Tag: journal of commerce

TPM26: War a problem for container shipping, but not ‘pandemic-scale’: analyst While of concern to shippers and ocean carriers, the global impact of the war in the Middle East on container flows will be less severe than COVID-19 disruptions and Red Sea diversions, Lars Jensen told TPM26. Go to journal of commerce

Intercontinental Exchange to launch container freight futures in April The push to launch futures contracts for container shipping has gained momentum in recent years given the seemingly never-ending volatility and disruption in the market. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM adds direct India-USWC string as part of Asia network overhaul The new express service comes amid expectations of a rebound in capacity demand with the easing of tariffs between the two countries and ongoing trade negotiations. Go to journal of commerce

Industry stakeholders don’t see regulators rubber-stamping UP-NS deal While the White House has signaled support and Republicans hold a majority on the US Surface Transportation Board, opposition has surfaced that has many believing the $85 billion merger is not necessarily a done deal. Go to journal of commerce

TPM26: Empty boxes pose structural challenge for Europe’s busy ports A sharp increase in imports from Asia, declining back-haul volume, and congestion delaying the return of empties are slowing down the repatriation of equipment back to Asia. Go to journal of commerce

TPM26: Europe’s persistent port congestion won’t be remedied by short-term fixes The bottlenecks are rippling through Asia-Europe supply chains, undermining vessel schedule reliability, disrupting inventory positioning, and ultimately influencing freight rates, according to Drewry. Go to journal of commerce

EPCs bank on growing demand for fossil fuels, tech projects Engineering, procurement and construction companies, key shippers of project cargo, are expecting an uptick in business in 2026. Go to journal of commerce

Middle East transshipment options to emerge in the coming days: DHL CEO Tobias Meyer said companies are starting to consider offloading Asia export cargo at ports in the Indian subcontinent for eventual onward shipment into the Gulf region, but it has not yet emerged as a trend. Go to journal of commerce

Middle East war slows trans-Pacific service contract talks further Three ocean carriers told the Journal of Commerce they could not commit to contract volume allocations with customers until there was greater clarity on how long the hostilities would last. Go to journal of commerce

TPM26: US trucking crackdown likely to have delayed impact on drayage sector The Trump administration’s move against non-English-speaking drivers and non-domiciled commercial driver’s license holders could hit the drayage sector, but only after it trickles down from other parts of the trucking industry, experts say. Go to journal of commerce

BIMCO expresses caution over Trump’s Persian Gulf shipping insurance offer While resuming the movement of vessels in the war zone is important, the shipping group says the president’s offer needs clarification. Go to journal of commerce

Middle East war puts trans-Pacific service contract talks in limbo Four ocean carriers told the Journal of Commerce they could not commit to contract volume allocations with customers until there was greater clarity on how long the hostilities would last. Go to journal of commerce

TPM26: Volatile US trade policy undermines exporters: AgTC The head of the Agriculture Transportation Coalition says US ag shippers face a plethora of changing tariffs and other measures that undermine their ability to tap overseas markets. Go to journal of commerce

TPM26: Stakeholders put UP-NS merger proposal under the microscope Those who would be affected by the proposed $85 billion transaction either directly or indirectly had plenty to say about the matter during the first TPM26 conference since the deal was announced. Go to journal of commerce

TPM26: Iran conflict puts new risk on US economic growth: Yellen  The ex-US Treasury Secretary said consumers could pull back on spending should crude oil and gasoline prices remain aloft due to the latest attacks on Iran by the US and Israel. Go to journal of commerce

TPM26: Unpredictability the ‘operating model’ for Trump administration: economist The global chief economist for S&P Global Ratings told TPM26 the uncertainties that come with current White House policies are part of the mix when formulating economic forecasts. Go to journal of commerce

TPM26: Middle East conflict to ripple across global trade lanes: industry experts As the war launched by the US and Israel against Iran extends into its third day, about 10% of the global container shipping fleet remains stranded inside the Persian Gulf or held up outside. Go to journal of commerce

TPM26: Shipping waits for Houthi reaction to US/Israeli attacks on Iran An expert on Yemen told TPM26 the leadership of the Tehran-backed militant group appears to be split on how best to respond to the attacks on Iran that began over the weekend. Go to journal of commerce

Carriers pause India-Middle East cargo bookings amid Persian Gulf port chaos  While reefer trade is at the center of carrier booking suspensions because of its time-sensitive nature, many mainline carriers have put a stop to all Middle East shipments until further notice. Go to journal of commerce

Truckload capacity index moves up as large US carriers shuffle assets Cuts to traditional one-way service have been balanced by additional capacity in dedicated, specialized fleets. Go to journal of commerce

