News

Global shippers’ alliance to launch pioneering e-fuel ocean tender

A group of 40 global shippers has pushed the decarbonization boat further out with its second tender to ocean carriers focusing exclusively on cargo transported on e-fuel-powered container ships from 2027.

Green ocean corridors hitting ‘feasibility wall’: Global Maritime Forum

Green ocean corridors crucial to decarbonizing container shipping have grown rapidly over the past year, but the continued development of these trade routes is facing a “feasibility wall” in the absence of national policy incentives to narrow the cost gap between fossil fuels and cleaner alternatives, according to a new report.

Green ocean corridors hitting ‘feasibility wall’: Global Maritime Forum

Support from the US government and an increased focus on national security are positioning the US-flag fleet for significant expansion and investment in the coming years, a panel of US-flag shipowners, operators, brokers and investors told attendees at the Marine Money conference in New Orleans last week.

Importers navigate two-year high rail container dwells in Los Angeles-Long Beach

Rail container dwell times at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach rose to their highest level in two years last month and will likely remain elevated through January amid higher-than-normal import volumes driven in part by cargo diversions from the US East and Gulf coasts.

Gemini says will use London Gateway for shared network vessel calls

DP World’s London Gateway opened a £350 million ($442 million) all-electric fourth berth last week, the latest step in a six-berth plan to overtake Felixstowe as the UK’s largest container port in the next five years.

Prolonged US freight ‘recession’ to drag into 2025: transportation executives

CHICAGO — The so-called freight recession may be close to its end, but it is still very much alive, shippers, brokers and trucking executives told the Traffic Club of Chicago this week.

Brazil exports feel impact of congestion woes as empty equipment remains limited

Key ports in Brazil are facing tightened capacity at the tail end of peak season, resulting in skipped calls, rerouted cargo and mounting vessel congestion. And as those ports work to clear the congestion, exporters are struggling to secure empty containers.

Cosco shareholders back $2.2 billion order for 12 methanol-fueled ships

Cosco Shipping Holdings is backing continued investment in methanol-fueled container ships after shareholders this week approved a $2.2 billion deal for 12 14,000-TEU dual-fuel vessels for delivery beginning in 2027.

US spot intermodal savings dipped in Q3 but remained above historical norms

Despite rising rail rates in Southern California, intermodal shippers saved more than 20% versus truckload on one-off business across the US in the third quarter, the second consecutive quarter in which spot market savings far exceeded historical norms, according to the latest Journal of Commerce Intermodal Savings Index (ISI).

Hapag-Lloyd sees possible pre-LNY cargo rush amid ‘very healthy’ demand

Hapag-Lloyd could see a cargo rush ahead of the Lunar New Year holidays in January partly due to shippers seeking to beat the possible imposition of new and increased US tariffs on Chinese products by the incoming Trump administration, its CEO said Thursday.

Uber Freight opens up truckload capacity network to rival brokers

Uber Freight on Thursday opened its network of truckload carriers to fellow freight brokers under a new product called Broker Access.

K+N acquires majority stake in big US drayage provider

Kuehne+Nagel said Thursday it has acquired a majority stake in IMC Cos., one of the largest ocean drayage providers in the US with terminals in almost every major port city and rail hub. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

New precedent established for politics to drive longshore union negotiations

Following President Joe Biden’s intervention in October to end the brief strike at East and Gulf coast ports, US longshore labor negotiations can no longer be seen through a traditional lens. The precedent now firmly established is that politics will prevail over the traditional give-and-take at the negotiating table.

BC ports to reopen, but longshore union plans challenge to back-to-work order

Longshore foremen at British Columbia ports plan a legal challenge against a government order for them to return to work and submit to binding arbitration in contract talks with maritime employers, even as Canada’s busiest port plans to reopen Thursday. Meanwhile, Montreal’s dockworkers are also balking at a similar request, arguing such a demand from the government is unconstitutional

Panama Canal chief offers land bridge option to transship containers across isthmus

The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) is looking for more than $1 billion in funding to develop an over-the-road network connecting the Pacific and Atlantic oceans that would move containers carried on vessels too large to transit the waterway.

Evergreen, HMM follow peers in reporting bumper Q3 profits

Rocketing freight rates and a raft of new services helped propel Taiwan’s Evergreen Marine and South Korean carrier HMM to a bumper third quarter, with net earnings for both carriers outstripping those in the first half of the year.

ILA breaks off contract talks, accuses USMX of semi-automation push

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) said Wednesday it has halted negotiations with maritime employers over a new master contract due to what it said was a management proposal for introducing semi-automated equipment that would eliminate longshore jobs. The technology at the heart of the dispute is said to be what’s already in use at New Jersey and Virginia marine terminals

DAT, Keelvar integrate on truckload rate benchmarking for shippers

Freight procurement software provider Keelvar has integrated spot and contract truckload pricing data from DAT Freight & Analytics into its platform to enable shipper-users to compare benchmark rates with their own rates from carriers.

US truckload spot rates to benefit from ‘tailwinds’ as 2025 progresses

The so-called freight recession may have a quarter or two to go, but the US trucking industry’s rate recession is over. Spot truckload rates are moving higher and exceeding last year’s prices and are expected to be up by low double-digit percentages by late 2025.

Bentzel leaving FMC for executive role with maritime trade groups

Carl Bentzel will be stepping down as a commissioner on the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to move into the private sector, leaving the incoming Trump administration to nominate a new member to the agency.

BC, Montreal ports set to reopen under orders from Canada’s labor chief

Canada’s Labor Minister on Tuesday took direct action to end coast-to-coast port closures by ordering binding arbitration in contract disputes between maritime employers and longshore workers, forcing ports to reopen.

Yang Ming, Wan Hai see Q3 net profit outpace first half on demand, higher rates

Two of Taiwan’s largest carriers — Yang Ming Marine Transport and Wan Hai Lines — saw net profit surge in the third quarter, outpacing their first-half results, on the back of stronger demand and higher freight rates.

CMA CGM does U-turn on Suez Canal resumption for Indamex service

Just days after announcing it would send its key India-US Indamex service back through the Suez Canal, CMA CGM has reversed course and instead will maintain the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa.

CPKC, CSX to launch joint Mexico-Southeast US service Dec. 1

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CSX Transportation will launch a new cross-border rail service on Dec. 1, connecting Mexico to the US Southeast and carrying Schneider National intermodal freight alongside automotive and other mixed cargo, the companies said in a joint statement Monday.

MPV stability underscored by steady cargo demand

Steady breakbulk and project cargo demand and a lack of specialized multipurpose vessel (MPV) capacity are keeping MPV charter rates steady at levels well above those seen prior to the COVID-19 pandemic market, and vessel operators are optimistic this will continue through the next quarter, according to two closely watched industry indexes.

CMA CGM profits soar on higher pricing, early peak seasons

CMA CGM on Friday reported a six-fold surge in group net profit to $2.7 billion in the third quarter, as revenue increased by more the one-third on stronger container pricing power and the front-loading of US imports.

Second Trump term fears blow through breakbulk sector

If President-elect Donald Trump delivers his agenda as promised, the breakbulk and project cargo sector could experience dramatic shifts related to offshore energy — from a push to ramp up oil and gas production to an all-out halt to offshore wind development — along with uncertainties surrounding import tariffs and shipbuilding efforts.

US retailers ramping up year-end imports ahead of strike, tariff threats

US retailers in November and December plan to import 350,000 TEUs more than they had expected a month ago as they rush to bring merchandise into the country ahead of a possible strike in January by East and Gulf coast dockworkers and billions of dollars in new tariffs proposed by President-elect Donald Trump.

Port lockouts extend from BC ports to Montreal

The outlook for an end to the shutdown of Canada’s first, second and fourth-largest ports darkened over the weekend, after British Columbia foremen and Montreal port workers separately rejected what waterfront employers called their final wage offer.

CMA CGM reinstates Suez transits on India-US route

CMA CGM has taken the lead among major carriers in reinstating the traditional — and significantly shorter — Suez Canal route that the vast majority of vessels abandoned in late 2023 due to the Red Sea crisis.

Large carrier truckload capacity stabilizing alongside rates

The long, steep slide in the Journal of Commerce Truckload Capacity Index (TCI), a measure of trucks fielded by large companies, almost came to a halt in the third quarter, with the index dropping only 0.3 percentage point from the previous quarter.

Early Lunar New Year, tariffs, strike risk underpin Q4 strength in ocean freight

Waltham, MASSACHUSETTS — The confluence of strong pre-Lunar New Year cargo bookings, worries over new US tariffs and the potential for another work stoppage along the US East and Gulf coasts is expected to keep ocean freight demand elevated through the end of 2024, carrier and shipper sources say. Those bullish fundamentals will put a floor under spot rates during the fourth quarter and position the 2025 market for more potential rate increases, they say.

Intermodal bent, but didn’t break, during recent disruptive events: analyst

In one of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous Sherlock Holmes short stories, “Silver Blaze” — a mystery involving the disappearance of a famous racehorse and the death of its trainer — the culprit is ultimately identified in part by the fact that the stable’s watchdog was not heard barking that night. Holmes infers from this that the dog knew the murderer, and that the canine thought that this familiar individual offered no threat.

