Tag: journal of commerce

Hong Kong to launch digital cargo tracking, data exchange network The use of real-time cargo status data is expected to make trade finance more efficient, reducing credit costs and processing and payment times, the Hong Kong government said. Go to journal of commerce

Shippers to regain leverage in trans-Pacific contract negotiations The strength of holiday retail sales in the final month of 2025 and inventory levels approaching the Lunar New Year factory shutdowns in February will be the major factors determining the extent of pricing power in trans-Pacific contract talks. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk waives ‘disruption surcharge’ for Red Sea sailing on India–USEC trade The fee — generally in the range of $200 per TEU and $450 per FEU — was introduced by the carrier in January 2024 following the industry-wide rerouting of vessels via the Cape of Good Hope in southern Africa. Go to journal of commerce

 CMA CGM’s Oceania–US East Coast service to kick off in February While container trade between the South Pacific and USEC was flat prior to 2021, it has shown growth since then, albeit from a small base. Go to journal of commerce

E-commerce, AI demand to keep ex-Asia air freight under pressure Airlines will continue to adjust capacity to account for shifts in volume, but the volatility of US trade policy and continued demand growth fueled by the AI boom will make this more difficult. Go to journal of commerce

Domestic intermodal to benefit from new lanes, faster service in 2026 Those factors will lift volumes, but true organic expansion depends on a recovery in the truckload market. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM reworks India-Med loop rotation to streamline Red Sea operations The carrier is now including calls at Malta, Port Said (Egypt) and Beirut on the weekly Medex itinerary, replacing Valencia and Barcelona in Spain and For-sur-Mer in France. Go to journal of commerce

Australian shippers call for end to ocean carrier anti-trust immunity Current anti-trust protections “have enabled foreign-owned shipping lines to exert disproportionate control over pricing and service levels” in Australia’s maritime industry, the head of a leading shipper group in the country says. Go to journal of commerce

Red Sea return poses disruption threat to Asia–Europe trade Although the timeline is still uncertain, a resumption of the shorter Suez routing brings its own risks, with analysts warning of the potential for significant port disruption and upward rate pressure. Go to journal of commerce

Evergreen to invest $174 million on new containers  The Taiwanese carrier said the box orders were split between three different suppliers, including its own manufacturing subsidiary. Go to journal of commerce

CBP to let importers tie ‘notify parties’ to key portal communications The change, effective Jan. 2, allows importers to digitally designate customs brokers to receive bills, checks and liquidation notices on behalf of clients. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd, ONE expand terminal networks with deals in Brazil, China Hapag-Lloyd’s investment in the Aracruz terminal project in Brazil is part of a plan announced by CEO Rolf Habben Jansen last March to expand the carrier’s ports network to more than 30 terminals by 2030. Go to journal of commerce

Persistent supply-demand imbalance to keep US truckload rates in check Whatever capacity might exit the market in 2026, most analysts believe a strong resurgence in freight volumes is needed to enable a true rebound in truckload rates. Go to journal of commerce

Carriers, POLA back UP-NS deal, citing lower transit times, costs ONE and SM Line are ocean carrier partners to Union Pacific on the West Coast, and a majority of UP’s international intermodal volume originates at the Port of Los Angeles. Go to journal of commerce

South Korea to invest $3 billion expanding foreign logistics, terminal network The investment plan was developed amid growing alarm that the country is losing out in the trade stakes due to a lack of investment by South Korean companies in overseas logistics facilities. Go to journal of commerce

Trans-Atlantic capacity injection overtakes market demand As 2026 begins, US import demand remains uncertain, but the record amounts of capacity container lines plan to deploy in January and February could put further pressure on already weak rates. Go to journal of commerce

Ocean service quality ‘under siege’ as pricing shifts in favor of shippers For shippers whose priority is low price, the possibility certainly exists that the next few years will serve up a favorable pricing environment, if not highly favorable, writes Peter Tirschwell. Go to journal of commerce

DHL, CMA CGM unveil emissions-cutting biofuel collaboration The agreement will result in a reduction of an estimated 25,000 mt of CO2-equivalent well-to-wake emissions for ocean freight transported under DHL’s “GoGreen Plus” initiative. Go to journal of commerce

Service-related issues to take center stage in 2026-27 ocean contract talks: sources Widening global overcapacity and import volume forecasts warning of weak volume growth will embolden cargo owners to attempt to secure more favorable fine print in their contracts on key service issues. Go to journal of commerce

