Tag: journal of commerce

Drayage industry hopes for FMC relief on demurrage billing Terminal operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach have seen no changes in demurrage billing practices since the Federal Maritime Commission’s demurrage rule was struck down by an appeals court. Go to journal of commerce

Virginia port looks to dismiss ILA lawsuit on rail crane rollout The Virginia Port Authority said the longshore union’s lawsuit alleging violations of the master contract doesn’t give clear picture of when it knew about the new rail gantry cranes. Go to journal of commerce

Strong spending, lean inventories could spur US import rebound in early 2026 Some carriers and forward are predicting a strong recovery in volumes in the first quarter of next year despite US retailers’ downward expectations. Go to journal of commerce

Importers await tariff impact amid stable economic indicators: Richmond Fed Tariffs have increased sixfold since January, but those cost increases have yet to fully reveal themselves in consumer prices. Go to journal of commerce

IMO punts on pivotal net-zero shipping regulation The ill-tempered environmental protection committee session was filled with procedural maneuvering as member states opposed to the net-zero framework attempted to delay the proceedings. Go to journal of commerce

Volume, not pricing, driving US intermodal results in Q3 Carriers continue to struggle to raise rates on intermodal shippers, resulting in revenue gains or losses based solely on volume. Go to journal of commerce

US truckload pricing inches higher as trucking’s peak beckons Seasonal demand is believed to fuel most of the moderate pricing gains, with the impact of a driver licensing crackdown perhaps affecting outbound lanes from Southern California. Go to journal of commerce

Growing box backlogs at Europe’s strike-hit hubs could take weeks to clear Industrial action by auxiliary workers in Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges is heavily disrupting operations in the region’s two busiest container ports. Go to journal of commerce

US trade war has multiple fronts to disrupt shipping: analyst The trade war has become multi-dimensional with many different elements all impacting shipping and the supply chain, writes maritime and JOC analyst Lars Jensen. Go to journal of commerce

HMM inks $2.5 billion LNG container ship order The investment in less carbon-intensive vessels is part of a $17 billion spending plan that also includes $3 billion on its logistics business and the acquisition of new container terminals by 2030. Go to journal of commerce

J.B. Hunt: Intermodal volume retracts amid cost cutting measures J.B. Hunt lowered its peak season surcharge because of disappointing volume on the West Coast. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM, SeaLead revamp Red Sea sailings after Gaza truce But it will take several months of sustained peace before liners are confident enough of safe passage to redirect mainline services through the Suez Canal, according to an HSBC report. Go to journal of commerce

Beijing exempts US-flag vessels built in China from retaliatory port fees But the move comes as China’s Transport Ministry launched an investigation into how the country’s maritime industry and supply chains will be impacted by the US Trade Representative’s Section 301 port charges and tariffs. Go to journal of commerce

Stakeholders differ on Newsom’s move to kill automation ban at California ports The ILWU is warning the state’s governor of political consequences, while maritime employers say the decision preserves the integrity of collective bargaining. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM signs $350 million Indian shipbuilding order for six box ships A 25% state subsidy for the newbuild program approved by Indian policymakers after months of negotiations is believed to have pushed the deal through, thus neutralizing the cost gaps with rival yards in China and South Korea. Go to journal of commerce

Downward shift in India-Europe ocean rates intensifies amid market volatility The persistent pressure on India-Europe rates comes despite sporadic capacity cuts implemented by major carriers. Go to journal of commerce

‘High stakes’ IMO decarbonization meeting begins in London IMO member states should focus on the substance of the proposed net-zero framework and not on opposition to the measures, was Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez’s message as the four-day session got underway. Go to journal of commerce

Car carrier sector slams USTR’s decision for threefold increase in port fees The move would substantially increase costs and reduce capacity for vehicle and equipment makers such as Ford and Caterpillar who rely on vehicle carriers and ro/ro vessels to export their products, stakeholders say.   Go to journal of commerce

White House sanctions threat ups ante ahead of pivotal IMO meeting On the eve of IMO’s London gathering this week, Washington has pledged to retaliate against nations supporting what it says is a “European-led neocolonial export of global climate regulations.” Go to journal of commerce

Slide in MPV rates seen as a blip, not a breakdown, as projects keep flowing Breakbulk and project carriers continue to be upbeat for cargo prospects through the end of the year and into 2026. Go to journal of commerce

China’s Dajin Heavy dips toe into MPV ownership for wind farm cargoes The maker of wind energy components has invested in its first heavy cargo deck carrier, one of four such vessels built by Dajin’s own shipbuilding division that the company will take delivery of this year. Go to journal of commerce