MSC downgrades India-Europe/Med network amid transshipment cargo lift woes The move comes as transshipment cargo handling declines are expected at Indian ports following a recent government decision to revoke the cabotage waiver that foreign-flag carriers have enjoyed since 2018. Go to journal of commerce

Shipping avoids Middle East region after US, Israel begin strikes on Iran The US has established a maritime warning zone, effectively placing the region out of bounds to shipping, while airlines have suspended passenger and freighter flights across the Middle East. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM to launch standalone Japan-Europe express service in April The new service comes as cargo owners are facing a drop in direct connections between Japan and the main markets of Europe and North America. Go to journal of commerce

Federal court dismisses ILA complaint over Virginia rail cranes Even if the terminal operator arm of the Virginia Port Authority violated the terms of its contract with the International Longshoremen’s Association, the VPA’s influence did not violate national labor law, the court said in its ruling. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd to reroute some March sailings away from Red Sea/Suez Separate statements from the Gemini partners said “unforeseen constraints” prompted the moves, which come as the US weighs a possible military strike on Iran. Go to journal of commerce

Gemini partners unveil revamp of some Asia services to Europe, Med Five services are covered by the adjustments, which are being made to give “stronger market coverage and faster products,” on the trades, Hapag-Lloyd said. Go to journal of commerce

Wind OEMs pin hopes on data center energy demands amid US setbacks Onshore wind and AI energy support offer twin strands of positivity for wind shippers operating in the US despite the Trump administration’s battle against renewable energy. Go to journal of commerce

After Hapag-Zim deal, Premier Alliance may be next in the spotlight Premier Alliance carriers may not have the most chips in the game, but in a world where all the alliances are competing to provide the best product, they can inject some very useful capacity to enhance particular trade lanes, writes Jeremy Masters. Go to…

Rotterdam congestion limits benefit of second-half surge in imports Europe’s largest port handled 14.2 million TEUs during what was described by its CEO as “a challenging year” set against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions. Go to journal of commerce

Zim deal offers Hapag-Lloyd entry into niche car carrier market   Hapag could leverage Zim-owned Gold Star Line’s ready-made ro/ro fleet to expand its offering in the breakbulk market, but overcapacity provides potential headwinds. Go to journal of commerce

WiseTech says to cut nearly 30% of workforce as it preps for AI era The widely used freight forwarding software vendor said artificial intelligence is enabling it to reduce staff in roles that include programming, product development and customer service. Go to journal of commerce

IEEPA tariff decision prompts flood of correction tools for refunds, customs entries A number of forwarders and software vendors are providing products, often for free, to help shippers and customs brokers calculate refunds they may have coming following Friday’s Supreme Court ruling. Go to journal of commerce

India-Europe spot rates climb on seasonal booking demand, tighter capacity Forwarders say reefer-centric Indian grape exports combined with sporadic vessel schedule disruptions have enabled carriers to adjust rates upward on the trade lane. Go to journal of commerce

Jeremy Nixon to step down as ONE CEO after eight years at the helm Nixon, one of the most recognized executives in container shipping, led the transformation of legacy Japanese carriers K Line, MOL and NYK into a unified global company based in Singapore. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk, MSC units begin interim management of Panama Canal terminals APMT and TiL will operate the Balboa and Cristobal terminals, respectively, for 18 months while Panama’s government considers how best to award long-term contracts after nullifying the 28-year concession held by CK Hutchison. Go to journal of commerce

No clear path to get IMO’s net-zero framework over the line: industry experts Whatever measure is ultimately agreed to by member states, decarbonization experts agree the IMO’s revised emissions reduction targets set in 2023 will need to be pushed back. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd inks new sustainable biofuel deal with DSV The forwarder has contracted a total of 18,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emission reductions on a well-to-wake basis that will be derived through the carrier’s Ship Green product. Go to journal of commerce

Zim acquisition sets up network changes for Gemini: Sea-Intelligence Hapag-Lloyd said it wants to integrate Zim into the alliance with Maersk, but adding new ports and overlapping coverage means changes to services. Go to journal of commerce

Asia to dominate global wind cargo market through end of the decade A record number of wind farm installations in 2025 has set the tone for accelerated year-over-year demand growth for wind components, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd’s deal for Zim won’t fix challenges facing container shipping The $4.2 billion acquisition announced last week does nothing to alter the market’s weak fundamentals, notably soft demand and vessel oversupply, writes analyst John McCauley. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd set to grow its intra-Asia network through Zim’s Gold Star Line Gold Star has a network of 20 China-centric liner services operated by 40 owned and chartered ships totaling 100,000 TEUs serving Asia, India and South Africa. Go to journal of commerce

