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Largest US importers finalizing contracts in ‘unsettled’ trans-Pacific

The largest US retailers are signing their 2025–26 service contracts in the eastbound trans-Pacific at rates that are about 15% to 20% higher than they signed for last year, with midsize importers likely to finalize deals in the coming few weeks at slightly higher rates. Click Here

Shrinking US drayage capacity to continue outstripping demand

Nationwide US drayage capacity appears to be slowly shrinking from a 2022 high, but with some of those losses attributed to the migration of drivers to larger carriers, excess drayage capacity will persist, putting more pressure on already rock-bottom rates. Click Here

SC Ports expanding intermodal capabilities to handle growing demand

The completion of a $55 million expansion at South Carolina Ports’ (SC Ports’) Inland Port Greer will increase the capacity and efficiency of an intermodal rail facility that has seen “tremendous growth” in volumes, as SC Ports CEO Barbara Melvin put it, since opening in 2014. Click Here

Freight futures get second look amid increased risk, trading volumes

After two decades of minimal progress, the environment for the adoption of container freight futures is increasingly ripe as ongoing supply chain disruption has heightened demand for risk management tools among beneficial cargo owners (BCOs). Click Here

Uber Freight offering drop-and-hook option as dedicated-like product for shippers

Uber Freight has extended the reach of its drop-and-hook program to target truckload moves in the 500- to 1,000-mile range, so-called “tweener” shipments that have previously been elusive for the freight broker to serve with the program. Click Here

Trump taps retired navy captain to head US Maritime Administration

Retired US Navy Capt. Brent Sadler has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as the next administrator of the US Maritime Administration (MARAD). Click Here

Container ship overcapacity may be more ‘benign’ than order book suggests

The conventional thinking is that container lines are heading for another down cycle due to mounting overcapacity and weakening global demand. After record profits during the COVID-19 pandemic era and $60 billion more in 2024, JP Morgan in a March 17 research note said it thinks the industry is “entering a multi-year period of losses.” Click Here

Carriers jettison India-US April rate hike plans after shaky March recovery erodes

Ocean carriers on the India-US trade lane are realizing they are in no position to push through rate increases in a market saddled with excess capacity and faltering demand. Click Here

Descartes snaps up rival to double down on domestic TMS market

Logistics software company Descartes has acquired 3GTMS, a widely used domestic transportation management system (TMS) provider, the companies said Tuesday. Click Here

Kuehne + Nagel says gaining market share key to driving earnings growth

Gains in market share, especially in both sea and air logistics, will help Kuehne + Nagel outperform growth in the wider freight forwarding sector, senior company executives said Tuesday. Click Here

US support for carbon capture in question as projects boom along Gulf Coast

The development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) facilities is gaining momentum along the US Gulf Coast, and the buildout could generate a windfall of project cargo and breakbulk shipments. Click Here

Cargo owners push IMO on measures to accelerate energy transition

An alliance of global cargo owners is urging the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to use its upcoming Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting to approve “a clear, comprehensive, globally consistent set of measures” that will accelerate the transition to clean energy. Click Here

APM to spend $500 million to enhance cargo handling at Elizabeth terminal

APM Terminals will invest more than $500 million to improve cargo handling capacity at its 350-acre Elizabeth terminal after it agreed to a 33-year lease extension with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the two parties announced Monday. Click Here

Maersk holds top spot for US Gulf import carriers in 2024; MSC leads for exports

Maersk held its top position in the Journal of Commerce’s rankings of the top 10 carriers importing into US Gulf ports in 2024 — but the carrier was bumped by Mediterranean Shipping Co. from the top slot for exports. Click Here

US LTL getting in position for higher freight demand — when it comes

US freight demand is declining, but less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers keep building, adding terminals and lanes at a time when they might be expected to rein in expansion plans. Click Here

Likelihood of IMO fuel standard set to reshape container shipping market

What happens at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) Marine and Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting in early April will have profound implications for shippers, dwarfing the impact, for example, of proposed fines on Chinese ships calling at US ports. Click Here

Escalating tariffs will cause ‘profound’ trade pattern changes: Cosco

Cosco Shipping Holdings said Friday that the industry will experience “profound changes in global cargo flow patterns” due to tariff- and trade-related policies after reporting strong profits in 2024. Click Here

USTR’s China tonnage tax would squeeze smaller trades: stakeholders

While major container lines and their major customers are not speaking out much about the Trump administration’s proposed fees of about $1 million per US port call on Chinese vessels, shippers involved in smaller maritime and container trades are lashing out directly against the proposal through a comment period ending Monday. Click Here

Breakbulk stakeholders blast USTR’s China tonnage tax proposal

Breakbulk operators and interests are pulling no punches in their responses to the United States Trade Representative (USTR) proposal to hit Chinese-made and -operated vessels with fees of $1 million to $1.5 million per US port call. Click Here