China returns fire with retaliatory port fees targeting US-affiliated ships At first blush, the fees targeting US entities would affect Matson, Maersk Line and APL, part of the CMA CGM group. Go to journal of commerce

Lower US imports tightening truck capacity at key inland hubs Fewer trucks arriving with imports in Las Vegas, Chicago and other inland hubs means tighter capacity and higher transactional costs for outbound shipments. Go to journal of commerce

Deep divisions linger as IMO gathers for pivotal decarbonization talks It has taken several years for the IMO to get to this point, but the heavily compromised net-zero framework agreement has polarized the shipping industry. Go to journal of commerce

Roadrunner targets ‘ride share-like’ shipper experience with new pickup platform The LTL carrier has used technology to drive its financial turnaround, with the latest example being a system that has slashed the number of missed pickups for shippers. Go to journal of commerce

Norfolk Southern tweaks international services from West, East coasts The overhaul marks the latest in a series of network shakeups among North American railroads competing for international intermodal freight. Go to journal of commerce

Tumbling rates on trans-Pacific, Asia-Europe drag down OOCL Q3 revenue The carrier’s operational update did not provide profit and loss figures, but the declining revenue is an indication of tough times ahead as liners sail into their financial reporting season. Go to journal of commerce

Project cargo shippers urge shakeup for inconsistent carbon costs A lack of transparency in carbon pricing from carriers is frustrating breakbulk shippers, while the industry must strike a balance that supports environmental goals without undermining the sector’s ability to function. Go to journal of commerce

Connectivity the key to bypassing hurdles in truckload appointment scheduling A range of vendors have emerged in recent years with a singular focus on improving coordination of truckload arrivals, keying on load prioritization and performance metrics. Go to journal of commerce

Fate of future automation at California ports in governor’s hands Gov. Gavin Newsom has until Sunday to sign or veto a bill that ocean carriers and terminal operators say would derail current and future attempts to automate cargo-handling operations in the name of reducing stress on the state’s power grid. Go to journal of commerce

Strike action piles new bottlenecks on Europe’s two busiest ports The fresh disruptions come as the Asia-Europe trade lane continues to present shippers with the worst schedule reliability among the major ocean corridors. Go to journal of commerce

Broker liability in the spotlight in ‘Montgomery v Caribe Transport’ The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case, and without a clear ruling from the Court, brokers, shippers and manufacturers will face ongoing uncertainty, potentially weakening the national economy, writes trucking expert Matthew Leffler. Go to journal of commerce

North India trade flows tested by rail embargoes at congested Mundra Port Rail authorities have had to restrict or suspend train services into India’s busiest gateway multiple times in recent weeks in an attempt to clear the backlog of import containers trapped in port yards. Go to journal of commerce

Prince Rupert searching for new CEO after Stevenson announces retirement Shaun Stevenson, who guided development of Prince Rupert’s Fairview Container Terminal and the port’s intermodal services to Chicago and eastern Canada, is leaving at year’s end after 28 years with the port, including the last seven as CEO. Go to journal of commerce

New automation provider emerges to tackle forwarder quoting inefficiencies Upheaval in global trade is putting more pressure on forwarders to invest in automation to price their services quickly and more effectively, an area that startup Nexcade is targeting. Go to journal of commerce

Current trans-Pacific price plunge lacks the echoes of prior ‘rate wars’ But if current rate competition doesn’t possess the edge it did in prior years, the question is why and whether that matters if the overall effect is to substantially lower rates for shippers in a down market, writes Peter Tirschwell. Go to journal of…

Contract season looms for ocean carriers facing Asia–Europe rate slump Shippers and their forwarders will soon be launching long-term contract tenders for 2026 as the spot market — which heavily influences the contract market — slides closer to pre-Red Sea attack levels. Go to journal of commerce

SC Ports taps former commercial executive to lead Micah Mallace, who served for over a decade at the port, will return to take the reins as chief executive. Go to journal of commerce

Harbor deepening primes Mobile for bigger ships, first US calls The Port of Mobile is now the deepest container port on the Gulf Coast, a region that has been limited on ship capacity because of service rotations through Houston’s shallower depth. Go to journal of commerce

US presses forward on port fees despite China’s warning The onus of calculating new US ports that kick in next week falls on ocean carriers. Go to journal of commerce

Geopolitics, weather delays undermine China-Europe rail viability Severe disruptions have delayed cargo on both the northern and middle corridors over the past year, forcing Europe-based shippers to reassess their continued usage of the overland route. Go to journal of commerce