Trump administration seeks to undo court rulings favoring offshore wind projects In the wake of several successful appeals that crimped Donald Trump’s executive order banning new projects, wind developers are racing against the clock to complete work as quickly as possible. Go to journal of commerce

CargoSprint acquires key appointment scheduling tool for LA-LB dray carriers Dray Dog is predominantly used by large drayage carriers serving the Southern California ports and handles a significant portion of appointments made at the 11 Los Angeles and Long Beach marine terminals. Go to journal of commerce

US Supreme Court rules against Trump in critical IEEPA tariff case The 6-3 decision by the nation’s highest court to declare as illegal the global tariffs implemented by the US since last April’s so-called “Liberation Day” is likely to throw the Trump administration’s tariff policy into disarray. Go to journal of commerce

Ocean carrier on-time arrivals tumbled in January: Xeneta While Gemini Cooperation continues to top the industry’s schedule reliability, even its resilient network was not immune to deteriorating operational factors last month, notably severe weather in the North Atlantic. Go to journal of commerce

Trans-Pacific carriers, importers slow-walking service contract negotiations Retailers are holding back on signing their 2026-27 service contracts because they anticipate spot rates may sink further in the next few weeks, while carriers hold out hope market fundamentals will emerge to reverse the softening trend. Go to journal of commerce

Truckload shippers look to minimize growing regulatory risks Asset-based carriers offer a layer of security for shippers concerned with the English language proficiency of drivers and non-domiciled CDL regulatory compliance, but it doesn’t eliminate the risk fully. Go to journal of commerce

Trucking executives buoyed by market signals as winter exit nears If trucking rates remain elevated into the spring, carriers will likely move to push prices higher on new and existing contracts in the second half of the year. Go to journal of commerce

Southern California imports ‘return to trend’ after lengthy period of turbulence The monthly year-on-year decline in import TEUs landing in Los Angeles and Long Beach over the past half-year isn’t a cargo swoon, but rather a return to normalcy, according to Larry Gross. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk to upsize India-USEC capacity to tap post-trade deal cargo growth   The carrier has finalized plans to inject significant incremental westbound capacity into the market on its “MECL” service, multiple industry sources told the Journal of Commerce. Go to journal of commerce

Growing energy cargo demand brings higher compliance burden As volumes of new energy generation and storage technologies increase, shippers expect more documentation, transparency and greater control over risk, according to project forwarders and carriers. Go to journal of commerce

Greater capacity control needs hinder ocean reliability efforts The success of container lines in keeping vessel utilization high by removing functional capacity weakens the network and ups volatility in ocean reliability. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM inks order for six dual-fuel LNG ships with India yard CEO Rodolphe Saadé said the deal deepened a strategic partnership between the carrier and India that has existed for almost 40 years, adding the liner would also expand its engagement in container manufacturing and ship recycling. Go to journal of commerce

Surging China auto exports to counter carrier overcapacity fears: Wilhelmsen CEO China export forecasts could top 8 million vehicles this year, providing a steady flow of cargo for the expected 8% increase in the global ro/ro fleet. Go to journal of commerce

Real-time chassis location becoming competitive edge in leasing A heavily oversupplied equipment market born out of the pandemic disruption is forcing chassis providers to ensure visibility technology plays a growing role as a differentiator. Go to journal of commerce

Shipping decarbonization drive faces patchwork of carbon tax measures Fragmented regional greenhouse gas regulatory frameworks such as the EU ETS have increased the complexity of operating a global network and will be difficult to navigate, observers say. Go to journal of commerce

Zim deal to strengthen Hapag-Lloyd’s market share across key trade lanes The increase in volume that would result across the trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific corridors was particularly welcome, according to Hapag-Lloyd’s CEO. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd’s plan to acquire Zim would deepen shipping oligopoly The acquisition, if approved, would solidify the Hamburg-based ocean carrier among the five largest container lines by capacity. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd bolsters fleet with $4.2 billion deal to acquire Zim The acquisition is expected to be completed this year, and will strengthen the combined network on the trans-Pacific, intra-Asia, the Atlantic, Latin America, and East Mediterranean while bringing up to $500 million in synergies, Hapag-Lloyd’s CEO said. Go to journal of commerce

Trump administration unveils US maritime revitalization ‘action plan’ The wide-ranging plan includes proposals to tax foreign-built ships calling US ports, rebuild domestic shipbuilding capacity, and eliminate “burdensome regulations” through a series of deregulatory measures. Go to journal of commerce

