Monthly Archives for September 2017

Shippers in uproar over unending Chittagong congestion Shipper frustration with the port of Chittagong continues to mount. A long queue of vessels at Chittagong port’s outer anchorage and truck lines outside terminal gates are causing an uproar among port users. The delays are leading to shortages of raw materials for manufacturers in the country, while […]

Europe to Asia BCOs get 50-50 shot for flush 2018 capacity HAMBURG — There is very little visibility on what the space allocation will be on vessels sailing from Europe to Asia in the first quarter of 2018, with Maersk Line putting 50:50 odds on shippers facing the same chronic space shortages they experienced during the […]

Shippers losing out from reluctance to share data A lack of trust in the supply chain is a major obstacle to realizing the grains of shipping technology. LONG BEACH — The potential to use reasonably-priced technology to cut transportation costs is often squandered because of reluctance among beneficial cargo owners (BCOs), terminal operators, container lines and […]

Trans-Pac spot rate rises overcome month-long stagnation Trans-Pacific spot rates perked up after several weeks of declines. Spot rates for Asian imports increased 2 percent to the East Coast and 8 percent to the West Coast this week, ending a month-long rate stagnation in the largest US trade lane and signaling that the peak-shipping season […]

Rhine Alpine rail shutdown sets back European intermodal Efforts to move more European freight via rail may not recover from the abrupt closure of a key artery. The sudden closure of the Rhine Valley Alpine rail track in southwest Germany on August 12 due to emergency construction work on a collapsed tunnel couldn’t have come […]

Asia-Europe spot rate tumbles to 11-month low The 21,413-TEU OOCL Hong Kong in Hamburg. Spot rates on Asia-Europe have now fallen to the lowest level in almost a year with carrier attempts to raise rates during the traditionally busy run-up to China’s Golden Week holidays failing completely.The Shanghai Shipping Exchange’s SCFI showed spot rates from […]

Rhine Alpine rail route reopening early Repair work on the Rastatt section of the Rhine Alpine rail route will be completed early. Credit: DB The crucial north-south Rhine Alpine rail corridor will be reopened on Oct. 2, five days earlier than anticipated and offering a modicum of relief for shippers struggling to find alternatives during […]

Brexit cargo customs fears escalate The reintroduction of customs controls between the UK and mainland Europe would roil supply chains. The Brexit negotiations over the UK’s exit from the European Union have slowed to a snail’s pace with Brussels refusing to discuss the key issue of trade until it strikes deals on citizens’ rights, Britain’s […]

Port Saint John gains rail service to US Northeast Port Saint John is making a push to become an alternative gateway for parts of the northern United States. Port of Saint John has unveiled a new direct intermodal rail service between the Canada port and the Boston market, giving US shippers a Canadian alternative to […]

Slack season, closed China factories raise prospect of new rate war The areas of China impacted by Beijing’s factory closures. Credit: Gary Huang Carriers are slipping back into market share chasing mode as the slack October period approaches, threatening an end to the pricing discipline that has driven profitability at shipping companies up to levels […]