Category Archives for Industry News

Container traffic rebound points to market uptick Stronger consumer spending in the United States played a large role in global container trade growth in the fourth quarter. A 5 percent increase in global container port traffic in the final quarter of 2016 points to an uptick in a market that has viewed modest growth over […]

Trailer Bridge extends Dominican Republic niche service Trailer Bridge will soon be the sole operator of barges on the US-Puerto Rico trade. Trailer Bridge is developing a new niche with 53-foot containers on a twice-weekly service to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, while weathering a difficult US mainland-Puerto Rico market. The Santo Domingo service was launched […]

Rhenus acquires 40 percent of Arkon Shipping Rhenus Group wants to expand its presence in European short-sea shipping. German logistics operator Rhenus Group has acquired a 40 percent stake in Arkon Shipping, which manages a fleet of more than 120 seagoing vessels in European coastal and container feeder services and global heavy lift and project […]

Shippers seek China-Europe rail option from forwarders Asia-Europe railway services continue to grow in popularity. Forwarders are reporting increasing demands from shippers to include the China-Europe rail option in their portfolio of services as the intercontinental land bridge becomes a viable alternative to air and ocean transport.While the vast majority of containers on the rail […]

Shippers fear disruption from new alliance rollout Capacity shortages between Europe and Asia tied to preparation for the new alliances have only increased shipper fears over disruption. SHANGHAI — There is mounting concern from shipper groups and forwarders that the new mega alliances launching in just over a week will create significant disruption to their […]

Rates soar on space-constrained Europe-Asia trade European shippers have blamed preparation for the new shipping alliances for the lack of capacity from Europe to Asia. SHANGHAI — Freight rates on the capacity constrained backhaul trade from North Europe to Asia are soaring ever higher with a new round of increases testing the patience of shippers. […]

Just how big is China's Belt and Road? The various forms Belt and Road investment takes makes it difficult to put an exact value on how much has been invested. China’s Belt and Road program continues to generate high-levels of interest in the global shipping community as its unprecedented scale and heavy focus on trade […]

New alliance uncertainty slowing trans-Pacific contracting Caution has defined shippers’ approach to trans-Pacific contract talks thus far in the negotiating season. Contracting in the eastbound Pacific is progressing slower than usual this year due to uncertainties over the services that will be offered by the restructured carrier alliances, the financial health of some shipping lines […]

VIDEO: Multiple avenues to shipper-carrier cooperation While pricing was a critical focus of the JOC’s 17th Annual TPM Conference, one theme that popped up in a number of panel discussions was a changing of the paradigm that defines relationships between carriers and shippers from one focused primarily on cost to one that takes into account […]

NYSHEX gets .5M ahead of launch A startup cargo booking exchange platform designed to increase certainty and accountability in the container market has secured funding of $8.5 million from GE and Goldman Sachs, among others. The New York Shipping Exchange (NYSHEX) is set to launch an online portal in June through which carrier cargo space […]