Another rail strike in Germany to add to European freight troubles

By Nick Savvides 24/03/2023 A rail strike in Germany on Monday is expected to cause delays and rail freight disruptions, with freight forwarders and shippers calling for flexibility on timings to help the movement of goods, with more disruptions in France also expected. The latest action follows a port pilots’ strike, which ended this morning, and disruption […]

FedEx readjusts air network again amid sharp volume declines

Express carrier to fly fewer hours, chop older MD-11 freighters Eric Kulisch·Thursday, March 16, 2023 FedEx will reduce flight hours by more than 10% and park more aircraft this quarter because of continued low demand for parcel and freight shipping, executives said Thursday. An 8% cut in aircraft utilization, sidelining nine cargo jets and downsizing […]

Contract rates the key to liner stability, as spot prices continue to fall

By Mike Wackett 10/03/2023 The latest rate war on the transpacific and Asia-Europe tradelanes could see some ocean carriers, overly exposed to the spot market, record their first loss-making quarter since the onset of the pandemic. In a worst-case scenario, rate levels “could mimic the extreme lows of 2016”, according to Vespucci Maritime CEO Lars Jensen. That […]

Globalisation is over – ‘slowbalisation’ is the new reality

By Nick Savvides 28/02/2023 Supply chains must adapt to new realities and seismic changes to the global economy which has seen a shift from globalisation to “slowbalisation”, according to former US four-star general David Patraeus. Now chairman and partner of KKR Global Institute, Mr Patraeus opened this year’s TPM conference in Long Beach, California, with a discussion […]

Containership lay-ups continue to spike as demand slump rolls on

By Mike Wackett 23/02/2023 Ocean carriers have laid up nearly 50 containerships during the past month alone, as carryings and rates have continued to fall across their networks. According to the latest survey by Alphaliner, taken on 13 February, 366 vessels were idle, including those owned by lessors and non-operators, for a capacity of 1.6m teu, representing […]

Container Fire Continues to Burn at Port of Iskenderun

Despite reports that it has been extinguished, the container fire at the port of Iskenderun continues to burn into its second day, according to correspondents on the ground and Istanbul’s municipal administration.  The magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck southern Turkey on Monday had a significant impact on the port, toppling stacks of containers and causing […]

Truckers’ positive drug tests up 18% in 2022

Rate of increase doubled over previous year; marijuana violations up 31% John Gallagher·Thursday, January 26, 2023 The latest data from the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse reveals that drug use among commercial drivers may be at its highest level since the federal repository was set up in 2019 — but more are being cleared to drive […]

‘Don’t bet against LA’ says Port of LA’s Seroka

by Stas Margaronis Jan 20, 2023 In spite of the loss of cargo to East and Gulf coast ports and the continued stalemate in dockworker contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka is convinced his port will bounce back stating: “Don’t bet […]

New China Covid outbreaks wreak havoc on supply chains

By Sam Whelan 22/12/2022 Now China’s Covid restrictions have been relaxed, worker shortages and factory closures, due to outbreaks of the virus, are the latest disruptions to hit the country’s supply chains. The sudden about-face on zero-Covid has led to soaring cases nationwide, with hospitals “struggling to cope”, according to the SCMP. Alice Tang, China-Europe land transport planner […]

CMA CGM restricts bookings to South China through January

French liner CMA CGM has told customers it will restrict bookings for shipments due to arrive at ports in southern China in early 2023, due to a suspension of service by feeder and barge operators through January. South China and Hong Kong feeder operators have announced temporary service suspensions throughout next month, “due to Covid-19 […]