India-USEC rates hit four-month low amid sagging cargo volumes: forwarders

Container lines on the India-US trades are navigating intense rate pressure amid the downturn in headhaul volumes, according to local market updates.

‘Calm’ trans-Atlantic ocean trade shrugs off market disruption

The trans-Atlantic ocean corridor has returned to the “calm waters” mode that typically characterizes the westbound trade lane, with rates trending down into November and US import volume flattening out into the fourth quarter.

Employer-labor tensions in North America disrupting more cargo

That six port worker unions stretching across North America were all negotiating their contracts over approximately the last 18 months was a fluke of timing. That negotiations with waterfront employees deteriorated in four of those contract cycles to the point that cargo flow was slowed or halted entirely at nearly all US ports on the East, Gulf and West coasts at some point can’t be easily written off.

More efficient cross-border networks needed as US-Mexico trade rises

Rapid growth in US-Mexico trade is forcing a maturation of cross-border supply chain networks that logistics executives say will be critical as freight volumes rise.

Hapag-Lloyd makes $4 billion move down LNG path with 24-ship dual-fuel order

Hapag-Lloyd has placed a $4 billion order for 24 new dual-fuel ships capable of running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) that will be used to both expand existing services and replace older tonnage.

Air cargo peak season elevates as Chinese export rates hit 2024 high

Average air cargo rates from China to North America and Europe have hit their highest levels this year as peak season demand and cargo flows in preparation for November’s e-commerce online promotions begin to gear up.

BCOs should forsake ‘revenge’ to build ‘collaborative’ relationships with carriers

More than a year after global health agencies declared an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and nearly three years after the peak of the supply chain impact, the scars in the ocean container world have barely begun to heal. And given that market turbulence looks set to continue with a second Trump presidency, that healing may not have an opportunity for months or years to come.

Ships waiting out BC port closures in hopes of quick deal with longshore union

A growing number of container ships on Tuesday were waiting out the labor lockout at British Columbia ports in hopes of a speedy resolution. Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, the strike at marine terminals in Montreal is halting all rail service at that port.

East China Sea container traffic facing delays, port congestion after typhoon

Container shipping services in the East China Sea are facing ongoing disruption amid port congestion and vessel delays from the impact of Typhoon Kong-rey, which hit Taiwan late last week before moving northward to affect eastern China and Japan.

Carriers revamp services amid port congestion in Mexico, Central America

Ocean carriers are experiencing extensive delays at ports in Mexico and Central America, which is leading several liners to revamp services or implement contingency plans to maintain reliability.

North American railroads have ambitious plans to win share from trucks in Mexico

The Mexican sourcing market has become increasingly important to North American importers amid the rising threat of tariffs on goods from China.

Stream of oil and gas business keeps project sector humming

Reports of the demise of fossil fuels — and, by extension, the oil and gas project cargo market — may have been exaggerated, or at the very least, a bit premature.

BC container ports set for shutdown after foremen begin strike

British Columbia’s container ports are set for an indefinite shut down this week as maritime employers planned to lock out longshore foremen after they began a strike Monday. While the lockout would not technically affect other longshore workers, uncertainty about the job actions taken by the foremen’s union will force marine terminals to shutter.

North American projects provide lifeline for industrial gas suppliers

Economic uncertainties including geopolitical tensions and lower commodity prices are creating headwinds for global industrial gas suppliers while they look to North American project investment for a boost as they approach the end of the fiscal year.

Scrapping, slow steaming, demand will limit capacity overhang: Clerc

Ocean carriers are on track to nearly double profit levels this year, and despite a wide supply-demand imbalance through 2025, there are increasing signs that excess capacity fears have been overblown, according to Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc.

Payment technology adapting to account for smaller invoice inaccuracies

Freight audit and payment has traditionally been about searching for the “big bang” invoice inaccuracies over correcting the litany of “small potatoes” errors.

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 operations at Canada’s busiest port .

Ro/ro operators bank on recovery in ‘high-and-heavy’ market

Roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) vessel operators are expecting a rebound in “high-and-heavy” cargo volumes next year on stronger exports from China and rising global demand in the construction and mining industries, shipping executives say.

Network realignment shines light on hub-focused product vs. direct calls

As we enter the final months of 2024, there is increased focus on the question of whether the Gemini Cooperation alliance of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd — launching in February — can deliver on its promise of 90% reliability.

Smaller US LTL carriers increasingly merging in ‘sink or swim’ market

Merger and acquisition activity in the already highly-consolidated US less-than-truckload (LTL) market is picking up speed — not from the top down, but from the bottom up. That could mean new options for shippers trying to find the right home for their LTL freight in a market that has been in flux since Yellow collapsed in July 2023.

Gemini faces 13-week phase-in before 90% reliability promise is tested: Clerc

Gemini Cooperation will have a 13-week window from Feb. 1 to get the new network up and running before partners Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd come under pressure to prove they can deliver on the promised 90% schedule reliability, according to Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc.

Hub Group’s Q3 intermodal volumes jump amid cargo frontloading

Hub Group experienced double-digit growth in its intermodal volumes for the third quarter, but cautioned that a frontloaded peak season may lead to a softer finish to the year. It comes as the bid season begins in earnest, with shippers aiming to hold rates steady while intermodal carriers seek modest rate increases for 2025.

Montreal warns of vessel diversions as strike against MSC terminals begins

The Port of Montreal is warning that shippers may face diverted cargoes as an indefinite strike began Thursday at two marine terminals handling Mediterranean Shipping Co. container services, with over two dozen vessels facing an impact depending on the length of the current work stoppage.

Freight rates supported by bullish fundamentals to persist through Q4: Matson

Ocean carrier Matson is expecting elevated rates for its Asian services for the rest of the year amid steady e-commerce growth, US tariff threats, potential labor disruption and constrained capacity due to ongoing Red Sea diversions. That comes after Matson said its net income surged 66% year over year in the third quarter to $199 million due to strong freight rates supported by market uncertainty.

ONE upgrades full-year profit forecast to $3 billion after strong early peak season

Ocean Network Express (ONE) has upgraded its full-year profit forecast to $3.1 billion, the carrier said Thursday, after its first-half result was buoyed by higher freight rates and cargo volumes due to the early peak season.

Maersk’s existing fleet size sufficient to handle short-term demand growth: CEO

Maersk’s existing fleet capacity of nearly 4.3 million TEUs will be enough to handle demand growth for two to three years as the Gemini network enables faster turnaround times and greater volumes transported on the same number of vessels, CEO Vincent Clerc said Thursday.

Asia-Europe shippers sail into contract talks with Red Sea top of agenda

The Red Sea will be top of the talking points list for Asia-Europe shippers as they prepare to enter 2025 contract talks with ocean carriers anxious to avoid a repeat of the chronic space constraints and soaring rates experienced through this year’s peak season.

US LTL carriers raising rates as shippers keep wary eye on 2025

US freight demand may be soft, but less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers are defying a two-year freight slump and increasing contractual pricing heading into 2025.

US ports plan upgrades to electric yard equipment after securing EPA grants

US ports are poised for one of the largest ever upgrade cycles for container handling equipment after the federal government announced $2.8 billion in grants to replace diesel-powered yard equipment with electric equipment. With the grants, ports that abut residential areas can keep growing cargo volumes while diminishing the adverse effects of pollution and carbon emissions.

Strong imports, low blanks extend peak season on eastbound trans-Pacific

An extended peak season on the eastbound trans-Pacific is manifesting in unusual strength for imports from Asia, coming as carriers signal atypically low blank sailings for November and seek higher rates.

Maersk secures long-term methanol supply in China production deal

Maersk has signed a long-term bio-methanol supply agreement with China’s LONGi Green Energy Technology Co. as the carrier works toward securing enough green fuel to power its fast-growing dual-fuel fleet.

Montreal dockworkers target MSC’s terminals for strike this week

Two marine terminals handling Mediterranean Shipping Co.’s Montreal container services face a work stoppage starting this week after longshore workers there voted to authorize an indefinite strike targeting nearly half of the port’s container capacity.

CMA CGM shores up West Med transshipment capacity with Moroccan JV

CMA CGM said Tuesday it has signed a joint venture deal with Moroccan port operator Marsa Maroc to equip and operate half the Nador West Med container terminal near the Gibraltar mouth of the Mediterranean.

First track improvements allow CSX to double-stack containers from Baltimore

CSX Transportation has begun double-stacked intermodal service out of the Port of Baltimore after completing the first round of tunnel and track improvements from the port that will ultimately boost Baltimore’s current container handling capacity by one-third.

US trucking demand at 2019 levels, constraining rate hikes: analysts

US trucking demand in the fourth quarter — whether truckload or less-than-truckload (LTL) — is essentially weak, and that isn’t likely to change until US manufacturing output strengthens substantially, speakers said during a Journal of Commerce webcast Thursday.

Offshore project delivers Virginia cargo windfall

Progress on a gigantic wind farm off the US mid-Atlantic coast is picking up speed, and it’s driving a surge of project cargo to the Port of Virginia.