Trump administration suspends wind energy projects over ‘national security’ threat The pause on work at five major offshore wind farms along the US East Coast is likely to have an impact on heavy-lift and project cargoes supporting the installations. Go to journal of commerce

Carriers plan rate hikes, revamp services on Asia-Latin America trade The moves come as capacity from Asia to the East and West coasts of South America has risen sharply this year, and as Mexico plans hefty tariffs against China. Go to journal of commerce

Macquarie seals deal for new Maher lease at NY/NJ through 2063 The private equity fund that operates New York-New Jersey’s largest marine terminal agreed to the Port Authority’s new requirement to carry the cost of maintaining berths and wharves. Go to journal of commerce

Geodis inks takeover deal to expand French trucking coverage The acquisition of Malherbe will enable Geodis to develop the French road freight market for truckload and less-than-truckload, and to increase its presence in the agri-food and mass retail sectors. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk takes ‘significant step’ towards return to Red Sea transits The carrier, as it sends a US-bound vessel through the region, said if security thresholds hold it will take a “stepwise approach” towards gradually resuming navigation on east-west services via the Suez Canal and Red Sea. Go to journal of commerce

UP, in merger filing, vows to convert millions of loads to intermodal annually Union Pacific sent a 6,000-plus page application to US regulators Friday seeking formal approval for its closely watched merger proposal with Norfolk Southern that would create the country’s first transcontinental railroad. Go to journal of commerce

Premier Alliance trims Asia–Europe port calls in new 2026 network While the alliance will strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia, the refined network to be rolled out in April has removed several direct calls in other parts of Asia. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd nixes Suez return for India–USEC loop amid customer pushback The resistance came primarily from Expeditors International, with sources saying the forwarder flagged ongoing uncertainty around the insurance premium implications of a Suez routing. Go to journal of commerce

Revenue from low-value shipment duties crosses $1 billion mark: CBP The US’ de minimis program, which ended in May, allowed importers one shipment per day valued at $800 or less to clear customs duty-free and with minimal data elements. Go to journal of commerce

Big US ports ask Congress to ensure fair funding for dredging Port officials say the next Army Corps spending bill needs to make sure that dredging funds set aside under a 2020 law actually get distributed. Go to journal of commerce

Freightos founder to step down as CEO as company moves into ‘next phase’ Zvi Schreiber oversaw key milestones such as Freightos’ public listing and a transformative acquisition of air freight booking platform WebCargo, but the company has yet to turn a profit. Go to journal of commerce

Space logistics newbuilding to service booming project cargo sector The handling and transportation of space components is opening up new opportunities for project cargo forwarders. Go to journal of commerce

House reauthorizes FMC and adds to its oversight powers Along with funding through 2029, the reauthorization codified new responsibilities for the agency under OSRA-22. Go to journal of commerce

Easing container tonnage delivery in 2026 belies signs of saturation Unless shipowners significantly postpone or cancel orders, the wallops of new tonnage added in 2027 and 2028 will dwarf the deliveries made this year and next. Go to journal of commerce

ONE returns to Red Sea under slot charter deal with Thailand’s RCL, partners But a spokesperson for ONE would not be drawn on whether the agreement was a precursor to the carrier relaunching its own services through the Red Sea and Suez Canal. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd wins second green tender from global shipper group  The Hamburg-based carrier will share the tender with feeder carrier North Sea Container Line that will operate e-ammonia services on a northern intra-Europe trade lane.  Go to journal of commerce

Rising US air freight imports from Taiwan, Vietnam offset drop in China trade  Data from consultants Trade and Transport Group shows the impact of regulatory changes as  de minimis traffic fell significantly while regular air cargo increased. Go to journal of commerce

Wan Hai inks roughly $500 million deal for six LNG-powered ships The vessels take the carrier’s total order book to 36 ships to be delivered between 2026 and 2030, increasing its owned fleet to 150 ships totaling 927,250 TEUs. Go to journal of commerce

More data sharing crucial to avoiding future port congestion: officials Although major US gateways have made some progress in promoting data sharing on vessel arrivals, port authorities say more systemic thinking must take place among carriers and their supply chain partners to avoid a repeat of the meltdown that occurred in 2021–22. Go to journal…

Impact of non-domiciled CDL enforcement splits US trucking sector The US Department of Transportation estimates there are about 200,000 holders of non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, most of whom would lose eligibility under a proposed rule that would bar certain immigrants from operating commercial vehicles. Go to journal of commerce