Importers pump brakes as they tire of ever-changing US tariff policy: analyst The start-and-stop nature of the Trump administration’s tariffs means changes are coming at a pace that exceeds the supply chains’ ability to react, writes Larry Gross. Go to journal of commerce

Shippers disillusioned by project cargo technology “Stone age” thinking on technology to support breakbulk cargo moves has left engineering, procurement and construction companies in a tech void. Go to journal of commerce

Savannah to fund Ocean Terminal improvements as lay berth opens The port will go ahead with the first phase of developing more container handling capability at its second-largest marine terminal, which is also providing temporary parking for big ships. Go to journal of commerce

Cordero to retire at end of 2025 after eight years as Long Beach executive director Mario Cordero has frequently said that his goal as Long Beach’s port director was to grow cargo volumes while promoting environmental sustainability in port operations. Go to journal of commerce

Savannah to fund Ocean Terminal improvements as lay berth opens The port will go ahead with the first phase of developing more container handling capability at its second-largest marine terminal, which is also providing temporary parking for big ships. Go to journal of commerce

Port of Los Angeles looks to handle future growth with new terminal project In its request for proposals to develop Pier 500, the port will specify that it seeks to contract with a member company of the Pacific Maritime Association that pledges to follow the guidelines for terminal operations on the US West Coast. Go…

Tariffs lead to sharp decline in Indian reefer exports to US: industry sources Multiple carrier sources who spoke with the Journal of Commerce say refrigerated volumes from India to the US are already down by as much as 50% from the normal pattern for seafood trade. Go to journal of commerce

Post-tariff air freight market diversifies into ‘US-plus one’ strategy: Tiaca As production shifts to counter the impact of US tariffs, the diversification of consumer markets will create new growth opportunities for the air freight industry, observers say. Go to journal of commerce

China’s port fee warning to US puts ocean carriers on edge The vagueness of China’s potential retaliation against the US puts not just US-flag vessels under threat, but also any individuals and organizations accused of harming Beijing’s shipping interests. Go to journal of commerce

CPKC pushes back on NS complaint over Meridian track access The Class I railroad says the real entity behind the complaint is Norfolk Southern’s merger partner Union Pacific, which CPKC says has been delivering trains too long to safely operate. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk launches massive retrofit drive to boost vessel fuel efficiency The large-scale effort involving the carrier’s time-charter fleet is a tacit acknowledgement of the immense challenges of the energy transition facing the maritime industry. Go to journal of commerce

Inland ‘25: Low demand putting pricing pressure on US LTL carriers Less-than-truckload carriers are holding onto pricing discipline despite low demand, but more opportunities for LTL savings exist, speakers told the Inland ‘25 conference. Go to journal of commerce

Inland ‘25: NS merger won’t limit access to other railroads: UP CEO But Union Pacific’s Jim Vena says the cooperation agreements that rival railroads are making to compete with a combined UP-NS don’t yield the same benefits as a merger. Go to journal of commerce

Inland ‘25: Weak end to 2025 could set up US freight economy for better 2026 The US economy looks to weaken further in the fourth quarter due to tariffs and unemployment, but inventories are historically low and may spur 2026 freight demand, attendees at the Journal of Commerce’s Inland ‘25 Distribution Conference heard. Go to journal…

Inland ‘25: Drayage capacity could tighten quickly under tougher regulations Many drivers could be caught up in a growing US crackdown on non-domiciled commercial driver’s licenses, with California ground zero in that campaign. Go to journal of commerce

E-commerce, US tariffs drive sharp rise in Asia-Europe air cargo demand Robust international demand was led by the growth on the Asia-Europe trade that IATA attributes to a modal shift from ocean and evolving import rules from Washington that have diverted shipments from the trans-Pacific. Go to journal of commerce

China flexes maritime power in response to coming US port fee A regulation change that went into effect over the weekend allows Beijing to penalize and block vessels from countries that it accuses of targeting its own shipping activities. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd, ONE warn of skipped calls, vessel delays due to Asian typhoons A string of storms in September has roiled vessel schedules and terminal operations throughout the region. Go to journal of commerce

UHL to embark on fleet expansion amid leadership change The Hamburg-headquartered breakbulk and project cargo operator confirmed new vessel orders after it announced that Managing Director Lars Bonnesen would leave the company at the end of the year. Go to journal of commerce