Automation key to improving broker efficiency metrics: experts

Freight brokers are harnessing automation to increase the number of loads each employee books with truckload carriers daily, efficiency gains that translate into easier access to capacity for shippers.

Zim’s restructured Med-US services add transshipment options

Zim Integrated Shipping Services is reworking two trans-Atlantic services to offer new port options from the Mediterranean to the US East Coast, while also adding transshipment options to the East Coast of South America and the Caribbean.

Intra-Asia container rates rebound on typhoon-tightened capacity

Container lines are looking to capitalize on a tightening intra-Asia market — fueled by strong Chinese demand and congestion-induced blank sailings — with peak season rate hikes ranging from $100 to $1,000 per TEU, depending on the lane.

Oilfield services titans shift focus to gas, deepwater developments

With lower oil prices chipping away at their latest quarterly performance, two oilfield services giants are looking to natural gas and deepwater projects to boost long-term growth.

ILA, USMX to resume talks on new master contract in November

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and maritime employers along the US East and Gulf coasts said Friday they will resume negotiations in November on the remaining terms of a new master contract following a tentative wage deal that ended a three-day dockworkers strike earlier this month.

NY-NJ port veterans recall Maher executive Don McBeth

Donald McBeth, an executive with Maher Terminals and SeaLand, died unexpectedly Oct. 18, with his colleagues at the Port of New York and New Jersey recalling him as a hands-on executive who spearheaded Maher’s biggest move — the development of Canada’s Prince Rupert as a container port.

US export market navigating ‘disruptive’ peak season amid ag shipment growth

The US export market is facing some operational hurdles amid peak season for some agricultural commodities, with shippers saying delays at ports and inland hubs are making it hard to secure equipment and hit berthing windows.

Asia-Europe air cargo demand jumps while ‘de minimis’ scrutiny hampers trans-Pac

Air cargo rates and tonnage from Asia to Europe picked up sharply in October as rising demand for e-commerce shook off the slow buildup to peak season that typically follows China’s Golden Week holidays.

Value of Schenker takeover will manifest in expanding services: DSV CEO

The scale generated by a combined DB Schenker-DSV entity will be accompanied by an expanding portfolio of services from which to generate greater earnings, according to DSV CEO Jens Lund.

FMC continues clawing back per diem charges for shippers

Ocean carriers have waived or refunded about $3.2 million in disputed per diem charges levied against shippers since the start of the pandemic amid heightened regulatory monitoring, the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) said this week.

Ex-Mobile executive Branch named CEO of Port of New Orleans

Beth Ann Branch, former chief commercial officer of the Port of Mobile, has been named president and CEO of the Port of New Orleans (Port NOLA) and CEO of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad, effective Dec. 1. The announcement was made Thursday by the Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans.

Montreal dockworkers plan one-day port strike on Sunday

Longshore workers at the Port of Montreal will stage a one-day strike on Sunday as part of their union’s pressure tactics amid ongoing contract talks with maritime employers. While the practical effects of a Sunday strike might be limited, maritime employers warn the work stoppage will further a slow bleed of cargo away from Montreal.

UP pins performance slip on communication gap over USWC cargo surge

Union Pacific Railroad says it was caught off guard by the cargo surge that hit Southern California in recent months, blaming the slower speeds and higher idling times for its railcars over the past six weeks on a lack of advanced notice of the freight diversions to the US West Coast ahead of the strike earlier this month by longshore workers along the East and Gulf coasts.

BC longshore foremen bargained in bad faith: Canada labor board

Longshore foremen knew that new automation was being installed at DP World’s Port of Vancouver marine terminal but failed to negotiate early with maritime employers about the project’s impact on staffing, Canada’s labor tribunal has ruled, determining the foremen’s union bargained in bad faith with maritime employers.

Hapag-Lloyd raises full-year forecast on ‘stronger than expected’ Q3

Hapag-Lloyd has joined soon-to-be alliance partner Maersk in raising its full-year profit forecast following the release of preliminary nine-month figures that beat the carrier’s expectations.

US port automation holds promise, but hardly a sure shot

A report released this year by the US Congressional watchdog about port automation provides a sobering read, showing the possible, but narrow, path for adoption amid overexuberance over technology’s potential and doomsaying on its impact on labor.

Interest in US LTL M&A activity seen rising as 2025 approaches

As the US less-than-truckload (LTL) sector continues its post-Yellow restructuring, interest in mergers and acquisitions is expected to rise, putting additional pressure on LTL pricing, particularly if the freight market strengthens in 2025.

Cosco Ports pays $110 million for Thailand terminal stakes as Hutchison sells down

Cosco Shipping Ports, part of China’s largest state-controlled shipping group, is making its debut in Thailand’s port market after agreeing to pay $110 million for ownership stakes in two container terminals controlled by Hong Kong’s Hutchison Port group. The terminals are at Laem Chabang, Thailand’s largest port, which handled almost 9 million TEUs last year.

DSV, K+N post solid Q3 revenue gains, but profit margins under pressure

DSV and Kuehne + Nagel on Wednesday reported strong revenue growth in the third quarter, but the solid results could not mask a difficult operating environment with the margins at both forwarders under pressure.

Rotterdam’s nine-month container volumes edge higher on ‘tentative’ recovery in trade

Container volume at the Port of Rotterdam rose 2.2% in the first nine months of the year, with port officials calling the positive performance in the container handling sector a “tentative” recovery in global trade.

Ocean pricing ‘unsustainability’ returns to haunt shippers

Over any number of pre-pandemic years, a word commonly heard at industry conferences, in reference to ocean freight rates, was “unsustainable.” It was almost always uttered by ocean carrier executives lamenting chronic pressure on rates and inadequate profits earned by their companies as a consequence.

US spot truckload rates turn upward again post-Milton

US truckload spot rates and volumes are rising again after settling briefly between hurricanes Helene and Milton, propelled by a storm surge and some seasonal demand. The increases in freight and pricing point to tightening capacity in the spot market, although shippers have told the Journal of Commerce plenty of capacity is still available.

North-South trade facing schedule woes, congestion in wake of ILA strike

Shippers on the North-South trade lane are facing disrupted shipping schedules and congestion at key ports along the east coast of South America amid cascading effects from the early October strike at US East and Gulf coast ports that are just now being felt.

Maersk hikes full-year profit forecast amid expected strong Q3 financials

Maersk on Tuesday raised its full-year profit forecast for the second time in three months, driven by expected third-quarter operating profit of $3.3 billion as the delayed effect of rising contract rates secured in the second quarter pushed earnings higher.

CMA CGM inks biomethane supply deal, will share $108 million fuel investment

French waste management company Suez has signed a deal with CMA CGM to produce 100,000 metric tons of biomethane per year between now and 2030 to power the carrier’s fast-growing renewable fuel fleet.

Antwerp-Bruges grows container market share with solid Q3 volume

Container volumes at Antwerp-Bruges rose 6.8% in the first nine months of the year to 10.15 million TEUs as Europe’s second-largest port built on early peak season demand to capture market share from its regional rivals.

Potential Trump tariffs would reset business strategy for US importers: Analyst

While freight contracting for 2025 may seem a long way off for many, the factors affecting the strategy for beneficial cargo owner (BCO) freight for next year are more immediate — and potentially more exponentially disruptive.

Delay in Europe’s deforestation rule does not address key issues: Palm oil industry

The decision to delay the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) for at least 12 months will not help small farmers avoid having their products barred from Europe unless existing traceability elements within the current law are amended to exclude those farmers, according to the Southeast Asian palm oil industry. The EUDR was due to be rolled out on Dec. 31.

Proposed Oregon container terminal among projects winning DOT grants

Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) will take over a majority stake in Brazilian port and logistics operator Wilson Sons valued at $768 million as the carrier extends its reach deeper into key markets in preparation for the rollout of its standalone network early next year.

MSC’s SAS Shipping Agencies Services reached an agreement with London-listed Ocean Wilsons Holdings Monday to acquire a 56.47% stake in Wilson Sons, its Brazilian port and logistics subsidiary.

MSC grows South American logistics portfolio with Wilson Sons acquisition

Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) will take over a majority stake in Brazilian port and logistics operator Wilson Sons valued at $768 million as the carrier extends its reach deeper into key markets in preparation for the rollout of its standalone network early next year.

MSC’s SAS Shipping Agencies Services reached an agreement with London-listed Ocean Wilsons Holdings Monday to acquire a 56.47% stake in Wilson Sons, its Brazilian port and logistics subsidiary.

US truckload market edging closer to equilibrium following hurricanes

The US truckload spot market is settling after two weeks of hurricane- and strike-inspired surges in pricing and volume, indicating the market isn’t at a long-awaited turning point in either freight demand or spot pricing — at least not yet. But spot and contract truckload rates do appear to show the US truck market is closer to equilibrium, with slight year-over-year spot increases for dry-van freight in September and slight declines in contract rates, according to DAT Freight & Analytics.

WaveBL says eBL test shows faster payments, cargo release

WaveBL, an electronic bill of lading (eBL) software vendor, this week said a test of its product demonstrated the use of digital shipping documents enabled more efficient payments and cargo release for shippers. The test involved ocean carrier Mediterranean Shipping Co. and five banks using the international payment network known as SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication).