India-US contract cycle shadowed by overcapacity

India-US trade ocean carriers have kicked off their first round of contract negotiations for the next season (2025–26) and appear to be signaling a “tight hold” on rates even as excess capacity continues to undermine their spot price-hiking efforts. Click Here

Heathrow shutdown plunges air cargo supply chain into chaos

Air freight forwarders are scrambling to recover cargo stranded at airports across Europe and the UK with inbound planes forced to divert following the complete shutdown of London’s Heathrow Airport. Click Here

US in ‘holding pattern’ over IMO membership: DNV

A crucial April meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will be the first during President Trump’s second term, with the US currently “in a holding pattern” regarding continued membership of the IMO, according to classification society DNV. Click Here

Tacoma to boost ro/ro capacity in $200 million expansion plan

The Port of Tacoma is more than doubling the size of its roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) terminal facilities after an agreement to build a new $200 million complex for ro/ro and breakbulk cargo. Click Here

New capacity coming to Asia-Mexico trade despite recent rate pressure

A consortium of seven regional Asia-based carriers will expand into the long-haul trans-Pacific trade in April with a joint North Asia-Mexico weekly express service, bringing at least 15,000 TEUs of new capacity to the growing trade. But forwarders say spot rates may already be under pressure due to overcapacity. Click Here

Empty containers piling up in Los Angeles-Long Beach after January import surge

The surge in imports landing in Southern California during January amid a rush to beat new US tariffs and Lunar New Year factory closures has resulted in a significant buildup of empty containers awaiting a return trip to Asia in drayage yards and marine terminals. Click Here

Montreal longshore labor talks head to arbitration after impasse

Canada’s government is now going to arbitrate longshore labor negotiations at the Port of Montreal after an impasse was declared between maritime employers and the local dockworkers union after 18 months of talks for a new master contract. Click Here

Jittery US wine coalition urges hold on EU imports over Trump tariff threat

A coalition of US wine importers, retailers and restaurants has told members to suspend all shipments from the European Union until greater clarity emerges on the level of tariffs to be imposed on European wine and spirits by the Trump administration. Click Here

Montreal seeking longshore deal ahead of capacity expansions

The Port of Montreal’s chief says a new contract with the port’s longshore union will help restore shipper trust in sending cargoes through Canada’s main eastern gateway... Click Here

February intermodal volumes cooled in Southern California amid Southeast gains

Intermodal freight volumes dropped sharply in Southern California in February, marking the end of a nine-month surge as imports declined significantly after the Lunar New Year... Click Here

Support growing for multi-agency US cargo crime task force

Transportation and shipper groups are calling on the US House of Representatives to pass legislation that would create a multi-agency federal task force to fight cargo crime and stiffen penalties as theft and fraud continue to grow and evolve... Click Here

DP World to boost Santos capacity 50% via eight-year services deal with Maersk

DP World will spend about $370 million to expand the capacity of its terminal at Brazil’s Port of Santos by 50% within three years under a long-term agreement with Maersk that will see the carrier expand its services at the country’s largest port, the terminal operator said Wednesday... Click Here

Trans-Atlantic air cargo demand surges ahead of US tariffs

Forwarders are scrambling to support an unseasonal surge in air freight frontloading on westbound trans-Atlantic routes ahead of new US tariffs on the European Union set to be implemented on April 2... Click Here

Is there an option for carriers to take ‘hub-and-spoke’ to next level?

The change in 2025 to four major east-west networks versus three before has created new pressures for carriers and consortiums to positively differentiate their ship systems... Click Here

Revised US payroll numbers underscore truckload market shift

US employment data for February revealed a larger-than-expected shortfall in trucking employment, throwing light on a structural change in the US trucking market... Click Here

Savannah's 'parking spot' targets idle time for ships, main terminal

The Port of Savannah is using underutilized berth space at its smaller terminal to park ships ahead of their unloading at the port's main container terminal... Click Here

New alliance vessel plans add to ongoing port congestion in Europe

Severe congestion continues to plague ports across Europe with new alliance vessel plans combining with strikes, bad weather and fully occupied container yards to delay ships and disrupt terminal operations... Click Here

CMA CGM, ONE in India VSA talks as standalone capacity pressures rise

The growing pressure of overcapacity on trades out of India is pushing major container lines to re-strategize their network operations... Click Here

Geopolitical uncertainty, tariffs start to weigh on MPV market

Increasing geopolitical unpredictability and the apparent onset of economic warfare via import tariffs are being blamed by brokers for a significant weakening of the current multipurpose ship market and forward-looking market sentiment... Click Here

Oversupplied ocean carriers sailing into new downcycle: analysts

Container shipping is plunging into another downcycle with an oversupply of capacity and weakening demand hanging over the industry, leaving little to slow the slide in rates on major trades that analysts say has declined beyond seasonal norms... Click Here

