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supply chain

Supply chain

The Journal of Commerce’s supply chain news and analysis impacting the management of end-to-end supply chains reports on supply chain strategies, cargo visibility, inventory trends, sourcing, customs certification and contract logistics. Supply chain news coverage also delves into refrigerated shipping advancements and management of inventory status, regulatory updates and government funding projects. 

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The latest Supply chain News & Analysis

Weak demand signals threatening shipping’s emissions targets

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The window is closing fast on shipping’s goal of having scalable zero-emission fuels account for 5% of international shipping demand by 2030, a conference in Athens was told.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Hapag-Lloyd enlists India-based vendor to support US digital documentation move

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Ocean carriers are aligning with technology vendors to meet a self-imposed deadline to digitize shipping documentation, with Hapag-Lloyd's use of ODeX in the US the latest example.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesSupply chain

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

Global shippers take lead in drive for green ocean transport

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Encouraging cargo owners to pay more for green ocean services remains a challenge, but carriers are reporting growing momentum from shippers aiming to cut Scope 3 emissions.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Forwarders facing margin pressure from smaller shipments, shift of air to ocean

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Shipments are getting smaller over time, driven in part by e-commerce growth, but also by a market that is disentangling cargo previously handled through air or ocean consolidation.
Air CargoForwardingAir Cargo Forwarder NewsLogistics Technology News

Deloitte taps asset-tracking provider Nexxiot for cargo risk management product

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Transportation sensor provider Nexxiot and Deloitte are aiming to connect cargo visibility data with the consulting firm’s “know your customer” process to fast-track container movement.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer Shipping NewsPort NewsMarine terminalsSupply chain

Final-mile push drives growth in multistory warehouses in congested US cities

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
A number of multistory warehouses are planned for urban areas around the US as developers say dependable, same-day delivery in congested cities outweighs the higher costs involved in constructing two- to five-story structures.
SurfaceLast Mile News

Coming end to European block exemption evokes mixed reaction from analysts

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The European Commission’s announcement that the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation was “no longer fit for purpose” and will not be renewed when it expires next April blindsided most in the container shipping industry who were expecting a revision of the rule rather than its scrapping.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Europe to end ocean carrier exemption from EU competition law

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
Following a review process launched in August last year, the European Commission reached an emphatic conclusion that the Consortia Block Exemption Regulation (CBER) “no longer promotes competition in the shipping sector.”
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

US warehouse boom continues with new Chicago, Dallas facilities

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
Expansion moves by Lineage Logistics and Ryder System underscore continuing demand for warehousing and distribution space even in a period of low freight demand and slow economic growth.
Industrial Real Estate NewsSupply chainLast Mile News

CMA CGM makes big investment in electric van JV with vehicle makers

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
While light commercial vehicles are not typically used on a large scale by the ocean carrier, it has a significant landside presence where the electric vehicles could be used to lower emissions.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrucking NewsLogistics Technology News

Maersk using self-driving trucks to move Houston-Oklahoma City freight

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The shipping giant is running four dry-van round trips each week on the approximately 400-mile route between the two cities.
Trucking NewsLogistics Technology News

Seatrade plays service card in latest container ship order: analyst

Richard Bright, Journal of Commerce analyst |
The Benelux-based reefer owner/operator says its fast, dedicated and direct model trumps the transshipments, transit times and indirect costs of the major carriers.
Cool Cargo NewsContainer Shipping News

Doubts growing over shipping’s readiness for Europe’s ETS carbon tax

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
To comply with the European emissions trading system, ocean carriers will essentially need to become experts in carbon credit trading, on top of monitoring, verifying and reporting CO2 emissions.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTrans-AtlanticAsia-EuropeLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Increased truckload volatility inducing shippers, brokers to use pricing technology

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Excess capacity in the truckload market is a chance for shippers to examine whether they or their freight brokers have the right technology tools to effectively price in the contract and spot markets.
TruckloadTrucking NewsTruck brokersLogistics Technology News

MSC avoids fine as FMC finds no OSRA-22 violation in charge complaint

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
The Federal Maritime Commission said its enforcement agency does not have a case against the ocean carrier over a congestion surcharge complaint from a shipper.
Container Shipping NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Coming implementation of European ETS setting up for a predictable mess: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst |
If shippers found the post-IMO 2020 bunker fuel formulas confusing and misaligned across ocean carriers, just wait until they see the surcharges linked to Europe’s new emissions trading system, says analyst Lars Jensen.
Container Shipping NewsInternational portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

FMC dismisses ILA’s claims of price fixing at Southeast ports

Michael Angell, Associate Editor |
While three companies jointly control some operations at marine terminals at Savannah and Charleston, they are not considered marine terminal operators, an FMC judge has ruled.  
North American portsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

US LTL carrier Estes hit by widespread systems outage

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
A systems outage that has left less-than-truckload carrier Estes grappling with email, website and data exchange issues is the latest such incident to befall the logistics and transportation industry.
LTLLogistics Technology News

FMC mediation office ramps up help for US shippers seeking dispute relief

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Use of the little-known arm of the FMC comes as shippers are increasingly turning to US maritime regulators to perform a consumer protection function in the aftermath of pandemic-linked disruptions and broad shipping reform that became law 15 months ago.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping News

SC Ports turns to US Supreme Court in bid for relief over Leatherman dispute

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
While the South Carolina Ports Authority cited the “urgency and importance” of the Leatherman terminal issue to the state and regional economies, getting on the Court’s docket is a daunting task.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

