For the past six months, container shipping companies have rerouted cargo around Africa to avoid Houthi rebel attacks in the Red Sea, bypassing the Suez Canal. What once seemed unlikely is now the norm, impacting industry capacity and causing outbound Asia rates to soar. Despite the possibility of a Gaza-Israel ceasefire, the Houthi rebels have […]
Incident Overview Three months ago, on March 26, the container ship Dali lost power and collided with a support pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge, causing its collapse. The disaster resulted in the deaths of six construction workers, partial obstruction of Baltimore’s shipping channel until June, and the loss of one of the city’s […]
On Monday, Yang Ming Marine Transport reported that the early peak shipping season shows no signs of slowing, with initial volumes for the third quarter exceeding last year’s levels due to robust demand from US and European consumers. Despite this, Taiwan’s second-largest ocean carrier remains cautious about the overall outlook for the second half of […]
On June 18, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) initiated an investigation to assess whether the Ocean Carrier Equipment Management Association (OCEMA) and its members are adhering to a decision made earlier this year. This decision established the rights of shippers and truckers to choose chassis providers for merchant haulage in four major U.S. markets. The […]
As the Federal Reserve and the U.S. economy report positive news on inflation, a major concern arises in global trade: rising freight rates. Forecasts suggest ocean cargo prices could reach $20,000, potentially hitting the COVID-era peak of $30,000, and remain high into 2025. Spot ocean freight rates from the Far East to the U.S. increased […]
Refrigerated cargo shippers are experiencing increased booking lead times to secure onboard space, facing similar delays and congestion issues as dry cargo shippers, according to carriers and forwarders. These challenges are particularly severe for Asian export cargoes. In Brazil, a combination of equipment shortages, congestion, and port projects critically impacts refrigerated import and export shipments. […]
Expectations that produce demand would increase US truck capacity this spring and summer, thereby driving up truckload rates, are fading. US shippers and importers are finding an ample supply of trucks ready to transport produce as the fruit and vegetable growing season ramps up. For the week ending June 11, the US Department of Agriculture […]
Beginning August 1, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will implement new requirements for dogs entering the United States, as announced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Field Operations. Requirements for dogs entering the U.S.: Dogs must appear healthy upon arrival. Dogs must be at least six months old. […]
Commercial shipping traffic at the Port of Baltimore is anticipated to return to normal levels next month following the channel’s complete reopening this week, which marked the first time since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in March. “I’ve been waiting to say this every day for the last 11 weeks: Maryland, the Fort McHenry […]
In May, a significant milestone in global trade efficiency was celebrated with the deployment of the Electronic Certification System (eCERT) in the Republic of Korea. This innovative system is transforming the way trade documents are processed and authenticated, setting a new standard for global trade efficiency. eCERT represents a collaborative effort between government and industry […]