Australian shippers back competition probe into DP World’s deal for Silk Logistics

Shippers in Australia are backing a probe by the country’s competition authority into DP World’s planned US$110 million acquisition of leading forwarder Silk Logistics, saying the deal could lead to higher charges and anti-competitive behavior... Click Here

FMC probes ocean chokepoints as Trump looks to rule the waves

The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is asking shipping interests to weigh in on the biggest global maritime chokepoints they face as part of US waterborne commerce. The probe, part of the FMC’s regular work under US shipping law, comes amid the... Click Here

Beijing issues warning over Hutchison’s proposed sale of Panama Ports Company

Beijing is voicing its opposition to the sale by Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison of its Panama ports terminals to a consortium of BlackRock Group and Mediterranean Shipping Co.’s Terminal Investment Limited (TiL), warning the Panama Canal would be “Americanized” by the US government restricting Chinese access to the waterway... Click Here

EPCs paint bleak picture for MPV sector under US port fee plan

Engineering, procurement and construction companies (EPCs) are lambasting the Trump administration’s proposed port call tax on Chinese-built and -operated ships, fearing a “devastating” 50%-plus contracting fee increase for chartering multipurpose vessels (MPVs)... Click Here

Tariffs, falling spot market weaken contract resolve of trans-Pac carriers

cean carriers on the eastbound trans-Pacific are acknowledging they will be unable to achieve their hoped-for rates in 2025–26 annual service... Click Here

Escalating tariff costs are ‘massive’ financial shift for US importers: experts

The Trump administration’s flurry of threats against trading partners puts shippers at risk of tariff “stacking” as import duties compound on top of other charges, customs experts say... Click Here

India-Europe liners abruptly drop rates amid weakening cargo prospects

Container lines with larger trade stakes on the India-Europe route are reporting lower vessel space demand, prompting them to implement spot rate adjustments on a sailing-by-sailing or weekly basis. After raising rates in anticipation of higher volumes, several top carriers have now dropped spot booking rates from West India to North Europe by between $300 and $500 per container, according to freight forwarder sources in Mumbai. Click Here

Proposed US tax on Chinese ship calls could pressure intermodal networks

If a Trump administration proposal to tax Chinese-built and -operated ships calling at US ports is enacted, the nation’s Class I railroads could face the challenge of attempting to move cargo through fewer entry points without disrupting service, railroad executives said Tuesday. Click Here

Shippers investing in data warehousing capability to increase software options

Shippers wrestling with decisions on which software and data partners to use are starting to build internal data warehousing capabilities to make it easier to test which of those providers are solving actual problems. Click Here

Hutchison deal shows thirst of big carriers to control global terminal assets

Container lines going back to Sea-Land Service Inc. have seen value in controlling marine terminals, but the advantages — and the competition to acquire key facilities — are intensifying in line with growing port congestion, finite port capacity and the growing dominance of a top tier of mega carriers. Click Here

Cross-border spot truck rates rise as shippers ride tariff rollercoaster

The flow of goods moving across the US-Canada border shrank last week, but not the cost of moving them, as a trade war between the two neighbors deepened. Rates in the Toronto-to-Chicago lane, one of the heaviest for cross-border truck traffic between the US and Canada, rose 18% week over week while spot volumes dropped 20% in the week ended March 7, according to DAT Freight & Analytics. Click Here

Houthi militants threaten to restart attacks on Red Sea shipping

Houthi militants have threatened to resume attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea by midweek unless Israel resumes humanitarian aid and electricity supplies to Gaza that were cut earlier this month. Click Here

Hapag-Lloyd’s ports arm buys majority stake in Le Havre terminal

Hapag-Lloyd subsidiary Hanseatic Global Terminals has acquired a majority stake in terminal operator CNMP at the French port of Le Havre from Seafrigo Group as the carrier expands its reach into the reefer business. Hanseatic on Monday said it acquired 60% of the shares in CNMP, while 40% will remain with Seafrigo, a temperature-controlled food logistics company. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Click Here

Air cargo rates tumble as market adjusts to looming ‘de minimis’ changes

Air freight rates from China to the US have fallen sharply since Lunar New Year as the traditional post-holiday slump combined with mounting uncertainty over the impact of a US clampdown on low-value products under the “de minimis” threshold. Click Here

In the midst of chaos, some good news emerges for domestic intermodal

Roughly 60% of all North American intermodal activity is directly linked to the continent’s trade with other nations. This international business includes both intact movement of ISO containers and cargo transloaded from ISO boxes to domestic equipment. Click Here

FourKites’ exit from Gartner visibility assessment highlights evolving market

Gnosis Freight has announced a product integration with logistics payment vendor PayCargo and ocean carrier Hapag-Lloyd that connects shipper and forwarder payments to the liner with reduced dwell times and faster cargo release. Click Here