Ocean Alliance, ONE rework trans-Atlantic services, remove ships North and South Atlantic loops from Northern European to the US will consolidate to one East Coast-wide service, with a Baltimore call dropped and fewer overall vessels used. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk, Eurogate plan $1.2 billion terminal upgrade at Bremerhaven The investment will strengthen the Gemini hub’s position and increase capacity at the joint venture terminal by more than 30% to 4 million TEUs. Go to journal of commerce

Departure of DP World CEO welcomed by Canadian ports partner Quebec-based investment manager La Caisse earlier this week said it would put its future investments with DP World on hold until the company addressed Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein. Go to journal of commerce

New truckload capacity product provides another load board option for brokers The product launched this week by Triumph, called Capacity Intelligence, allows brokers to identify lanes where it needs a deeper pool of reliable carriers. Go to journal of commerce

Rapid pace of AI development suggests shippers should be patient Shippers would be wise to offload the pain of building AI proficiency to their logistics providers until the benefits become clearer. Go to journal of commerce

Reversal in US clean energy investment signals shift in project cargo momentum Canceled renewable energy projects in the US totaled $35 billion in 2025 as more project funds left the country than came in amid the federal government’s shifting policies to prioritize fossil fuels. Go to journal of commerce

Scrapping strategy looms large in 2026 as carriers manage growing oversupply Downward pressure on rates is set to continue with just over 1 million TEUs of capacity via ships above 10,000 TEUs scheduled to be delivered this year. Go to journal of commerce

DP World’s financial partner hits pause over CEO’s ties to Epstein La Caisse, a major infrastructure fund and co-investor with DP World, said it wants clarity from the ports operator about Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem’s relationship with the convicted sex trafficker after messages between the two men became public this week. Go to journal of…

STG Logistics survives key bankruptcy hurdle to remain in business The fourth-largest US domestic intermodal provider has received additional funding and now must focus on meeting revenue and expenditure targets through the second quarter. Go to journal of commerce

Gemini schedule reliability shows sum greater than its parts: Xeneta   Xeneta’s “Schedule Reliability Scorecard” for 2025 showed Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are more reliable under Gemini than in standalone services, while other alliances showed uneven performance among partners. Go to journal of commerce

GPA names next CEO as Savannah readies for new growth phase Kevin Price, president of the port’s stevedoring services company Gateway Terminals, will join GPA in July as president and then add the CEO’s role in mid-2027. Go to journal of commerce

HMM profitability falls as carrier warns of growing supply-demand imbalance The 2025 result follows a familiar trend seen across the full-year financials reported so far by Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd and Ocean Network Express as the industry moves into an overcapacity-driven downcycle. Go to journal of commerce

Colombo expands box capacity as regional hub competition intensifies  Equipped with 12 quay cranes capable of handling ultra-large container ships, the expansion allows the East Container Terminal to handle 3 million TEUs annually at full speed. Go to journal of commerce

Fourth-quarter rate slump drags down Hapag-Lloyd’s 2025 financials The carrier reported a steep drop in profitability as declining rates combined with higher costs of rerouting ships around southern Africa and startup expenses for the Gemini network. Go to journal of commerce

NY-NJ port readying to guide terminals on truck appointment systems But the recommendations will not include guidance on handling empty container returns, as port stakeholders see it as a separate issue. Go to journal of commerce

UP, J.B. Hunt voted best intermodal providers in H2 ‘25: JOC survey Overall, more than 90% of respondents participating in the latest Journal of Commerce Intermodal Service Scorecard were satisfied with domestic intermodal service between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2025. Go to journal of commerce

Bangladesh boxes begin to move as Chittagong port workers suspend strike The entire port workforce had walked off the job almost two weeks ago to protest a government decision to lease the port’s busiest terminal to DP World. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk widens deployment options with order for ‘flexible’ new ships The new vessels are shorter and narrower than most 400-meter megaships that are mostly confined to the Asia-Europe trade, giving the carrier more deployment options across its global network. Go to journal of commerce

MPV carriers emphatic on no resumption of Suez transits under current conditions Ship operators say a return to the Red Sea hinges on broad shipper acceptance across multi-shipper voyages, according to a survey conducted by One World Shipbrokers. Go to journal of commerce

Key inland rail terminals battle post-storm congestion, driver complaints While linehaul performance has largely returned to normal for US Class I railroads, delays and bottlenecks triggered by the severe winter storm two weeks ago have now moved downstream to terminals in Chicago, Cincinnati and Memphis. Go to journal of commerce