India’s renewed protectionist policies threaten foreign liner network expansions

In what could be an ominous development for foreign container carriers in a growth-oriented market, India is seeking to repeal the 2018 legislation that abolished cabotage restrictions on the coastal shipping leg. Following that liberalization, merchant ships of all flags have been in a position to move laden export-import containers for transshipment and empty containers for repositioning between Indian ports without any specific permission or license.

US West Coast cargo surge boosts Q3 intermodal numbers

North American railroads hauled nearly 2.17 million domestic containers in the third quarter as a surge in demand in Southern California drove a 6% year-over-year increase in volumes, according to the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA). The figure exceeds the Journal of Commerce’s quarterly forecast of 2.09 to 2.15 million boxes.

Savvy air cargo shippers use strategic rate, space deals to offset capacity constraints

AMSTERDAM — Air cargo shippers on the trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe trades are far better prepared for the end-of-year peak after almost 12 months of high demand and tight capacity out of China, according to forwarders and air freight executives.

Ripple effects playing out globally from ILA strike: analyst

The three-day strike by dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports earlier this month will bring a delayed reduction in capacity on some trade lanes and could affect cargo frontloading ahead of another potential work stoppage in January, container shipping analyst Lars Jensen said Thursday.

STB approves CPKC, CSX acquisitions of regional rail line in southern US

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) and CSX Transportation will roll out a new joint intermodal service connecting Mexico with the Southeastern US by the end of this year after US regulators approved their separate acquisitions of two sections of a regional rail line running through Alabama and Mississippi.

Premier Alliance enhances network ahead of February launch

The Premier Alliance is upgrading a raft of its proposed services just weeks after announcing its trade network ahead of its February 2025 launch. The group, comprising Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM and Yang Ming Marine Transport, said the changes apply to two trans-Pacific services and an Asia-Mediterranean service.

Montreal says congestion risk grows as dockworkers refuse overtime

The Port of Montreal is warning shippers about the risk of delays and a growing container backlog due to dockworkers refusing overtime work. The port’s warning comes as Canada’s labor minister suggested a further cooling off period in hopes that a new mediator will help resolve the long standoff between Montreal’s longshore union and maritime employers.

LA-LB rail dwells spike to two-year high amid record imports in September

Rail container dwell times in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach surged to a two-year high in September as the largest US port complex handled record one-month volumes of imports from Asia, driven in part by retailers diverting cargo from East and Gulf coast ports ahead of the longshore strike there.

SC Ports’ chief outlines plans for Charleston to hit 10 million TEU mark

Three years after it was effectively shuttered upon launch, the now-reopened Hugh K. Leatherman marine terminal is set to kick off a wave of future capacity expansion at the Port of Charleston, with plans for a second berth and further bolstering of Charleston’s strong franchise in short-haul intermodal, according to the port’s chief.

Softening export demand sends ocean rates crashing on India-Europe trade

India’s export demand downturn seems to have left container lines powerless to stem an ongoing downward shift in cargo booking rates on loads to Europe. Spot rates on the westbound route, India’s largest trade lane by volume, have nearly halved in the last two weeks from end-September levels, according to new data obtained by the Journal of Commerce from freight forwarder sources.

Asia-Europe carriers target pre-Lunar New Year demand with rate hikes, blank sailings

Forwarders expect freefalling Asia-North Europe ocean spot rates to bottom out in October and then climb through the remainder of the year as carriers increase blank sailings and roll out rate hikes to target early Chinese New Year demand.

India’s project cargo expansion tempered by clearance snags, equipment shortages

India is on the cusp of a project cargo growth explosion as a sheaf of large-scale infrastructure projects kick off. But heavier cargoes and clearance complications could hold back growth, according to shippers in the region.

Longshore wage deal at East, Gulf ports to add at least $5 billion in labor costs

The tentative wage deal agreed to between longshore workers and maritime employers along the US East and Gulf coasts could create as much as $5 billion in new waterfront labor costs over the six-year life of the next contract, according to estimates compiled by the Journal of Commerce. While a high number itself — other estimates put it much higher — marine terminal operators hope the wage deal will spur greater productivity and efficiency that will help pay for the increase costs.

Chicago cargo theft highlights larger challenges for intermodal container moves

The theft of cargo from a Union Pacific (UP) train on the west side of Chicago on Friday highlights several challenges combating such crime, including how to handle interchanges between two Class I railroads in a major city.

Port Tampa Bay reopens after power restored following hurricane closure

Port Tampa Bay has resumed vessel operations and reopened shipping channels after the gateway was forced to close for several days last week due to a loss of power caused by Hurricane Milton. Vessel movement is restricted for now to one-way travel during daylight hours, the port said in an advisory on its website.

DP World reverses course, unveils expansion of London Gateway terminal

DP World on Monday confirmed it would move forward with a $1.3 billion expansion of the London Gateway terminal, ending a weekend political dust-up and giving UK ports a much-needed post-Brexit investment.

Stabilizing MPV rates belie geographical imbalances

Multipurpose vessel (MPV) trades in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East are stabilizing multipurpose freight rates, mitigating weaker performance in the European and American markets, analysts say. While operators of highly sophisticated heavy-lift and project vessels are enjoying healthy demand and a “decent” level of forward bookings, many carriers are facing “a more sluggish market and an imbalance in utilization across the various trade regions,” Toepfer Transport said in an Oct. 10 briefing note.

Hurricanes not seen as truckload pricing catalyst despite relief demand

The damage caused by hurricanes Helene and Milton will take months to fully repair, but the impact on freight markets and truckload pricing will not be as great as initially believed, logistics experts told the Journal of Commerce.

DP World postpones planned announcement of London Gateway expansion

Dubai-headquartered port operator DP World has postponed plans to announce a major expansion of its London Gateway container terminal following criticism earlier this week by senior British government officials of a DP World subsidiary, P&O Ferries.

Strike surcharges disappear as spot rates for US West, East coasts near parity

Ocean carriers have dropped ad hoc surcharges that were linked to last week’s short-lived longshore strike along the US East and Gulf coasts, adding downward pressure to freight rates that have fallen sharply in recent weeks.

Behind-the-scenes White House arm twisting got ILA wage deal done

If the Biden administration did indeed force the tentative contract deal ending last week’s longshore strike, how exactly did it happen? In other words, what did the White House chief of staff tell ocean carrier group CEOs on a conference call at 5:30 a.m. Washington time on Oct. 3 that within hours resulted in a substantial increase in the wage offer made to the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), ending the strike after three days?

Port Tampa Bay effectively shut due to power outage in aftermath of Milton

Most ports in Florida have returned to normal operations in the wake of Hurricane Milton, although Port Tampa Bay remained effectively shut Friday due to a lack of power. Tampa Bay port officials say the port did not experience widespread flooding but is still being affected by power issues, adding that port tenants will make independent decisions about when to resume their operations. Milton made landfall along the central Gulf Coast of Florida late Wednesday.

Lack of clarity over clean energy supply driving dual-fuel ship orders

The interim target laid out last year by global maritime regulators calling for a 20% reduction in ship emissions by 2030 has spurred ocean carriers to order 1.2 million TEUs of dual-fuel ship capacity this year capable of burning low- to zero-emission fuels such as methanol or liquified natural gas (LNG), the low-emission fuels with the greatest availability.

Heavy frontloading sets up US-Asia trade for falling rates, imports

Asia-to-US freight rates at the tail end of the peak shipping season are falling faster than is typical for this time of year given the heavy frontloading that occurred months earlier that is also expected to result in weaker-than-normal imports from Asia in November, forwarders tell the Journal of Commerce.

Savannah working through anchored vessels in wake of strike, weather disruption

It will take the Port of Savannah about three weeks to restore vessel anchorage times to normal as it works through a 10-ship backlog created by last week’s longshore strike and late September’s Hurricane Helene, the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) said Thursday.

India-US carriers keep lowering rates to match capacity as bookings plummet

Container lines on the India-US East Coast trade are attempting new rate strategies to keep vessel loads as close as possible to their declared capacity levels. Local freight forwarders who spoke with the Journal of Commerce noted that carrier sales executives are willing to strike special rate deals with large-volume customers on a per-sailing or short-term contract basis.

Maersk rules out Suez Canal routings for Gemini launch

FELIXSTOWE, UK — Cargo owners’ need to plan Asia-Europe shipments for next year was behind Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd discarding the Suez Canal as an option when their new Gemini Cooperation network launches on Feb. 1 next year.

Strong freight rates drive higher Q3 revenue for Taiwan’s ‘Big Three’ carriers

Taiwan’s Big Three carriers — Evergreen Marine, Yang Ming Marine Transport and Wan Hai Lines — each saw third-quarter revenues more than double from a year ago on stronger freight rates. Rates were driven by an early peak season as shippers consigned cargo ahead of the longshore strike along the US East and Gulf coasts last week and a capacity crunch as vessels continued to divert around southern Africa to avoid militant attacks in the Red Sea.