Strikes, storms and record volumes adding to North Europe port delays

The significant volumes of exports that left China in December are continuing to arrive at European ports, compounding existing congestion caused by a series of severe winter storms ... [Click Here]

Red Sea diversions, trans-Pacific volume drive HMM to solid annual result

Longer voyages around southern Africa amid continued Red Sea diversions and an increase in China-US trade elevated rates delivered a solid 2024 annual result for HMM, the South Korean carrier... [Click Here]

Tariffs introduce uncertainty amid growth in US steel imports

On the heels of a growth year for US steel imports, ports and steel traders are bracing for President Donald Trump to sign an executive order imposing tariffs on any steel coming into the United States... [Click Here]

Stakeholders still in wait-and-see mode on US freight market turn

US intermodal and truckload carriers believe shippers are making a final push for lower contract rates before the market shifts this summer, pointing to signals that the prolonged freight recession may soon end... [Click Here]

January cargo spike kept Los Angeles-Long Beach rail dwells largely elevated

Rail container dwell times at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach remained elevated in January amid an especially strong month in the eastbound trans-Pacific due to a spike in pre-Lunar New Year import volumes... [Click Here]

Import upgrade from US retailers comes despite Trump tariff uncertainty

US retailers Friday indicated they remain bullish about cargo volumes arriving at US ports for the next several months despite new tariffs on China and the threat of tariffs on Canada and Mexico, upgrading their forecast... [Click Here]

Softening multipurpose freight rates and near-term market uncertainty have unsettled the project cargo sector, stakeholders say.

The launch of the new container shipping alliance comprised of Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM and Yang Ming has cleared its last regulatory hurdle after the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) completed its review of the partnership... [Click Here]

Softer MPV market conditions reflect shaky near-term expectations

Softening multipurpose freight rates and near-term market uncertainty have unsettled the project cargo sector, stakeholders say... [Click Here]

North American intermodal would escape tariffs largely unscathed: analyst

A US trade war with Canada and Mexico has been averted, at least for now. It seems likely, however, that there will be more twists and turns as our trading partners try to figure out what exactly Donald Trump really wants to change ... [Click Here]

Maersk CEO defends carrier’s slow progress hitting end-to-end strategy targets

Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc is acknowledging that progress in reaching the targeted margins of the carrier’s integrated logistics strategy was “slower than expected,” which he attributed in part to the sheer ambition of the strategy... [Click Here]

Delaware port still backing Edgemoor plans even after lawsuit cancels permit

Delaware’s port authority is reaffirming support for developing a container terminal near the Port of Wilmington despite a delayed groundbreaking caused by a lawsuit brought by the nearby Port of Philadelphia. The delay for the proposed Edgemoor project ... [Click Here]

MPVs turn to unconventional propulsion to beat European fuel regulations

Tighter European emissions regulations have pushed multipurpose ship operators toward alternative propulsion technologies to achieve compliance... [Click Here]

Maersk’s profitability in 2025 hinges on return to Red Sea: Clerc

Maersk’s profitability in 2025 depends on when shipping can resume regular transits through the Red Sea and Suez Canal, with the timing of such a return the difference between breaking even this year or making pre-tax profits as high as $3 billion... [Click Here]

Opportunistic Brazilian exporters move product to US amid spot rate retreat

Exporters shipping low-value products from Brazil to the US are taking advantage of depressed container spot rates driven by retreating volumes, a move forwarders say will hasten a rate recovery given the minimal capacity additions expected on the trade... [Click Here]

Bangladesh shippers find no place in Gemini’s integrated shuttle plan

Shippers in Bangladesh who historically rely on feeder networks for trade flows are seemingly missing out on potential supply chain gains from Gemini Cooperation’s hub-and-spoke model designed around dedicated shuttle operations... [Click Here]

Shippers want more visibility data than terminals are providing: survey

A lack of alignment around visibility data between container terminal operators around the globe and the shippers and forwarders they serve results in underuse of operating systems and general supply chain inefficiencies, according to a report on the subject... [Click Here]

‘Strategic’ sailing cuts offset switch to new Asia-Europe networks: eeSea

Ocean carriers are employing “strategic blanked sailings” on the Asia-Europe trade lane as they manage the transition from old services to the new alliance networks, according to maritime intelligence firm eeSea... [Click Here]

Project cargo sector disadvantaged by lag in AI adoption

The project cargo industry has only just started to voyage down the path of uncovering how artificial intelligence (AI) may help it become more efficient, stakeholders in the sector tell the Journal of Commerce... [Click Here]

a large conference room filled with numerous people seated at tables

BC container ports ready to lock out longshore foremen after strike vote

British Columbia’s maritime employers said Friday they are prepared to lock out longshore foremen by Monday after their union provided a notice to strike, a move that would shut down container.... [Click Here]