Maher’s next buyer faces billions in upgrades, decisions on capacity The likely sale this year of the Port of New York and New Jersey’s largest marine terminal portends possible changes to how it will be operated in the long run. Go to journal of commerce

Australia’s VICT extends terminal concession at Port of Melbourne to 2066 The subsidiary of Manila-headquartered International Container Terminal Services said the agreement extends the lease expiration from 2040 to 2066. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk to reorganize logistics segment as profit margins fall short again The move to split Logistics and Services into three product segments reflects the sensitivities around a division that underpins the carrier’s integrated end-to-end strategy launched in 2017. Go to journal of commerce

Polish trade group hits out at ‘unequal rules’ for Chinese e-commerce platforms The digital trade body argues that online sellers outside the EU were able to scale rapidly by exploiting gaps in customs and regulatory enforcement that European businesses could not legally replicate. Go to journal of commerce

Shippers look inland to move swelling project cargo demand Inland water transport offers a lower-emission alternative routing for out-of-gauge cargoes, with cost-efficiency, lower energy consumption, and fewer accidents among other advantages. Go to journal of commerce

NY-NJ port’s stricter absentee policy results in first longshore cuts  Marine terminals are using the new longshore contract to tackle one of the port’s recurring problems, with the union’s support, as they look to boost efficiency at the biggest port along the US East Coast. Go to journal of commerce

NY-NJ port’s stricter absentee policy results in first longshore cuts  Marine terminals are using the new longshore contract to tackle one of the port’s recurring problems, with the union’s support, as they look to boost efficiency at the biggest port along the US East Coast. Go to journal of commerce

Disruptive winter weather in US jolts spot truck rates to big gains The shock in spot market rates after the recent snowstorm and frigid temperatures has rivaled the severe winter weather of February 2021, which kickstarted an entire year of rising rates on shippers. Go to journal of commerce

Disruptive winter weather in US jolts spot truck rates to big gains The shock in spot market rates after the recent snowstorm and frigid temperatures has rivaled the severe winter weather of February 2021, which kickstarted an entire year of rising rates on shippers. Go to journal of commerce

India advances launch of state container line after cabotage rule rewind New Delhi has formed a consortium of six state-owned entities to push ahead with a plan to launch a large nationally-owned container carrier, to be known as the Bharat Container Shipping Line. Go to journal of commerce

India advances launch of state container line after cabotage rule rewind New Delhi has formed a consortium of six state-owned entities to push ahead with a plan to launch a large nationally-owned container carrier, to be known as the Bharat Container Shipping Line. Go to journal of commerce

‘Lumpy’ project cargo demand to lead to two-tier MPV market Power generation cargoes are on the rise amid surging demand linked to data centers, but cargo generated by oil projects will be on shakier ground in 2026. Go to journal of commerce

‘Lumpy’ project cargo demand to lead to two-tier MPV market Power generation cargoes are on the rise amid surging demand linked to data centers, but cargo generated by oil projects will be on shakier ground in 2026. Go to journal of commerce

Gemini benefits face looming challenge from oversupplied market: Maersk CEO The carrier’s solid interim earnings through 2025 ensured a positive full-year result, but red ink made its first appearance in two years on the company’s quarterly balance sheet. Go to journal of commerce

Gemini benefits face looming challenge from oversupplied market: Maersk CEO The carrier’s solid interim earnings through 2025 ensured a positive full-year result, but red ink made its first appearance in two years on the company’s quarterly balance sheet. Go to journal of commerce

DSV moves to transform its business as Schenker integration accelerates Absorbing its largest and most complex takeover to date was initially expected to take at least two years to complete, but will now be fully wrapped 20 months after the DB Schenker acquisition closed. Go to journal of commerce

Charleston slows railyard development amid insufficient shipper demand Charleston’s total rail lifts for 2025 were about one-quarter of the planned capacity of Navy Base Intermodal Facility, prompting the port’s CEO to reset capital spending plans. Go to journal of commerce

Atlantic storms force terminals in Western Mediterranean to close again Just days after last week’s storm shut terminals and disrupted shipping schedules, Maersk warned that weather in the region has “deteriorated beyond initial expectations.” Go to journal of commerce

Tariffs claim another victim on the trans-Pacific: the pre-CNY cargo surge Sources say sustained weak market fundamentals have caused this year to be atypical in terms of demand in the immediate run-up to Lunar New Year, which begins Feb. 17. Go to journal of commerce

Labor strike at Chittagong Port cripples Bangladesh container flows Multiple local sources told the Journal of Commerce the escalating unrest that entered its fifth day Wednesday has brought all port operations, including vessel berthing and cargo clearance, to a halt.  Go to journal of commerce