UPS bolsters healthcare business with MNX Global Logistics acquisition

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
The addition of Atlanta-based MNX closely follows an acquisition in France as UPS builds out its expedited and temperature-controlled capabilities in the healthcare sector.
Supply chain

New Shanghai contract fails to budge skeptical carriers on container futures

Peter Tirschwell |
The concept of widespread use of a hedging tool continues to face an uphill battle within the container sector years after it was introduced, especially among carriers whose buy-in is considered essential to confer legitimacy on the fledging market.
Container Shipping NewsContainer linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Inland23: Industry not holding its breath for immediate freight recovery

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
A muted peak and post-peak season for imports and intermodal activity has shippers and service providers eyeing a freight rebound no earlier than late 2024.
Supply chainIntermodal providersNorth-American rail

Uncertain US shippers shifting freight, altering inventory strategies

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
The BlueGrace Logistics Confidence Index indicates retail shippers with “tremendous” inventories on hand are likely to move more small shipments as the holidays approach.
Supply chain

New ZIM service takes advantage of Savannah’s expanding cold storage network

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Savannah attracted the new service due to its growing third-party logistics network and proximity to East Coast and Midwest markets, allowing for quicker and fresher imports.
North American portsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesCool Cargo News

Pandemic, shipping reform boost caseload for harried FMC

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
Shippers more than tripled their formal complaints in fiscal year 2022, emboldened by the maritime regulator’s sharpened focus on how ocean carriers interact with their customers.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesNorth American ports

Norfolk Southern teams with tech company to ease intermodal cargo flow

Ari Ashe, Senior Editor |
The Class I railroad and DrayNow will launch an app in 2024 designed to digitize, organize and streamline processes that have previously been performed via email or over the phone.
Logistics Technology NewsNorth-American rail

Dynamics behind Flexport’s leadership change signal digital forwarding’s natural endpoint

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Much criticism has been leveled at the digital forwarding model, but steep declines in topline revenue during a year of weak demand are a sign that digital forwarders have had trouble differentiating themselves from the pack.
ForwardingLogistics Technology News

Green fuel costs could make nuclear ships economically viable: experts

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
Small onboard nuclear reactors could ultimately be the lowest-cost method of decarbonization as shipping competes with other thirsty industries for sustainable net-zero fuels, according to energy and investment analysts.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Ocean carriers will look to ‘chokepoint’ assets for next wave of spending: analyst

Lars Jensen, CEO & Partner, Vespucci Maritime, and JOC Analyst |
Owning and operating potential supply chain chokepoints is a competitive advantage, and we should expect to see major carriers — flush with cash post-pandemic — be very active in attempting to secure such assets, writes analyst Lars Jensen.
Supply chainContainer linesPort NewsMarine terminalsRail News

Logistics provider GXO buys PFSweb amid end-to-end fulfillment rush

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
The deal comes on the heels of other acquisitions and new services launched this week at several logistics and transportation providers, all aimed at expanding their ability to deliver end-to-end global fulfillment services.
Supply chainLogistics Technology NewsLast Mile News

Logistics software helping blur lines between forwarder, shipper processes: WiseTech CEO

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Richard White said in an interview with the Journal of Commerce the logistics industry is stuck in a pattern of tackling small problems instead of viewing international trade as a large, connected system.
Logistics Technology NewsForwardingAir Cargo Forwarder NewsSupply chain

Forwarders now liable for export control violations as US tightens shipping security

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor |
Washington is urging NVOs and forwarders to “know their customer,” a steep challenge for co-loaders who bundle multiple shipments for multiple customers into a single container, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesForwarding

Logistics providers stake claim in potential-laden ‘end-to-end‘ space

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor, and Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
It’s an open question whether shippers want end-to-end supply chain services from a single provider, but that hasn’t stopped names such as Amazon, Maersk and Flexport from building integrated solutions.
Supply chainIndustrial Real Estate News

Global shippers launch 600,000-TEU tender to fast-track decarbonization

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor Europe |
The bids would require carriers to quote a negotiated “green premium” that cargo owners would pay to transport the containers on ships powered by zero-carbon fuels.
MaritimeContainer Shipping NewsContainer linesLogistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Flexport’s bumpy evolution shows, ultimately, people and relationships matter

Peter Tirschwell |
As many have observed in disparaging the notion of a “digital” forwarder, of which Flexport was the prototype, forwarding at its core is a business of people solving real-world problems for which there is not — and probably never will be — a technology solution, writes Peter Tirschwell.
ForwardingTrans-PacificLogistics Technology News

Bed Bath & Beyond files FMC complaint against Yang Ming in capacity dispute

Teri Errico Griffis, Associate Editor |
The new allegation against Yang Ming comes less than a week after the carrier settled a dispute with another US importer, also over allegations it failed to honor vessel capacity commitments.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer Shipping NewsContainer lines

Flexport lost touch with customers under brief Clark reign: Petersen

Eric Johnson, Senior Technology Editor |
Flexport founder and CEO Ryan Petersen refused to pin the blame for the company’s abrupt change in leadership on waning freight demand, saying the forwarder “has been through worse macro environments.”
ForwardingSupply chain

C.H. Robinson opens new Laredo facility amid boom in US-Mexico freight

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
Steady gains in US-Mexico cross-border truck freight have spurred the logistics provider to open a 400,000-square-foot cross-dock warehouse in Laredo, a US border entry point already bursting with freight.
SurfaceTrucking NewsSupply chain