Brief ILA strike alters once-placid labor landscape on East, Gulf coasts

Over several months beginning last November when the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) first mentioned the possibility of a strike — an innocuous reference in an unrelated press release — a realization slowly dawned on shippers that a sea change was occurring on the US East and Gulf coasts.

‘Fuel agnostic’ Spliethoff invests in MPV fleet expansion

Dutch multipurpose vessel operator (MPV) Spliethoff has strengthened its presence in the MPV sector by investing in up to 10 future-fuel-ready vessels and purchasing MPV carrier ForestWave, even as the group remains “fuel agnostic,” Max van den Berg, Spliethoff Group’s fleet performance manager, told the Journal of Commerce.

Decentralized sourcing plays into MSC’s point-to-point plans: CEO

HAMBURG — Mediterranean Shipping Co. CEO Soren Toft on Tuesday touted the future effectiveness of the standalone point-to-point network the carrier is building in the wake of its pending departure from the 2M Alliance with Maersk.

IAPH-led report tackles thorny data quality issue on port call optimization

HAMBURG — Groups targeting the improvement of port call data released a report Wednesday with recommendations for ports on how to ramp up data quality to optimize the times ships spend at berth. The report, Port Call Optimization Through Data Quality, was unveiled at the International Association of Ports and Harbors’ (IAPH) World Ports Conference in Hamburg.

US retailers expect modest import bump in October to close out peak season

US retailers are forecasting a modest year-over-year increase in imports this month to close out the 2024 peak shipping season, with most of the holiday merchandise already having entered the country due to the frontloading of imports from Asia this summer.

Montreal dockworkers to refuse overtime in latest salvo against port employers

Dockworkers at the Port of Montreal will reject requests to work overtime beginning Thursday, part of the longshore union’s latest pressure campaign against management during the protracted negotiations for a new contract. The overtime strike will likely add to the ongoing productivity slump at Montreal following last week’s partial strike.

Hub Group boosts cross-border business in JV with Mexican dray carrier

Two North American intermodal providers — Hub Group and Transportes Easo (Easo) — announced a joint venture Tuesday to share resources on cross-border intermodal moves, providing major competition to rivals J.B. Hunt Transport Services and Schneider National in Mexico.

Despite tentative wage deal, USMX and ILA have bumpy road ahead on other key issues

Spot truckload rates are surging in the US Southeast and rising nationwide in the wake of Hurricane Helene and ahead of Hurricane Milton, which is expected to hit the Gulf Coast of Florida Wednesday before moving across the state into the Atlantic Ocean.

Despite tentative wage deal, USMX and ILA have bumpy road ahead on other key issues

It could be said that global shipping dodged a bullet with the brief, three-day strike on the US East and Gulf coasts. However, it should be noted that the operational ripple effects will be felt until mid-November, and the possibility of a new strike on Jan. 15 could create a market impact from mid-November until the end of the year. And it also raises questions as to whether we should be concerned about the resilience of the supply chain linking the US to the rest of the world.

Despite tentative wage deal, USMX and ILA have bumpy road ahead on other key issues

The 90-day clock has started for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and US East and Gulf coast longshore employers, who haven’t been at the contract negotiating table since June, to restart the talks and hash out details on a range of complex issues including automation, royalties, work rules and job jurisdiction. Salary increases — as were agreed to in a tentative deal to end the three-day strike last week — seem pedestrian compared with the scale of challenge facing both sides.

Peak season surge drives up Cosco’s estimated nine-month earnings

Cosco Shipping expects to report a net profit of $6.17 billion for the first nine months of 2024, a 67% increase year over year, with its performance lifted by strong third-quarter peak season demand on the trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe trade lanes, the China state-owned carrier said Monday.

US port strike, Europe congestion heralds trans-Atlantic capacity crunch

Ship delays resulting from the three-day strike at ports along the US East and Gulf coasts last week will come on top of port congestion across several European hubs, significantly reducing the available trans-Atlantic capacity this month.

Intermodal underperforming in booming Mexico-US market

Tracking intermodal rail volumes in the major North American geographies, one thing that catches the eye is the relatively poor performance of intermodal in the US-Mexico cross border market.

US East, Gulf coast ports confident of smooth post-strike reopening

Ports up and down the US East and Gulf coasts expect a generally smooth resumption of cargo flow after reopening early Friday morning thanks to a tentative agreement Thursday that ended a three-day dockworker strike.

LA-LB port significantly cuts emissions, but tougher challenges await

Reduced vessel arrivals and container volumes, coupled with cleaner cargo-handling equipment from rail to drayage, helped the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach significantly reduce emissions last year, but the environmental challenges are only mounting.

Rail industry split on how to best combat cargo theft

Cargo theft is surging along US railways, leaving shippers worried about the safety of high-value goods in transit, and while heavy-duty lock makers claim their products deter theft, industry experts are divided on whether these new security devices make containers safer.

India regulators seek VSA ‘trade-off’ for local carriers and alliances

Amid an ongoing wave of ocean carrier alliance realignments, Indian shipping regulators are seeking a “tradeoff” approach to continue treating vessel-sharing agreements (VSAs), led by carriers operating foreign-flagged fleets, outside of national competition law provisions.

ILA, USMX agree on new wage offer and contract extension that reopens ports

Maritime employers and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) have reached a tentative deal to reopen container terminals at East and Gulf coast ports after trading new wage offers that would bring dockworker pay up over 60%. Longshore workers will work under a three-month contract extension until a formal deal is reached.

Intermodal rail must improve reliability to capture just-in-time freight: execs

CHICAGO — Domestic intermodal service has improved over the past two years, but many shippers remain cautious and unwilling to entrust time-sensitive freight to the rails, according to intermodal executives at the Journal of Commerce Inland Distribution Conference 2024 (Inland24).

ILA strike leaves US reefer importers few options, more risks

Refrigerated (reefer) container shippers using US East and Gulf coast ports are worried that if the International Longshoremen’s Association’s (ILA’s) strike continues for another week, they’ll be faced with equipment shortages and spoiling perishables, some of which are in their peak season.

Ro/ro newbuilds push car carrier order book to record high

Investment in new vehicle carriers and roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) tonnage has propelled the order book to record highs, even as global light vehicle production shows signs of slowing, according to analysts.

US truckload carriers expect first rate hike in two years in 2025

CHICAGO — There’s no quick recovery ahead for the US truckload sector, either in terms of pricing or demand, executives from several logistics companies said Tuesday at the Journal of Commerce Inland Distribution Conference 2024 (Inland24).

Ships backing up outside of strike-shut US East, Gulf ports

Container ship anchorages are growing outside of US East and Gulf coast ports on the second day of a dockworker strike, with carriers offering limited options to avoid delays and currently planning to divert only a handful of vessels to alternative ports.

Political winds turn against ocean carriers amid ILA strike

The Biden administration’s vocal support of longshore labor in contract negotiations on the first day the US East and Gulf coast strike was reminiscent of its rhetoric against ocean carriers during the height of US port congestion.

Domestic intermodal rate pressure building on stronger truck pricing

CHICAGO — Intermodal executives warned domestic rail shippers to anticipate paying more in 2025 contracts. However, rates should only rise by low-single-digit percentages across the US, executives said during the Journal of Commerce Inland Distribution Conference 2024 (Inland24).

Window to divert strike-affected imports to West Coast closing soon

Retailers and other importers who normally ship through the US East and Gulf coasts to destinations in the eastern half of the country say they have a short window to decide whether to begin rerouting goods through West Coast ports.

Government, board approvals clear way for DSV-DB Schenker merger

Forwarder DSV’s acquisition of rival DB Schenker to create the world’s largest logistics company took a further step forward Wednesday after receiving the green light from both the German federal government and Deutsche Bahn’s (DB’s) supervisory board.

Carrier order books, alliance changes signal continued reliance on scale

Mediterranean Shipping Co. recently reached the milestone of controlling 20% of worldwide operated container vessel capacity through an unprecedented fleet expansion. Meanwhile, several other top 10 carriers have sizeable order books in addition to the ships they are purchasing and leasing in the second-hand and charter markets.

House Republicans, shippers up pressure on Biden to stop US port strike

On the first day of the first strike at US East and Gulf coast ports in nearly 50 years, Republican lawmakers and shipper groups urged the Biden administration to get cargo flowing again by overcoming the president’s opposition to invoking the Taft-Hartley Act.

Montreal port users not expecting quick intervention if strikes continue

Union Pacific Railroad (UP) is increasing its fees for low-volume customers that exceed their contractual peak season allotment on outbound lanes from California, as import volumes throughout the US West Coast drive a rare spot of growth nationally.

Slow growth predicted for US economy, freight demand in 2025: Inland24

CHICAGO — US economic growth will slow in 2025, and the surface freight market will remain soft after a “soft landing” for the economy, speakers said Tuesday at the Journal of Commerce Inland Distribution Conference 2024 (Inland24).

Hurricane Helene to tighten truckload capacity beyond US Southeast

CHICAGO — The devastation caused by Hurricane Helene will send ripples throughout US supply chains, tightening truck capacity, as efforts to restore and rebuild severely damaged infrastructure in the affected states will be superseded by rescue operations still under way.

