals.
SurfaceTrucking NewsLTL

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

Asian air freight stages US, Europe rate surge in November

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
But rising air cargo rates on the major Asian export trade lanes do not portend a peak season this year with analysts pointing to poor economic conditions exerting strong downward pressure on consumers in the US and Europe.
Air CargoAir Cargo Carriers NewsAir Cargo Forwarder News

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

Sharp rise in Asia-Europe Q3 volumes discounted by last year’s import slump

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
On its own, the growth in container volumes on Asia to Europe trade lanes in the third quarter was impressive, but it compares with the steep slowdown in imports last year by overstocked retailers.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesAsia-Europe

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

Maersk inks new methanol sourcing deal with Chinese supplier

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The carrier’s largest alternative fuel deal to date will be enough to drive half the methanol-powered ships on its orderbook.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

Carriers weigh options as Panama Canal restrictions become a fact of life

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
The soonest the Panama Canal Authority says it could see significant relief is 2028, raising the possibility of persistent drought restrictions and reduced container capacity and transits until then, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Container linesMaritimeContainer Shipping NewsTrans-Pacific

European truckers brace for hefty toll hikes in Germany linked to CO2 emissions

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The CO2 charge on commercial vehicles is aimed at incentivizing the use of green fuels and lower-emissions trucks, but it will come at a significant cost to the road haulage industry.
SurfaceTrucking NewsTruckload

UN climate conference comes amid shipping’s choppy path to decarbonization

Peter Tirschwell |
Despite some pockets of progress, exactly how container shipping achieves decarbonization will likely remain an unanswered question until new zero-emission fuel standards are adopted, writes Peter Tirschwell.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

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

 Congress steps into debate over jurisdiction of rail fees for ocean containers

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
Draft legislation would also seek to codify that rail demurrage fees be billed to the ocean carrier, which would then pass along the charge to the responsible shipper or BCO. .
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesIntermodal providersNorth-American rail

Railroads creating new services to win back market share from trucking

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
While the moves are considered more of a rejuvenation than a renaissance, railroads are doing a more effective job juggling the interests of investors while providing new products to serve shippers.
North-American railIntermodal providers

UK watchdog calls for end to ocean carrier antitrust immunity

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Just a month after the European Commission announced that the block exemption regulation for carriers would not be renewed next April, the UK competition authority has also called for it to lapse upon expiry.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Estes commits to more technology spending after October cyberattack

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
With its systems restored, the LTL carrier plans to “lean into” technology development and investment for greater security and visibility.
SurfaceLTL

LTL carriers aim high in pricing as market continues to settle post-Yellow

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
Large LTL trucking providers are raising tariff rates 5% to 8% on average, but the LTL PPI slowed its growth to under 1% in October.
SurfaceTrucking NewsLTL

CMA CGM commits €100 million to new Paris-based AI research lab

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
CMA CGM is moving beyond funding and supporting startups with a hefty investment into a non-profit lab designed to improve data models that feed into artificial intelligence products.
Container linesContainer Shipping NewsLogistics Technology News

November rate plunge negates carrier pricing activity on India-Europe trade

Bency Mathew, Special Correspondent |
Still, the latest Indian trade data presents some hopeful signs for supply chain stakeholders, as the country's merchandise exports grew 6.3% by value year over year in October, the fastest rate of expansion in a year.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesInternational ports

No easy fix on horizon for Panama Canal woes as shipping sector scrambles

Keith Wallis, Special Correspondent |
Carriers, shippers and logistics executives may have to get accustomed to drought-related restrictions along the critically important waterway, with costly water-saving infrastructure improvements years away.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-Pacific

Oversupply weighs heavily on US truckload market, keeping prices in check

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
Although small trucking firms are folding, there is still a large supply of carriers and trucks keeping a lid on pricing amid soft demand. 
SurfaceTrucking NewsTruckload

MPV indices from Toepfer, Drewry continue down different paths

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift |
While long-term optimism supports the MPV market, industry analysts see short-term divergence in time charter rate averages.
Breakbulk NewsBreakbulk carriersEnergy projects