Modest hike but no ‘great disruption’ seen for truckload pricing in 2026 US truckload carriers are likely to see a 2% increase in contract rates next year as shippers focus on doing more with less, Arrive Logistics says. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM eyes shipbuilding plans for India in trade diversification strategy: sources The shipbuilding interest would follow the carrier’s recent trio of container vessel reflaggings in India as it looks to develop a stronger profile in the subcontinent market. Go to journal of commerce

CSX CEO removed amid activist pressure in wake of UP-NS merger The move by CSX to relieve Joe Hinrichs of his duties comes after Ancora Holdings urged the railroad’s board of directors to seek a merger with BNSF Railway or Canadian Pacific Kansas City in response to the UP-NS deal. Go to journal of commerce

Tariff costs, need for speed seen reshaping retail inventory strategies Cost pressures are raising inventory management to new levels at shippers, highlighting the need for integration of multiple fulfillment channels, says ITS Logistics. Go to journal of commerce

Rising demand for AI technology feeds into air cargo demand But the expansion of data processing power and storage to facilitate AI algorithms and cloud data will not be an explosive game changer in the manner of e-commerce, according to analysts. Go to journal of commerce

CSX restarts Baltimore tunnel service for double-stack in 2026 The disruptions in the Howard Street Tunnel in Baltimore and Blue Ridge subdivision on the Tennessee-North Carolina border resulted in longer transits for intermodal shippers on CSX this year. Go to journal of commerce

Evergreen to expand Latin America, Middle East services Evergreen’s plan to focus on adding more tonnage between Asia and Latin America over the next five years comes as US import volume growth cools. Go to journal of commerce

LA port wants California to raise bridge to accommodate big ships The Port of Los Angeles is meeting with California state officials to promote its plan to extend the Vincent Thomas Bridge repair project to allow 23,000-TEU ships to call all six of its marine terminals. Go to journal of commerce

USDOT cracks down on ‘non-domiciled’ CDLs, targets California California must immediately stop issuing CDLs to drivers not “domiciled” in the state and revoke the licenses of unqualified drivers or face the loss of federal highway funds. Go to journal of commerce

Freeport pays crane tariffs to avoid USTR fee risk The Gulf Coast port faced the potential that later US actions against Chinese ship-to-shore cranes would raise costs more if it deferred delivery. Go to journal of commerce

Trans-Pacific capacity cuts on the rise as carriers look to stem rate slide The jump in blank sailings comes as spot rates to the West Coast have fallen 30% over the past three weeks, with East Coast prices down almost 20%. Go to journal of commerce

Trump order to speed up mining projects offers breakbulk growth A wave of new mining projects to support domestic demand for critical minerals is expected to drive roll-on/roll-off cargo demand. Go to journal of commerce

Air cargo shift from major European hubs underway: report Smaller airports in Europe have positioned themselves as business-friendly entry points for cross-border e-commerce traffic that moves mostly on freighters, according to consultancy Trade and Transport Group. Go to journal of commerce

Appeals court strikes down FMC’s detention and demurrage billing rule A federal appeals court said the agency made an unfair and arbitrary rule that allows ocean carriers to bill late fees to one set of contracted parties but not others, like truckers. Go to journal of commerce

Uplift in ship demand to serve DEME, Cadeler wind farm projects Progress for wind projects in the UK and Taiwan have bucked the trend of an expected drop in offshore wind turbine generator awards this year. Go to journal of commerce

Logistics technology executives differ on coding threat to incumbent products The rise of code generation tools portends a future where even non-technical people can build software, potentially threatening the hold incumbent software-as-a-service providers have on logistics customers. Go to journal of commerce

Vietnam tech exports driving air freight capacity injection The role of the Southeast Asian powerhouse in global trade is accelerating, fueled by geographic advantages, a skilled workforce and consistent inflows of foreign investment, says DHL Express. Go to journal of commerce

Terminals, airports to restart operations after storm makes landfall in southern China But supply chains in a region stretching between south China, Taiwan and the Philippines face extensive disruption even after terminals reopen and flights resume as shippers rush to complete orders ahead of Golden Week factory closures. Go to journal of commerce

Key Brazilian exports to US falling sharply in early aftermath of 50% tariffs The Trump administration’s imposition of hefty tariffs on Brazil in August sent US bookings for coffee, sugar and orange juice plummeting in the first half of September. Go to journal of commerce

New ship-to-shore cranes with US parts coming to Long Beach The slow drive to bring more maritime equipment manufacturing to the US has received a small boost with a crane order from MSC’s terminal division that will include US-made components. Go to journal of commerce