ILA’s Daggett promises dockworkers ‘great contract’ as strike begins

ELIZABETH, NJ — The head of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) in the early hours of Tuesday pledged he would secure a “great contract” that he would like to complete by the end of the month, just hours after hundreds of union dockworkers at US East and Gulf coast ports went on strike at midnight.

Truckers pre-pull imports as strike set to close East, Gulf coast ports

Port truckers have pulled the last containers they could out of marine terminals ahead of their closure Tuesday due to a strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), filling up storage yards and constraining chassis supply until the ports reopen.

Breakbulk reefer segment hanging on in shrinking market

After serving as a breakbulk cargo pinch-hitter during the COVID-19 pandemic, the specialized refrigerated (reefer) breakbulk segment is surviving and even finding a few new footholds. “Commentators have been forecasting the end of specialized reefer vessels and operators for the last 10 to 20 years, but they are still here,” Toby Moors, a director with New Zealand-based broker and ship agency Oceanic Navigation, told the Journal of Commerce.

Conflicting post-pandemic worldviews bring ILA, employers to historic strike

How did nearly 50 years of labor peace on the US East and Gulf coasts, so consistent that it was a key factor in a multiyear erosion of West Coast market share, bring the industry to the eve of a strike?

UP raises surcharges on low-volume shippers in California

Union Pacific Railroad (UP) is increasing its fees for low-volume customers that exceed their contractual peak season allotment on outbound lanes from California, as import volumes throughout the US West Coast drive a rare spot of growth nationally.

Port of Montreal to face three-day strike against two terminals next week

Almost half of the Port of Montreal’s container capacity will be shuttered through the first half of next week as dockworkers there plan to strike two of its five container terminals, the latest move in a long-simmering standoff between the local longshore union and the port’s maritime employers.

Yellow puts remaining 112 LTL terminals on the block

The other shoe is dropping in the US less-than-truckload (LTL) real estate market as bankrupt LTL provider Yellow prepares to sell its remaining 112 terminals, including some of its largest sites, in a move that will release pent-up LTL capacity.

Breakbulk sector not expecting much disruption from possible longshore strike

As ports along the US East and Gulf coasts brace for an expected strike by dockworkers on Oct. 1, breakbulk ports and terminals and other sector stakeholders are assessing the potential for spillover effects.

USMX chief meets with Biden administration officials as port strike deadline looms

The head of the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) met with Biden administration officials at the White House Friday, sources said, as the administration reached out to maritime employers along the East and Gulf coasts just days before what would be the first coastwide longshore work stoppage since 1977.

Freight ecosystem suffers pain while intermodal wastes opportunities: analyst

With freight recession pain extending into its third year, I think it’s worth looking at two recent events: The International Intermodal Expo held in Long Beach Sept. 9-11, and two days of hearings held by the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in Washington Sept. 16-17. The former is an annual industry event; the latter was convened to address a lack of rail freight volume growth.

Zim to gain slot rights on MSC’s India network for US loads

Ocean network alliance changes taking shape across markets seem to have more service realignments in store for Indian shippers, according to local industry sources.

Weeklong ILA strike would tie up about 2% of global shipping capacity: HSBC

The increasing likelihood of a dockworker strike next week at container terminals along the US East and Gulf coasts will tie up approximately 1.7% of global shipping capacity if it lasts a week, tightening the supply of equipment and vessels as the Red Sea diversions have, but on smaller scale, HSBC said in a report Thursday.

PNW ports say ready for strike-linked cargo diversions from East, Gulf coasts

US and Canadian ports in the Pacific Northwest say they are prepared to handle a sustained diversion of discretionary cargo from ports along the East and Gulf coasts should a strike by dockworkers in those regions begin on Tuesday, as expected.

USMX tries to force ILA back to contract talks with NLRB complaint

Maritime employers along the US East and Gulf coasts have filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in a late bid to force the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) back to the bargaining table.

Trucking races to prepare as deadline for ILA port strike draws near

The looming strike by East and Gulf coast port workers is already affecting US trucking networks, pushing more goods into truck lanes earlier than usual as shippers try to move freight ahead of possible work stoppage.

FMC denies petition to delay D&D rules as creating ‘greater confusion’

The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has thwarted a move by ocean carriers to delay new rules on who they can bill for holding onto containers, saying a delay would cause “greater confusion” among shippers and truckers about who pays per diem fees.

Zim becomes first carrier to commit to reopened Leatherman terminal

The Port of Charleston’s Hugh K. Leatherman marine terminal is officially reopening to container ships this week with an ad hoc vessel call, while Zim Integrated Shipping has become the first carrier to commit to a weekly trans-Pacific service there.

Ocean carrier alliance shakeup offers varied service choices for shippers

Two new alliances — Gemini Cooperation and Premier Alliance — will see the light of day in 2025, and both have now published their new networks. Additionally, Mediterranean Shipping Co. has clearly stated it will operate as a standalone carrier, although it does have some slot swaps on Asia-Europe with Premier Alliance and with Zim on the Pacific trade to the US East Coast.

Port Tanjung Pelepas operating model key to ensuring Gemini reliability goals

Anyone curious as to how Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd will fulfill an ambitious promise of 90%+ schedule reliability once their Gemini Cooperation network is fully rolled out next year should look closely at Port Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Malaysia.

More US ports reveal contingency plans as ILA strike deadline inches closer

Several US ports along the US East and Gulf coasts are working under contingency plans ahead of a possible strike by dockworkers on Oct. 1, including extending terminal hours and implementing deadlines for operations.

Railroads set deadlines for accepting exports ahead of potential ILA strike

CSX Transportation, Canadian National Railway and Norfolk Southern Railway have set deadlines for exporters to drop off containers ahead of a potential strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) on Oct. 1, which would effectively shut ports along the US East and Gulf coasts.

‘Wake-up call’ to shipping as 2030 emissions targets slip away: report

The decarbonization of global shipping is moving too slowly to meet even the 5% zero-emission fuel target by 2030, a critical benchmark on the road toward 2050 net zero goals, according to a report by maritime industry groups.

DB Schenker customers spooked by DSV takeover welcome at DHL: CEO

DHL Group CEO Tobias Meyer issued an invitation Tuesday for DB Schenker customers nervous about the imminent takeover by DSV to switch their forwarding business over to the integrator.

Lack of terminal handling charges emerges as a factor in ILA talks

If there is one issue that reminds carriers of the cost of capitulating to the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) in the showdown over a new contract covering dockworkers on the East and Gulf coasts, it’s the lack of a terminal handling charges (THCs) in the US market.

White House’s executive lever to prevent port strike is politically toxic

It’s hard to exaggerate how politically toxic the invocation of the Taft-Hartley Act by the Biden administration to stop a potential strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) would be to the Harris presidential campaign. That will no doubt temper the White House’s response if the ILA follows through with its Oct. 1 strike threat.

Montreal dockworkers to take strike vote as contract talks continue

The union representing Port of Montreal dockworkers is scheduled to hold a strike vote this week just ahead of another round of mediation talks aimed at securing a deal in a nearly year-long standoff between maritime employers and Montreal’s longshoremen.

Asia-US East Coast spot rates plummet amid strike threat cargo diversions

Spot container rates from Asia to the US East Coast have plummeted more than 40% over the past three weeks, with sources pointing to cargo diversions ahead of a possible longshore strike along the East and Gulf coasts as peak season momentum begins to fade.

CMA CGM moves to take over top Brazilian terminal operator

CMA CGM has signed a deal to buy 47.6% of Brazil’s largest terminal operator Santos Brasil for $1.2 billion and plans to acquire the remaining shares “in the coming months,” the carrier said Monday.

Truckload visibility startup lands investment, top broker clients

Freight visibility provider GenLogs said Monday it has amassed $6 million in funding from a variety of venture investors to accelerate its efforts to arm freight brokers with better truckload visibility to tackle load matching and fraud prevention.

New cross-border trucking platform aims to enable brokers

A software vendor catering to US freight brokers is publicly launching a cross-border load board aimed at helping brokers access growing truckload trade between the US and Mexico.

Gnosis ‘doubling down’ on importer tech with first outside funds

International logistics software provider Gnosis Freight said Monday that it has taken investment from private equity group Vista Equity Partners to expand the reach of its product targeted at import logistics teams.

NY-NJ port stakeholders scrambling ahead of strike threat

Ocean carriers and marine terminals at the Port of New York and New Jersey are working overtime to move as many containers as possible ahead of a potential dockworker strike that would close all US East and Gulf coast ports on Oct. 1, with inland exporters facing the tightest deadline to move their cargo.

FedEx Freight realigns in rapidly changing US LTL market

Less-than-truckload (LTL) carrier FedEx Freight is accelerating its plan to shrink its network. The FedEx subsidiary and largest US trucking company by annual revenue closed seven terminals during its fiscal quarter that ended Aug. 31 after shutting down 29 terminals in the previous 12 months.

Midterm emissions plan to take center stage at upcoming IMO meeting

Binding emissions reduction measures from shipping aimed at putting a price on the continued usage of conventional fuel will top the agenda at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 82) meeting in London later this month.

