Category: Uncategorized

Penalties for pests found in project cargo packing add to shipper woes The wood packaging materials that are meant to protect project cargoes during their journey can be contaminated with pests, and that means importers face significant financial risks. Go to journal of commerce

Rise in Arctic MPV transits comes despite challenges of ice navigation Lured by shorter voyage times and commensurate cost savings, shipping companies have dipped their propellers into the frigid Arctic waters since the northerly routes became commercially viable due to warmer conditions about 15 years ago. Go to journal of commerce

USTR port fee pause broadly welcomed, but labor decries ‘free pass’ for China The United States Trade Representative also confirmed in a statement Sunday that planned 100% tariffs on China-built ship-to-shore cranes and other cargo handling equipment, due to take effect Monday, have also been suspended for a year. Go to journal of commerce

US retailers throttle back on imports amid uncertain consumer sentiment The latest Global Port Tracker report warns of double-digit declines in imports for the rest of the year and no growth in early 2026. Go to journal of commerce

Trump support likely to get UP-NS deal approved: ex-STB chairman Daniel Elliott III told a webinar that the proposed $85 billion merger is “leaning more toward approval” because of the White House’s support. Go to journal of commerce

Vehicle carriers, ro/ro operators relieved to be included in pause on US port fees Car carriers and ro/ro operators had been left in limbo since the deal to postpone reciprocal US and Chinese port fees was announced during the meeting of presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in South Korea on Oct. 30. Go to…

Value unlocked by Gemini will clear path for premium charge: Maersk CEO With its unit costs falling in the aftermath of its alliance with Hapag-Lloyd, the carrier is becoming more confident in discussions with customers on charging a premium for services that in Q3 came with schedule reliability of around 90%. Go to journal of…

Large US truckload carriers trim tractor counts to control capacity The Journal of Commerce Truckload Capacity Index hit an all-time low of 72.4% in the third quarter as big carriers culled trucks, expecting a “challenging” end to 2025. Go to journal of commerce

Increased capital investment to accelerate project cargo demand Renewed interest in oil and gas-related projects, as well as power generation infrastructure for data centers, will boost breakbulk cargo volumes. Go to journal of commerce

In search of the disconnect between freight rates and charter rates The ability to redeploy ships means that no trade operates in a bubble, but in the short term at least, each trade has its own supply and demand dynamics, notes Jeremy Masters. Go to journal of commerce

Tariffs, energy policy changes force US ports to rethink project cargo strategies Ports that previously had been able to count on more predictable planning and certain cargo types, such as wind project equipment, are finding themselves having to take stock of their capabilities and recalibrate accordingly. Go to journal of commerce

Matson Q3 results beat expectations despite weak trans-Pacific market The Jones Act carrier said pricing for expedited ocean freight stayed firm in the quarter despite lower overall volumes from China amid the trade dispute between Washington and Beijing. Go to journal of commerce

Belly freight shouldering airlines’ CO2 emissions burden: forwarders With calculations based on weight, the burden of CO2 emissions generated by passenger aircraft is being unfairly placed on the freight carried below decks, forwarders say. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk boosts earnings guidance on higher container volume growth But the revision comes as the carrier saw sharp declines in third-quarter revenues and profit amid the slump in freight rates. Go to journal of commerce

US LTL ‘land rush’ reaches its end amid long-term freight decline LTL carriers are reining in capital spending on property, holding new terminals and doors in reserve as they await a hoped-for turnaround in freight demand in 2026. Go to journal of commerce

Expeditors’ Q3 earnings beat forecast on air freight, customs gains But the forwarding and logistics company said its ocean freight business dropped amid low demand and high vessel capacity. Go to journal of commerce

Air freight growth remains solid as verticals support nonstop momentum Even another round of US tariffs and ongoing geopolitical concerns would be unlikely to blunt the growth, with airlines able to rapidly adjust capacity to support shifting trade flows, delegates at a global air cargo forum were told. Go to journal of commerce

SAL Heavy Lift, Intermarine combine under a single brand With a combined fleet of about 80 ships, the new structure unites SAL’s services under one integrated brand specializing in heavy-lift, ultra heavy-lift, multipurpose, offshore, semi liner shipping and bulk transport. Go to journal of commerce

US manufacturing projects drive momentum for global industrial gas companies Shippers Linde and Air Liquide are leaning on their project backlogs for future cargoes, bucking talk of an “industrial recession.” Go to journal of commerce

ONE halves full-year net profit forecast on projected H2 loss “Significant uncertainties” due to US tariffs and a capacity oversupply amid ongoing new vessel deliveries prompted the Singapore-based carrier to sharply reset performance expectations for the balance of its fiscal year. Go to journal of commerce

Intermodal savings rose in Q3, but might not yield high rates in ‘26 While intermodal savings remain above 20%, according to the latest Intermodal Savings Index, there is not enough pressure yet in the trucking market to drive up rates across the US on intermodal rail. Go to journal of commerce

Australian shipper groups call for legal curbs on terminal operator fee hikes The fresh price increases vary between terminal operators and by export and import cargo, with most ranging between 5% and 15%, although running as high as 47% in one case. Go to journal of commerce