Ocean carriers cut capacity to arrest Golden Week rate slide After initially holding back on blank sailings, carriers have announced additional capacity withdrawals to match the slowing demand ahead of Oct. 1, when Chinese factories close for eight days for the National Day holiday. Go to journal of commerce

UP-NS merger could extend West Coast market share reach The proposed creation of a transcontinental railroad could allow West Coast port to better compete for Asia cargo destined for markers east of Chicago, writes Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi. Go to journal of commerce

US shippers expand use of private fleets despite low truck rates Supply chain control, not just cost, is the priority for shippers that have built up in-house truck fleets and increasingly are using them for more than outbound deliveries. Go to journal of commerce

LA-LB likely to work with regulator on emissions-cutting plan for ports The more cooperative approach recommended by a committee of the South Coast Air Quality Management District means the ports and their stakeholders would not need to limit cargo volumes each year to achieve emission reductions goals. Go to journal of commerce

Red Sea, Panama Canal led to poorer port performance in 2024: World Bank The annual report on global port performance shows almost universally weaker scores due to vessel delays and reroutings, but some terminal operators helped a few ports buck the trend. Go to journal of commerce

Major rail union backs UP-NS merger after job-protection deal The about-face from SMART-TD, which had initially opposed the $85 billion transaction over fears of job losses, makes regulatory approval of the merger far more likely. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM acquires UK intermodal specialist Freightliner The takeover will add the UK’s largest maritime intermodal service provider to the carrier’s rapidly expanding logistics portfolio. Go to journal of commerce

South China supply chains brace for year’s strongest typhoon Super typhoon Ragasa is the 19th named storm to hit the region this year, with container terminals shutting down and airlines preparing to ground flights from Tuesday night. Go to journal of commerce

Truckload carriers capturing more LTL shipments: FedEx Freight Excess capacity and lower rates are drawing some LTL freight into the truckload sector, helping to depress overall LTL volumes, FedEx quarterly results indicate. Go to journal of commerce

Tariff-linked trade downturn keeps India-US ocean rates sliding Forwarders said capacity utilization for USEC sailings out of West India has fallen to between 60% to 70% from the 80% to 90% level normally seen for the premier networks. Go to journal of commerce

Rate variations by trade reward ‘nimble’ ocean carriers Carriers that can take the most advantage of opportunities in a tight charter market are those whose fleets of small to mid-sized ships are already big or rapidly growing, and thus have the buffer to pounce on opportunities, writes Jeremy Masters. Go to journal of commerce

Highway buys freight marketplace to accelerate load board rollout A frenzy of acquisition activity in the truckload market continued this week with software provider Highway buying Newtrul, a marketplace founded to compete with DAT and Truckstop.com. Go to journal of commerce

BigLift, CY Shipping order two new deck carriers to boost joint fleet The latest orders come as the heavy-lift shipping sector is facing a mixed outlook in the energy industry, which has been one of its traditional cargo streams. Go to journal of commerce

Brazil’s Santos readies development of South America’s largest box terminal The terminal would cement the port’s status as the biggest gateway in South America, boosting its annual container capacity by almost 60% and allowing it to handle 20,000-TEUs ships, many of those from Asia. Go to journal of commerce

Ocean carrier order book dominated by LNG-capable ships: Bimco LNG is the current alternative fuel of choice for ocean carriers that see greater potential to scale up its production to supply the fast-growing dual-fuel fleet. Go to journal of commerce

Shipping experts warn of ‘disaster’ if IMO’s net-zero framework voted down Should US attempts to derail the measure be successful, a global approach to putting a price on carbon emissions will be abandoned and replaced with uncoordinated regional and national measures, the experts say. Go to journal of commerce

Yang Ming signs $1.4 billion upgraded ship order for 16,000-TEU vessels Yang Ming said the ships will be the first LNG dual-fuel container vessels in Taiwan to feature specifications allowing them to be converted to ammonia dual-fuel propulsion. Go to journal of commerce

Indian drayage strike at Mundra, Kandla ports ends Local carrier and forwarder sources expressed relief that the truck strike ended before it had become a crisis extending beyond the two ports. Go to journal of commerce

Cosco says no changes to US services as new port fees approach While the new fees “may pose certain operational challenges,” Cosco said it does not plan to remove any trans-Pacific services, reduce its US ship deployment, or impose new surcharges to cover the fees. Go to journal of commerce

US tariffs to keep Panama Canal transits below capacity in 2026: ACP The waterway has the capacity to handle 36 daily transits, but ACP Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales told a media briefing the average is projected to land at only 33 next year. Go to journal of commerce