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A combination of new and familiar risks is confronting the refrigerated shipping sector as the turbulence of 2018 shows no signs of letting up. On the political front, US and foreign agricultural shippers have been among the hardest hit in the US-China trade war that is now in its second year. The looming impact of the International Maritime Organization's low-sulfur rule and its ramifications could slash carrier investment in equipment, including reefer containers — where capacity already is struggling to keep up with demand. Still, growth in US imports and exports of perishable food is a bright spot, as is technology that helps support the reefer sector with smarter, more sophisticated containers while giving shippers and other cargo stakeholders better analytics to optimize their operations and improve customer service.

This webcast will analyze the state of the reefer shipping sector, the outlook for 2020, how geopolitical and regulatory uncertainty is impacting sourcing and routing decisions, and advancements in efficiency-enhancing technology.

Moderator:

Chris Brooks, Director, Programming, JOC Events, Maritime & Trade, IHS Markit

Speakers:

William C. Duggan Jr. North American Cold Chain Adviser, Eskesen Advisory

Jean Murphy, Vice President of Trade Policy for the US Egg and Poultry Association (USAPEEC)

What will the second half of 2019 bring for the project and breakbulk logistics sector? The JOC will examine the outlook around two relevant topics: the steel market and the trade landscape in the face of continuing economic and trade agreement uncertainty, and how the market is gearing up for the onset of IMO 2020, now only months away. IMO 2020, the global mandate for ocean shipping to switch from fuel with 3.5 percent sulfur content to 0.5 percent sulfur, comes into force on Jan. 1. Carriers already are cleaning their tanks and testing new fuel blends. The majority of multipurpose/heavy-lift operators has decided that scrubbers don’t make sense for them.

This webcast will discuss what shippers, carriers, and others in the project supply chain can expect in terms of fuel availability, prices, and compliance enforcement on the IMO 2020 side, as well as from steel prices and trade as business uncertainty lingers. Along the way, it will address the following questions:

• How are steel prices and US production adapting in the face of near-constant trade turmoil and slowing global trade?
• While global growth appears to be stabilizing, steel demand continues to look soft, with trade concerns keeping markets on edge.
• What is the current situation and how are supply chains evolving?
• Will reliable low-sulfur blends be available quickly, or will carriers have to count on more-expensive marine gasoil to get them through the first few months of 2020?
• What will fuel prices look like, near and medium term?

Moderator:

Janet Nodar, Senior Editor, Breakbulk and Heavy Lift, JOC

Speakers:

Amanda Eglinton, Associate Director, Pricing and Purchasing, IHS Markit

Kurt Barrow, Vice President, Oil Markets, Midstream and Downstream, IHS Markit

Last year’s peak season was anything but normal. The front-loading of cargo to beat a series of US tariffs on Chinese goods, coupled with a pullback in capacity related to carrier anticipation of weakening demand, frustrated shippers and forwarders as demand at times overwhelmed the system. Although this year’s peak season might be a bit softer than a year ago, US consumer confidence is still strong as shippers ramp up for the holiday gift-giving season. The big question is whether the supply chain will operate efficiently, or whether carriers manage capacity by rolling cargo, streamline services, or pull ships out of service for retrofitting ahead of the January implementation of the IMO’s low-sulfur fuel mandate.

This webcast will analyze the outlook for the summer-fall peak season with a focus on the following issues:

• The outlook for US importers.
• The macro economy: Is a slowdown ahead?
• The impact of tariffs and what’s next in the US-China trade war.
• Supply chain hotspots and the risk for disruption.

Moderator: Chris Brooks, Director, Programming, JOC Events, Maritime & Trade, IHS Markit

Speakers: Jonathan Gold, Vice President, Supply Chain and Customs Policy, National Retail FederationAlan Murphy, CEO & Founder, Sea-Intelligence ApS

The annual Top 100 Importers and Exporters report is one of the most extensive products The Journal of Commerce produces. Based on exclusive research, it analyzes the largest global companies shipping containerized goods to and from the US — essential information for shippers, carriers, and third-party logistics providers.

This webcast, the second in a two-part series, will analyze the makeup and dynamics of the Top 100 US Exporters and the factors driving outbound trade. It also will look ahead to the rest of 2019 and the regulatory, economic and transportation issues US exporters face.

Moderator: Chris Brooks, Director, Programming, JOC

Speakers: Dustin Braden, Shipper Engagement Manager, JOCBill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor, West Coast, JOC

The annual Top 100 Importers and Exporters report is one of the most extensive products The Journal of Commerce produces. Based on exclusive research, it analyzes the largest global companies shipping containerized goods to and from the US — essential information for shippers, carriers, and third-party logistics providers.

This webcast, the first in a two-part series, will analyze the makeup and dynamics of the Top 100 US Importers and the factors driving inbound trade. It also will look ahead to the rest of 2019 and the regulatory, economic, and transportation issues US importers face.

Moderator: Chris Brooks, Executive Editor, JOC Events

Speakers:Dustin Braden, Shipper Engagement Manager, JOCEric Johnson, Senior Editor, Technology, JOCBill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor, West Coast, JOCMark Szakonyi, Executive Editor, JOC