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Global SOLAS disruption minimal, but shipper frustration over fees intensifies Shippers, terminal operators, drayage drivers and container lines around the world sighed a breath of relief as the Friday rollout of the SOLAS container rule brought few disruptions,… Global SOLAS disruption minimal, but shipper frustration over fees intensifies Journal of Commerce

Eastbound trans-Pacific spot rates jump at highest clip in months Spot rates in the eastbound trans-Pacific this week took their biggest jump in months, with the rate to the West Coast increasing 60 percent over last week to $1,209 per 40-foot-equivalent… Eastbound trans-Pacific spot rates jump at highest clip in months Journal of Commerce

No SOLAS disruption across North Europe waterfront LONDON — There are no reports of disruption at Europe’s three largest container ports Friday as a new international regulation requiring the weight of an export container to be verified before it can be loaded onto… No SOLAS disruption across North Europe waterfront Journal of Commerce

Facing low demand and new rules, truckers pile into last-mile logistics CHICAGO — Frustrated by a slow-growth economy, low freight demand and tighter regulatory controls, trucking providers are looking for new opportunities, often in last-mile logistics. “Last-mile delivery is becoming the new logistics battleground, particularly in the consumer world,” consultant Adrian Gonzalez said at the […]

Japan invests beyond Southeast Asia FTZs to fully realize gains Japan is committed to funding integrated trade support solutions for Myanmar, including the development of efficient port and logistics infrastructure to eliminate bottlenecks to growth, according to Japan’s ambassador to Myanmar Tateshi Higuchi. Japan is funding a 2,400 hectare (5,930 acres) Special Economic Zone… Japan […]

Ready or not, here comes the new container weight rule There is a flurry of last-minute reports, instructions and frequently asked questions on the verified gross mass container weight regulations as the industry prepares for the new rule that will be imposed by maritime authorities across the globe on Friday, July 1.Most of the communications […]

China VGM wrangle sees cargo agents stuck between shippers and carrier​s Cargo agents in China, which handle a huge amount of containers exported from the country, are being caught between shippers unwilling to pay verified gross mass weighing charges and carriers that will not load boxes without the weight data beginning Friday, July 1.From tomorrow, […]

High US inventories could be the new normal The state of U.S. freight growth in 2016 and perhaps next year hangs on inventories that have been piling up for years at retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers and have proved difficult to draw down. Bloated inventories have depressed freight demand since 2014, contributing to overcapacity in trucking, […]

Brexit to have minimal impact on container shipping, Alphaliner says The U.K.’s vote to leave the European Union is expected to have “little direct impact” on the container shipping industry, according to Alphaliner. U.K. ports’ share of global container traffic shrank to 1.2 percent in 2013 from 3 percent in 2000, though they staged a […]

Gap in Japan warehousing exposed by rising e-commerce demand Fast-growing e-commerce has quickly exposed a lack of modern warehousing in Japan, a scarcity that developers and logistics services providers are investing heavily to fill.DHL Express recently unveiled a new $74 million 215,278 square foot warehouse at Shin-Kiba in Tokyo that more than doubles its space […]