US freight industry enters 2026 with low growth expectations As economists question whether the US consumer is finally pulling back as tariff costs increasingly show in store prices, another major generator of freight manufacturing orders is showing signs of sputtering. Go to journal of commerce

Terminal operator ICTSI expands South America, Africa footprints The Manila-based company is tapping into moves by the governments of Brazil and South Africa to enable their ports to handle steadily rising container volume and calls by larger vessels. Go to journal of commerce

Premier Alliance’s 2026 network to maintain Red Sea diversions Alliance members Ocean Network Express, HMM and Yang Ming said they were “closely monitoring” the situation around the Red Sea with the focus on the safety of crew, ship and cargo. Go to journal of commerce

Inland rail connectivity key to Port of Long Beach growth: new CEO Noel Hacegaba says more efficient intermodal rail service to the US interior will help Long Beach grab a greater share of imports from Asia that move to major distribution hubs such as Dallas and Chicago. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk picks new CFO, reshuffles some regional chiefs Robert Erni, who will step into the CFO job after the ocean carrier reports fiscal 2025 results in February, has 30 years of experience in financial roles across the logistics industry. Go to journal of commerce

Australian government action needed to curb soaring terminal charges: regulator The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued a report Friday that found terminal operators were making “historic” profits while their investment in infrastructure lagged far behind. Go to journal of commerce

CargoWise’s pricing model change could mark final milestone in market ascent The ubiquity of WiseTech’s flagship platform in the forwarding market has placed a target on its back — one that grew larger with a significant change last week in how it prices its product. Go to journal of commerce

Policy shift clears way for surge in Mexican mining projects, cargo activity A boost in project cargo demand is expected as delayed mining projects in the country start to come onstream in the coming years. Go to journal of commerce

NYK, MOL to pay $72 million to settle UK vehicle shipment claims The two Japanese vehicle carriers are the last to agree to a settlement figure in a long-running price-fixing case. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd to expand feeder fleet with new methanol-ready ships The Hamburg-based carrier is investing $500 million on eight newbuilds and adding 14 newbuild charters, with the overall goal of making its fleet more fuel efficient and reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Go to journal of commerce

Reliance on contracts results in unused truckload, ocean capacity: study A study commissioned by Freightos finds truckload shippers fail to use 70% of the contracted capacity they negotiate. Go to journal of commerce

Cascading container tonnage spreads structural overcapacity to secondary lanes New analysis shows a systematic displacement of tonnage from primary to secondary trade lanes has occurred over the past two years, while a shortage of capacity is looming over the smaller shipping segment. Go to journal of commerce

US container volumes set for weak 2026 amid ongoing trade uncertainty S&P Global’s outlook for the transportation sector sees US ports facing a volume decline in 2026 with the potential for recovery in 2027. Go to journal of commerce

Cargo bookings for Asia-Europe ocean trade rise sharply in December The rise in bookings is driving an increase in the capacity offered by ocean carriers on Asia to North Europe and the Mediterranean that this week reached record levels on both trades. Go to journal of commerce

Transfix targets ‘unbundled’ chaos of truckload brokerage with TMS product The move into transportation management expands Transfix’s scope from its current focus on brokerage pricing technology. Go to journal of commerce

US truckload rates jump on poor weather, shorter holiday shopping season While dry-van spot rates typically climb in December, this year’s increase is the highest for early December in more than five years, according to DAT Freight & Analytics. Go to journal of commerce

Zim faces proxy fight after rejecting CEO’s buyout bid The Israel-based carrier is urging shareholders to reelect its current slate of directors later this month after alternate nominees were put forth by dissident shareholders. Go to journal of commerce

India-Europe carriers push December rates higher on tighter capacity Mumbai-based forwarder executives have linked the pricing gains mainly to lower capacity amid multiple blank sailings during the month covering CMA CGM’s Epic service and Ocean Network Express’ IOX loop. Go to journal of commerce

AI will change UP-NS merger review in ways the industry has never seen For the first time, US regulators can evaluate a rail merger not on assertions, but on what the data actually shows — and they can do it in hours, not months. Go to journal of commerce

Cosco Shipping inks $7 billion deal for big fleet expansion The move is part of the Chinese government’s ambition to accelerate the development of China as a maritime power, China Shipbuilding Group said. Go to journal of commerce

Rail service shakes off prior disruptions to close 2025 on high note Average intermodal train speeds among the four US Class I railroads have exceeded year-ago levels for 30 consecutive weeks dating back to early May, according to the Association of American Railroads. Go to journal of commerce

