Category: Uncategorized

Surging Southeast Asia volumes strain intra-Asia capacity Strong demand and the resulting tightening of intra-Asia vessel capacity is lifting intra-Asia rates, a sharp contrast to falling spot pricing on both the trans-Pacific and Asia–Europe trades. Go to journal of commerce

CSX to reopen two East Coast intermodal lanes in early October Completing the Howard Street Tunnel and Blue Ridge subdivision projects will allow CSX to restore service — and better compete with trucking — on two major north-south corridors in the eastern US. Go to journal of commerce

Gemini suspends seasonal trans-Pacific service The suspension of the TP9/WC6 service from Xiamen and Busan is the latest effort by carriers to stem declining container spot rates and adjusting capacity to softening demand. Go to journal of commerce

‘Committed’ federal supply chain support key to US nuclear build-out: report Experts from the Working Group on US Nuclear Dominance recommend a federal review of critical supply chain components and bottlenecks as they relate to nuclear project cargo transport. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd locks in LNG supply with Shell fuel deal Delivery of the fuel will begin immediately and build on a strategic collaboration Hapag-Lloyd established with Shell in 2023 to accelerate the decarbonization of its fleet. Go to journal of commerce

CN-CSX joint service to connect west Canada and Nashville The two Class I railroads will collaborate on a service to replace the trucking leg for goods moving from CN’s Memphis terminal to the Music City. Go to journal of commerce

Elimination of US ‘de minimis’ rule hits SMEs hardest The Aug. 29 global removal of duty-free access for low-value US imports comes ahead of the end-of-year peak season for air freight. Go to journal of commerce

DC court hears challenge to FMC rulemaking on refusal to deal The World Shipping Council’s fight to have the FMC revise a key aspect of OSRA-22 hinges on how far the agency’s regulatory power extends into freight rates. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM reroutes China-built ships to avoid US port fees The carrier said that network adjustments that began in April will allow it to eliminate the impact of new US port fees for ships built in China on its shipper customers while maintaining US port coverage. Go to journal of commerce

US retailers upgrade import forecast but still expect Q4 decline US retailers increased September and October import volume expectations significantly, but it will not be enough to meet 2024 levels. Go to journal of commerce

Falling US LTL volumes putting pressure on margins, rates Cracks may be appearing in the LTL pricing wall, as shipment levels drop, but LTL costs remain elevated compared with pandemic-era rates. Go to journal of commerce

Early peak, new vessels could tip Asia-Europe into overcapacity Despite freefalling spot rates and lackluster demand expectations for the fourth quarter, carriers have been far more conservative in blanking sailings this year. Go to journal of commerce

Strong secondhand container ship demand defies deteriorating market Despite weakening supply-demand fundamentals, container vessel charter rates are rising and carriers are neither idling nor scrapping ships. Go to journal of commerce

DP World to build big-ship container terminal in Montreal The Montreal Port Authority said permits are in the works for Contrecoeur’s underwater work, while DP World has signed on to design and operate the terminal. Go to journal of commerce

US port fees could exceed $2B for Cosco, OOCL: HSBC The investment bank said non-Chinese carriers will largely avoid looming and escalating port fees, but Cosco and OOCL will be on the hook unless they adjust networks. Go to journal of commerce

Trans-Atlantic pricing weakens without year-end volume bump Full ships, a low number of blank sailings and improving schedule reliability have stabilised the westbound trade lane but will do little to raise rate levels, say executives and analysts. Go to journal of commerce

Fresh Del Monte Produce switching from breakbulk to box transport The fruit shipper cites the downsides of moving perishables by breakbulk methods, criticizing the “hours of exposure to extreme heat or cold and frequent handling.” Go to journal of commerce

US cross-border rail tracks Mexico recovery, Canada decline: analyst Railroads are expanding services between Mexico and the US, while Canada–US intermodal container traffic is down by double-digit percentages, writes rail analyst Larry Gross. Go to journal of commerce

India-Europe liners lower rates as capacity normalizes amid little peak demand signs New data obtained by the Journal of Commerce from local freight forwarders indicates a downward shift of between $400 and $600 per standard dry container in FAK rate levels over the last two weeks. Go to journal of commerce

US steps up attempts to derail IMO’s ‘net-zero’ ambitions Consequences for nations supporting the emissions-cutting measures were spelled out by the US State Department this week, which threatened to impose tariffs, port duties and even visa refusals. Go to journal of commerce

Disruptive force of AI will help usher in new era of container shipping Artificial intelligence will accelerate the new reality that ocean carriers make no secret of the fact that they are profit-making entities, writes Peter Tirschwell. Go to journal of commerce

Startups land collective $129 million in latest AI push into logistics Augment and Happy Robot are the most recent examples of investors betting that artificial intelligence agents will transform the operations of logistics providers. Go to journal of commerce

Premier Alliance service halt latest sign of trans-Pacific demand downturn Suspension of the Pacific South 5 service comes as container lines are announcing more blanked sailings from Asia to the US in an attempt to boost spot rates ahead of China’s Golden Week. Go to journal of commerce