Southern California supply chain fluid despite surging import volumes

Industry stakeholders are pointing to minimal supply chain disruption at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach this peak season despite record import volumes, thanks to warehouses throughout Southern California being able to keep churning freight through their facilities.

DSV takeover signals end to 150 years of DB Schenker brand

The DB Schenker brand that two years ago celebrated its 150th anniversary will be absorbed by DSV, which last week acquired the Essen, Germany-based company for €14.3 billion ($15.9 billion).

SEKO secures fresh financial backing amid prolonged forwarding industry slump

SEKO Logistics on Thursday confirmed it has reached a definitive agreement with its existing financial partners in a move to reinforce its financial position.

Limited air freight capacity available for US port strike-driven cargo shift

A strike-driven surge in demand for air cargo capacity if ports along the US East and Gulf coasts are shut down from Oct. 1 would come at the worst possible time for an air freight sector that is preparing for a strong peak season with capacity already severely limited.

LA-LB port stakeholders urge mayors to act against proposed emissions rules

Shippers, transportation interests and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) are urging the mayors of Los Angeles and Long Beach to lead the effort against the implementation of new regional air emissions rules they say will cap cargo growth at the largest US port complex.

Some US ports extending gate hours ahead of strike deadline

This article has been corrected to reflect that Ocean Network Express is still accepting US export bookings and has not embargoed exports due to the potential strike Some ports along the US East and Gulf coasts are going public with their contingency plans ahead of a planned strike by dockworkers on Oct. 1, including staying open for business on weekends.

Stronger US retail sales lifting truckload volumes, but not rates

US truck and rail freight volumes appear to be increasing slowly, but those gains haven’t fueled an increase in truckload rates, according to new data. The Cass Freight Shipments Index rose 1% sequentially in August after increasing 3% in July, Cass said in its monthly report, released Monday.

Europe’s largest inland container terminal opens in Germany

Duisburg Gateway Terminal (DGT) in Germany, Europe’s largest inland container facility, opened for business this week with train traffic to and from China already flowing across its busy railheads.

US shippers again ask White House to intervene in longshore contract talks

US shippers on Tuesday renewed their call for the Biden administration to directly intervene in stalled contract negotiations between maritime employers and the longshore union representing dockworkers along the East and Gulf coasts.

Railroads say able to handle disruption from possible ILA port strike

US railroads are well-prepared if the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) strikes on Oct. 1 at ports along the East and Gulf coasts, according to the CEOs of CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern (NS) Railway.

Divergent data suggests US trucking jobs lower than reported

The Biden administration on Friday said it would be taking steps to target apparel and textile imports using the so-called “de minimis” exemption and called on Congress to pass legislation that would rein in the volume of duty-free packages entering the US.

Cargo and vessel disruption expected after typhoon closes Shanghai, Ningbo ports

Shippers and ocean carriers using the major Chinese load ports of Shanghai and Ningbo will face extensive disruption due to terminal closures and vessel bunching caused by Typhoon Bebinca, which made a direct hit on Shanghai Monday.

Maritime employers prep for wind-down of operations as longshore strike looms

With talks stalled and more labor demands being put on the table, a dockworkers strike at ports along the US East and Gulf coasts looks increasingly inevitable with just two weeks remaining on the current contract between maritime employers and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA).

Global MPV indices diverge despite relative market stability

Multipurpose (MPV) sector indices from Toepfer and Drewry reflect stable market expectations through September despite a slight divergence, analysts told the Journal of Commerce.

Ocean carriers appear willing to roll the dice on possible US port strike

For decades, a simple philosophy dictated how ocean carriers approached contract negotiations with US dockworkers: Keep the ports open. Even if it meant making major concessions on wages or benefits, carriers were primarily motivated to avoid disruption on the docks and were willing to pay handsomely to achieve that result.

Lure of robust Asian peak season a magnet for air cargo capacity

Air cargo operators are shifting freighter aircraft from South America, India and Africa to the more lucrative Asian export trades where sustained demand from the US and Europe for both e-commerce and traditional cargo is keeping planes full and rates elevated.

White House takes aim at growing threat of ‘de minimis’ imports

The Biden administration on Friday said it would be taking steps to target apparel and textile imports using the so-called “de minimis” exemption and called on Congress to pass legislation that would rein in the volume of duty-free packages entering the US.

Some carriers seek to reopen 2024–25 fixed-rate contracts in trans-Pac: NVOs

Ocean carriers in the eastbound trans-Pacific are increasingly confident that a rate war can be avoided through the Lunar New Year period when many factories in Asia will close for about two weeks beginning in late January.

Union, government hurdles ahead in DSV’s $16 billion takeover of DB Schenker

German transport unions and the country’s parliament are the remaining obstacles to Danish forwarder DSV finalizing its €14.3 billion ($15.9 billion) acquisition of DB Schenker that was announced Friday.

Truck driver detention by US shippers decreasing, but costs rising: study

Truck driver detention at shipper and consignee docks is decreasing, thanks in part to the soft freight market, but detention is still causing significant supply chain inefficiencies and costing drivers and trucking companies money, according to a new report.

ZPMC ‘pressures’ US ports for remote crane access: House report

China’s leading ship-to-shore crane maker — which has strong ties to the country’s military — pressured US port customers to allow remote monitoring of cranes that contained pre-installed cellular modems, according to a new Congressional report.

MSC’s global scale enables standalone network coverage

Mediterranean Shipping Co.’s ability to roll out a standalone east-west ocean network able to compete with the reshaped alliances, and to offer both Red Sea and Suez Canal service options, indicates the immense scale the carrier has built over the last few years.

Robust e-commerce demand a gift for air cargo carriers: airline executives

Liege, Belgium — Soaring demand for e-commerce out of Asia this year was a gift to an airline industry under severe financial pressure as it recovered from the pandemic, air cargo executives said at an industry forum here this week.

Norfolk Southern fires CEO Shaw after probe; CFO George elevated to top job

Norfolk Southern (NS) has fired CEO Alan Shaw after an internal investigation by the railroad found he violated company policy by engaging in a “consensual relationship” with the company’s chief legal officer.

Tale of woe for ocean container shippers going from bad to worse

Container lines active on the larger export trade lanes out of India seem to have no choice but to forgo recent robust rate gains in order to keep their vessel space utilization as close as possible to the declared loading allocations.

Rates from India to US, Europe in rapid retreat amid cooling demand

Container lines active on the larger export trade lanes out of India seem to have no choice but to forgo recent robust rate gains in order to keep their vessel space utilization as close as possible to the declared loading allocations.

‘Perfect storm’ pushes market toward Q4 reefer equipment shortages

Combined market pressures on refrigerated container equipment could put a strain on perishable Latin American exports in the fourth quarter and into 2025, market sources say.

Anxious White House weighing options as ILA contract deadline nears

US labor secretaries have been key to breaking deadlocks in longshore labor negotiations, including on the West Coast in 2015 and 2023. But this latest impasse, threatening a strike at East and Gulf coast ports, forces the White House to walk particularly precarious line: Don’t upset union voters ahead of a presidential election while protecting the economy and an image of responsible economic stewardship.

‘Brace for impact’ warning as air cargo heads into historic peak season

Liege, Belgium — The air cargo industry is flying headlong into its strongest ever peak season as booming e-commerce demand will combine with online shopping promotions this fall and rising volume of more traditional air freight, executives told a conference here.

US retailers give big upgrade to September import forecast amid strike threat

US retailers have significantly upgraded their forecast for US imports in September as shippers look to frontload cargo ahead of a threatened strike on Oct. 1 by dockworkers along the East and Gulf coasts.

Asian ports at the fore in updated Gemini alliance network schedule

Ports in Asia are among the winners, regaining direct calls on several services, in the Gemini Cooperation’s updated service network released Tuesday that offers shippers alternative routings via the Cape of Good Hope and the Suez Canal.

FMC won’t block Gemini alliance, but vows tight monitoring

The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has signed off on the Maersk/Hapag-Lloyd vessel-sharing alliance that will start early next year, but the agency’s chief warned the ocean carriers they will be watched for how they treat US shippers.

HMM to spend $17.5 billion on fleet, equipment by 2030

HMM will spend $17.5 billion over the next five years — more than half of that investment on new container ships and equipment — as the carrier on Tuesday put a price to the massive mid- to long-term strategic plan announced back in April.

Import surge pushing Los Angeles outbound spot truck rates higher

As cargo from Southern California ports moves further inland, demand for trucks and intermodal rail capacity is surging in the region, driving up prices across all modes of surface transportation.

East Coast spot rates plunge as peak-season imports shift to West Coast

A front-loading of shipments ahead of a threatened port strike threat, coupled with intensified rate pressures, is sending Asia container spot rates to the East Coast plunging faster than usual on the trade lane.

Port employers urge ILA to return to contract talks

Ocean carriers and marine terminal operators are calling on the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) to reopen contract talks, saying their latest offer aims to avert a strike across East and Gulf Coast ports.

Typhoon Yagi slams Vietnam, southwest China, delaying sailings

Ocean carriers and shippers are facing several days’ delays to vessel sailing schedules after typhoon Yagi struck southwest China and northern Vietnam over the weekend, closing ports and hitting cargo shipments.

