container shipping

May’s container movements at the Jacksonville port beat the previous record set in October 2019.

1986: Liberia fights to remain a leading flag of convenience as competition increases.

A year and a half after COVID emerged in Wuhan, China’s exporters, liners, shipyards and container factories are all booming.

A potential strike by Canada Border Services Agency officers threatens to disrupt the country’s supply chains. The Port of Vancouver could feel the most pain.

There has never been a better time to own container ships and lease them to liners. But some owners are selling ships and cashing out.

“The demand is still here, the demand is growing, ships are getting bigger,” says Port Houston Executive Director Roger Guenther.

Americans are spending more on services. Contrary to predictions, this has yet to curb demand for containerized goods.

Spot pricing has surged even higher, propelled by carrier rate hikes and China congestion fallout.

Container Ship Fleet Size by Nationality of Operation

Former chief mate of MSC Gayane gets seven years behind bars for lead role in massive 2019 smuggling operation.

Decision to secure dedicated vessel highlights unprecedented strength of container shipping and risks faced by importers.

Container spot rates spiked again, with new records set. For importers, the worst is yet to come.

Rising fuel costs are yet another woe for containerized cargo shippers, while widening spreads should benefit ships with scrubbers.

Consolidation in the liner sector is already extreme. Newbuild orders will further concentrate market power in fewer hands.

Congestion is cutting liner capacity just as freight rates are at all-time highs, incentivizing carriers to buy or charter more ships.

Environmental regs could extend future dry bulk and tanker upside, while consolidation could change curve of container-shipping cycle.

Retailers at increasing risk of not getting goods from Asia on shelves as ocean transport system hits limit.

Freight forwarder will pay “absolute historic high” to secure container ship as “people are panicking” amid “out of control” market.

Out of an abundance of caution, carriers like Maersk extended the suspension of vessels into the ports from May 31-June 6.

Ships at anchor are unlikely to clear by peak season. Congestion is forcing wide-scale voyage cancellations.