Monthly Archives for August 2017

China wastepaper import ban less severe than feared The latest crackdown is part of a larger policy to reign in solid waste imports China began in 2013. Although about 16 percent of US wastepaper exports to China could be lost due to the government’s latest ban on importation of scrap commodities, the estimated 160,000 TEU […]

Trans-Pacific spot rates hold onto gains of last week Higher demand is keeping spot rates elevated after a rate increase. Spot rates in the eastbound Pacific edged lower this week after spiking by double digits last week as carriers attempt to maintain their pricing power during the early stages of the peak-shipping season. The spot […]

US-Canada border delays blamed on computer problems Unidentified computer problems reportedly caused severe truck congestion and delays Wednesday at some US-Canadian border crossings, particularly the Detroit Ambassador Bridge. Several news reports said US Customs and Border Protection experienced “national system issues” that delayed crossings by more than an hour in Detroit, the largest US truck […]

Santos shippers aghast after emergency dredging halted The Santos shipping community is demanding a quick resolution to costly draft restrictions. Shipping lines and shippers are apoplectic following a court ruling that suspended direly needed emergency dredging operations to restore a draft of 13.2 meters (43 feet) at the port of Santos. Previous draft restrictions led […]

Digital currency launched to reduce cargo no-shows Efficieny, not disruption, is the logic underpinning the start-up 300Cubits. The creators of a new industry-specific digital currency that shippers can use to book ocean shipments say so-called “cryptocurrency” could help reduce carrier overbooking and shipper no-shows, which cost the industry some $23 billion annually. The Hong Kong-based […]

Asia-Russia ocean rates to fall as import growth plateaus Volume through Russian Far East ports like Vladivostok surged in the first half of 2017. Asia-Russia ocean shipping rates could decline 30 to 40 percent from current levels by the end of this year as Russia’s economic growth slows and inventory builds up. Ocean shipping rates […]

Mundra intermodal rail service restored Monsoons interrupted port and surface transportation throughout western India over the last week. State-owned intermodal operator Container Corporation of India (Concor) announced it is accepting freight bookings for the Mundra port following the interruption of service due to flooding from heavy monsoon rains. “The restriction on loading of trains to […]