Global container volume growth slows on US, EU declines The softer global growth in October pulled the 12-month rolling average down to the lowest in 20 months, according to Drewry’s Simon Heaney. Go to journal of commerce

New product allows shippers to flex MQC volumes on a weekly basis A former DOT deputy assistant secretary in the Biden administration says tradable, guaranteed slot reservations would create a scenario enabling greater efficiencies for both shippers and carriers. Go to journal of commerce

Diverging demand for e-commerce drives muted start to air cargo peak season After 27 consecutive months of plus-40% year-over-year growth, China’s total cross-border e-commerce sales were flat in October, according to Xeneta. Go to journal of commerce

Broker association to aggregate truckload theft, fraud information for FBI The Transportation Intermediaries Association launched a hotline that its members can use to report suspected occurrences of cargo fraud and theft, regardless of the dollar value involved. Go to journal of commerce

Data center buildout fuels construction boom, project cargo windfall High-value megaproject activity in the US is propping up heavy-lift cargo volumes, while also generating breakbulk shipments. Go to journal of commerce

Stretched logistics capacity in Europe threatened by Red Sea return The import gateways have faced ongoing congestion this year amid strong demand on the Asia-Europe trade and limited buffer capacity at ports will be quickly overwhelmed. Go to journal of commerce

Vancouver’s new scheduling system gives 96-hour advance notice of vessel arrivals The Vancouver-Fraser Port Authority’s scheduling system is aimed at helping marine terminals better prepare labor and equipment planning to mitigate import surges. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd buyout offer for Zim unlikely to get far: report A group of Zim employees is said to object to a deal with Hapag-Lloyd due to the significant ownership stakes that the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia and Qatar have in the Hamburg-based carrier. Go to journal of commerce

South Africa hits eight ocean carriers with price collusion allegations Even though the claims originate from more than seven years ago, the government alleges artificially high freight rates are nonetheless hurting South Africa’s consumers and exporters. Go to journal of commerce

Trans-Pacific carriers tweak pricing strategy to keep rates from collapsing Despite lower volumes and elevated capacity, carriers have managed to keep rates at acceptable levels of late in part by favoring shorter, more frequent general rate increases. Go to journal of commerce

Large LTL carriers make some volume gains, but market still soft XPO and Saia reported year-over-year increases in daily shipment volume in November, while ODFL raised its yield as shipment volumes dropped. Go to journal of commerce

Hacegaba nominated to be Port of Long Beach executive director COO Noel Hacegaba’s elevation to the top executive job would appear to be fait accompli after serving in senior management positions at the port for the past 15 years. Go to journal of commerce

UP CEO says NS merger filing with US regulators to be delayed two weeks Jim Vena blamed the delay on a contractor that must revise material that will be included in what will be a nearly 4,000-page filing to federal regulators. Go to journal of commerce

WiseTech pricing change tests shippers’ willingness to absorb tech costs Forwarders are bemoaning pricing changes WiseTech made this week to its CargoWise products, saying their technology costs will rise markedly because shippers will be unwilling to accept the pass-through costs. Go to journal of commerce

Regulatory agencies developing framework for use of maritime nuclear power The IMO and IAEA are working on setting up international regulations and standards that would underpin the production and development of nuclear power in the maritime industry. Go to journal of commerce

Tariff costs, data center demand create mixed outlook for ro/ro shippers in 2026 As key global manufacturers of high and heavy cargo, Caterpillar and Deere are considered performance indicators for the roll-on/roll-off breakbulk shipping segment. Go to journal of commerce

Premier Alliance adds Cai Mep call amid US import surge from Vietnam Ocean Network Express said the East Coast 2 service jointly operated with HMM and Yang Ming will call Cai Mep on eastbound rotations, while dropping a call at China’s Port of Xiamen. Go to journal of commerce

IKEA becomes first shipper to join carrier digital consortium program The Digital Container Shipping Association’s partnership program has grown in the last month, with the global home furnishings retailer following last week’s addition of European vessel operator Unifeeder. Go to journal of commerce

Ports urge strict review of intermodal impacts from UP-NS merger The National Association of Waterfront Employers said intermodal service from ports could degrade further unless service commitments are made in the proposed $85 billion deal. Go to journal of commerce

Ocean carriers unveil hefty increases in Europe emissions surcharges First-quarter charges will rise across all trade lanes that cover the European Union from Jan. 1, when carriers will be responsible for 100% of their carbon emissions. Go to journal of commerce