MSC strikes Asia-Europe slot share with former THEA members

Mediterranean Shipping Co. is teaming up with Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM and Yang Ming Marine Transportation on the Asia-Europe trades with a slot exchange covering nine services from February 2025 when current alliance arrangements end, the carriers said Monday.

ONE opens new India, Asia services in response to ‘Gemini reality’

Ocean Network Express (ONE) is rushing to fill the routing and capacity gaps it anticipates from ongoing industry network shakeups linked to the Gemini Cooperation partnership taking shape between A.P. Møller-Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

Rails have limited recourse to PNW import surge: analyst

Spot container rates from Asia to the west coast of Mexico have climbed sharply over the past week amid fresh blank sailings and a cargo rush ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday in early October. The gains come after two months of declining rates brought on by new capacity injected into the trade lane.

Blank sailings, cargo push help reverse rate slide on Asia-Mexico trade

Spot container rates from Asia to the west coast of Mexico have climbed sharply over the past week amid fresh blank sailings and a cargo rush ahead of China’s Golden Week holiday in early October. The gains come after two months of declining rates brought on by new capacity injected into the trade lane.

First signs of a deal emerge in long-running German port dispute

Germany’s United Services Union (ver.di) has recommended its members accept the latest offer from port employers in a long-running wage dispute that has regularly disrupted logistics operations across the country’s transport sectors.

Little cause for optimism as clock ticks toward ILA contract expiration

Less than a month before dockworkers on the US East and Gulf coasts could walk off the job if a new contract is not agreed to by Sept. 30 at midnight, a sense of dread has descended on the industry — and for good reason.

Trans-Atlantic shippers test contingency plans as ILA strike threat grows

Shippers and forwarders on the trans-Atlantic are testing alternatives to ports along the US East and Gulf coasts ahead of a potential dockworker strike beginning Oct. 1. But there is a resignation that there are few viable options if both seaboards are down.

ILA locals prepping for coordinated strike at US East, Gulf coast ports

Teaneck, NJ — The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) on Thursday appointed local vice presidents to head committees that will coordinate labor actions at East and Gulf coast ports if a new contract isn’t reached by the end of the month. Union leadership the day prior warned the ILA and its employers are “very, very far apart” on “economic” terms, namely wages, as well as automation.

Maersk dives deeper into US-Mexico trucking with El Paso facility

A.P. Møller-Maersk is opening a large logistics facility in El Paso, Texas, drawing the ocean carrier deeper into US-Mexico cross-border trade and trucking.

US spot truckload market starts to tighten but is still soft

The US truckload spot market is heating up as summer ends, with load volumes increasing as the peak pre-holiday shipping season for trucking gets underway. That’s tightening capacity and load-to-truck ratios in certain inland distribution markets, although not universally.

Flexport vet lands funding to build truckload procurement tool for shippers

A new truckload freight procurement and management platform started by a veteran of Flexport and Uber has landed a $6.3 million early-stage funding round to target small and midsized shippers lacking such technology.

Green corridors signal maritime fuel options for multipurpose vessels

Eventually, the multipurpose/heavy-lift (MPV/HL) sector will have to build new ships. In addition to growing demand, the global shipping industry must meet sweeping International Maritime Organization (IMO) and European Union goals for reducing and eliminating net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Houston’s new port chief plots terminal fluidity as key to container growth

The Port of Houston is testing a new truck appointment system and using AI to manage container cranes as it optimizes capacity at its two existing marine terminals even as it looks down the road at building a third terminal, the port’s new chief says.

Standard Forwarding deal would speed consolidation among small LTL carriers

After trying twice to buy properties from bankrupt Yellow, Jack Cooper Investments may have finally found a route into the less-than-truckload (LTL) sector.

New ship deployments don’t always improve service: analyst

New deployments of ships may be needed, particularly with Red Sea diversions extending sailings, but throwing more ships into service isn’t always a surefire solution for more reliable service.

Severe rainstorms swamp India’s container supply chains

Extreme monsoon floods have wreaked havoc on container flows and related transport networks across ports in the Indian subcontinent region, including Bangladesh that had already been in a state of flux due to recent political tensions.

Tech vendor aims to help forwarders preserve margins in growing LCL market

A technology vendor founded by two veterans of the less-than-containerload (LCL) industry is arming forwarders with the ability to preserve profit margin on LCL shipments moved by the large neutral non-vessel-operating common carriers (NVOs) that collectively control a large share of the LCL market.

Demand bump could drive moderate rate boost on intra-Asia trades

A pre-holiday cargo rush that could start in early September is expected to drive a rebound in intra-Asia ocean rates that had softened a bit in August due to the influx of new capacity and reduced port congestion even as overall demand remained strong.

Falling demand, rates signal early end to Asia-Europe ocean peak season

The early peak season on the Asia-Europe ocean trade that began in April appears to be drawing to a close as European import demand slows and spot rates fall sharply off peak levels reached in July.

Maersk’s LNG order hedges bet on green fuel technology: CEO

DP World’s move into controlling end-to-end logistics will be further strengthened with the integration of Hong Kong-based supply chain solutions provider Cargo Services Far East into its fast-growing forwarder division.

Cathay’s A350 groundings to upset Hong Kong’s overheated air cargo market

The temporary grounding of Cathay Pacific’s Airbus A350 fleet of 48 aircraft after an engine fault was found on Monday will disrupt the already overheated Hong Kong air freight export market, industry executives say.

Maersk’s LNG order hedges bet on green fuel technology: CEO

Maersk’s order for vessels capable of being powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) is a risk-management strategy by the carrier to avoid being locked into one fuel technology, according to CEO Vincent Clerc.

Short-term US industrial real estate market clouded by uncertainty: JLL

Retailers, manufacturers and logistics providers are seeking more clarity on the direction of the US economy and consumer spending before deciding on their short-term needs for warehouse space, according to industrial real estate firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL).

Lag in higher contract rates to drive second-half profitability: Maersk CFO

The delayed financial benefits of ocean contracts agreed at high rates during the second quarter were apparent in Maersk’s Q2 interim results Wednesday when year-over-year profitability declined sharply despite rising volumes and rates.

Maersk CEO says port strike along US East, Gulf coasts is ‘highly unlikely’

A strike by dockworkers at marine terminals along the US East and Gulf coasts is “highly unlikely,” Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc said Wednesday.

Bangladesh’s supply chains grind to a halt amid political upheaval

Carriers and cargo owners in Bangladesh are facing a period of supply chain flux as the Indian subcontinent nation remains gripped by mass civil protests and heightened political unrest, mirroring the turmoil that engulfed trade verticals in Sri Lanka two years ago.

ILA seeking huge wage hike from maritime employers: sources

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) is seeking an almost 80% wage increase over the life of its next six-year contract with maritime employers on the East and Gulf coasts, two ocean carrier sources familiar with the negotiations told the Journal of Commerce.

Shifting trans-Pac dynamics push rate spread to almost two-year high

The differential between spot rates from Asia to the US West and East coasts is at its widest in almost two years amid signs of a significant loosening of capacity to the West Coast and importer worries over the coming expiration of the labor contract covering 45,000 dockworkers on the East and Gulf coasts.

Trans-Atlantic ocean carriers make rare surcharge moves to bolster rates

Ocean carriers on the trans-Atlantic have announced peak season surcharges (PSSs) for Sept. 1 in a bid to turn around declining westbound rate levels that have fallen steadily for months despite volume on the Europe-US trade lane ticking upward.

Matson’s expedited China business fuels Q2 earnings gains

US-flag carrier Matson’s earnings for the second quarter blew past analysts’ consensus estimates, the latest example of the variable fortunes of ocean carriers benefiting as trans-Pacific freight rates surged in recent months.

Overbookings, service changes roil India-US East Coast loads: forwarders

Indian freight forwarders active on trades to North America are crying foul over carriers denying gate openings to containers planned for loading despite confirmed bookings.

Maersk hikes full-year profit forecast by $2 billion, ups volume outlook

Maersk added $2 billion to its full-year profitability forecast Thursday as the carrier continues to benefit from robust demand on the main export trade lanes from Asia and an ongoing Red Sea disruption that has held rates at elevated levels since March.

Panama Canal transits rise to almost normal levels as expansion work begins

The Panama Canal is looking to increase the number of daily vessel transits to 36 as of September as it seeks to resume normal transit levels in the coming months following robust rainfall levels in June and July.

No sign of slowdown in ongoing air cargo ‘peak season’

Air cargo on the main trade lanes out of Asia continues to be in peak season mode as disrupted ocean shipping and an ongoing e-commerce surge hold spot rates at elevated levels.

Raise fossil fuel price to spur demand, investment in green alternatives: WSC

Regulations must be implemented to make fossil fuels used by the maritime industry more expensive in order to close the price gap with green alternatives if low-carbon fuels are to become economically viable for ocean carriers, according to the World Shipping Council (WSC).

Nervous US shippers have few options in the face of port strike threat

Have some sympathy for the shipper dependent on ports along the US East and Gulf coasts. They have few options — none of them great — if longshore labor, as threatened, strikes at the end of September if an agreement isn’t reached by then.