Complexity of resumption of Suez transits beginning to take shape The conflicting interests became apparent last week when the Suez Canal Authority issued a statement indicating that Maersk planned to resume normal transits in December, triggering a quick response from the carrier that no timeline had been set. Go to journal of commerce

Severe storms swamp Southeast Asia supply chains, with Colombo hardest hit Ocean carriers and terminal stakeholders at Sri Lanka’s Colombo Port are dealing with operational chaos that resulted from a three-day shutdown caused by Cyclone Ditwah, said to be the strongest storm to have struck the country in nearly a decade. Go to journal of…

Maersk offers Indian reefer shippers Red Sea-based service product: sources The move is significant as the carrier has high stakes in India’s seasonal grape export trade that typically runs between January and April, moving mainly to Europe. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM poised to venture into India-Russia trade despite war sanctions The French carrier plans to enter the long-crimped trade lane via subsidiary brand CNC Line, with a targeted launch in January, market sources say. Go to journal of commerce

Zim says reviewing buyout offers, including one from CEO Eli Glickman’s buyout proposal first surfaced in Israeli media reports back in August, with his offer said to be about $20 per share, which would value Zim at $2.4 billion. Go to journal of commerce

Regulatory uncertainty won’t derail e-fuel tender: global shipper group While the IMO’s decision to postpone global decarbonization measures for a year will create challenges, several qualifying bids from ocean carriers have been received by the ZEMBA alliance. Go to journal of commerce

Unifeeder adds scale to DCSA’s partnership program The DP World-owned subsidiary provides services across Europe, Africa and Asia, and its involvement with the DCSA+ partnership program will enable it to work with container lines, technology providers and terminals to advance standardized data exchange. Go to journal of commerce

Series of new green shipping corridors emerge despite IMO regulatory setback But many of the initiatives remain stalled by a “feasibility wall” created by the wide cost gap between conventional and zero-emission fuels, according to a new report. Go to journal of commerce

Battery storage cargoes to power up MPV, heavy-lift sector Projected global growth of grid-scale installations over the next five years indicates cargo volumes will rise dramatically with the continued investment in solar and wind energy. Go to journal of commerce

Sharp drop in Q3 profits signals tough 2026 for oversupplied ocean carriers While liners will remain in the black this year, the growing capacity overhang and weak demand expectations will undermine rate-increasing efforts through 2026, analysts say. Go to journal of commerce

ONE expands India-USEC ‘WIN’ loop with Jebel Ali call amid demand woes Freight forwarder sources believe ONE will attempt to tap US exports into the Middle East through Jebel Ali calls amid the ongoing slump in westbound volumes out of India. Go to journal of commerce

Canada looks for new container gateways for decoupling from US The Carney government outlined preliminary goals for a new logistics infrastructure fund that would help increase Canada’s trade outside of the US. Go to journal of commerce

Normal operations resume at Port of Los Angeles following vessel electrical fire All ship-to-shore cranes at Yusen Terminals were inspected and cargo handling resumed on the first shift Monday, according to Yusen’s CEO. Go to journal of commerce

UP reaches agreement with IBB union to support NS merger The job protection deal with the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers is significant because previous rail mergers have led to overlapping operations and the consolidation of terminals, resulting in workforce reductions. Go to journal of commerce

‘Breakeven’ moment for project44 shows path for VC-backed software The visibility software vendor earlier this year expanded into providing TMS, while also trimming headcount and cutting loose unprofitable customers. Go to journal of commerce

UP enhances intermodal between LA and Cincinnati UP’s changes will make things easier in Southern California but might make interchanges in Chicago more difficult for shippers. Go to journal of commerce

US ports seek to expand FTZs for breakbulk cargo Breakbulk and project cargo shippers tapping FTZ and bonded warehouse storage to “tariff engineer.” Go to journal of commerce

Trans-Atlantic ocean capacity hits 28-month high: Xeneta The injection of vessels appears to have peaked, but the capacity is overtaking market demand with little upward movement in rate levels on the westbound trade lane. Go to journal of commerce

Europe ports lack buffer space to handle demand surges Not enough terminal investment in Europe has left ports unable to handle the rising demand, and there is no quick fix, according to analysts and carriers. Go to journal of commerce

US restocking, Red Sea return the two big unknowns for 2026: Hapag briefing A surge in replenishment activity in the US could turbocharge container shipping demand, while a wholesale return of container ships to Red Sea and Suez Canal transits would have a far-reaching market impact, speakers on a panel sponsored by the carrier said…