Asia-U.S. container rates had held firm at a record high since September. Now they’re on the move again — and headed even higher.
A look back at 2020’s shipping roller coaster: how container sector emerged as ‘surprise rock star’ and tankers peaked early, then plunged.
Container imports far exceed sales, raising concerns that 2020’s transport binge could lead to a big headache in 2021.
Container flows into U.S. ports have grown faster over the past three months than they have at any other time in the past decade.
Vaccine distribution won’t delay deliveries of your Honey Baked Ham and toilet paper, says CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco.
Ocean carriers toed the line on capacity control in 2020. What does this new normal mean to shippers, yards and leasing companies?
The trans-Pacific surge will persist through Q1 and January could see all-time-high container volumes, predicts Flexport’s Nerijus Poskus.
“This is one of the most difficult seasons we’ve been facing trying to move our cargo out of the United States,” says a California almond producer.
Trans-Pacific spot index rates haven’t budged from the same peak band for the past 10 weeks. How is this possible in a competitive free market?
Container shipping stocks are back to pre-COVID levels whereas many tanker and bulker stocks are down by double-digits year-to-date.
There will be no letup in booming container imports in 2020. The only question now is how long it lasts into 2021.
The pandemic is driving people to drink more. Bulk ocean shipments of wine in flexitanks are up 30% this year.
Panama Canal congestion is not impeding transits of container ships but it is pumping up spot rates for LNG and LPG carriers.
The total market capitalization of U.S.-listed ocean shipping stocks has plunged 34% in 2020, but there are reasons for hope in 2021.
Bulk soybean and corn exports are way up, but containerized ag exports are waylaid by equipment shortfalls and Chinese inspections.
As COVID hospitalizations surge and business restrictions mount, could U.S. importers be overshooting the mark?
Maersk confirms that cargo demand looks strong through year-end, bucking the usual seasonal trend.
Hapag-Lloyd sees strength until “at least Chinese New Year” and a challenge to “get containers where they need to be.”
There are not enough containers in China to handle all the U.S.-bound cargo — and box factories are now sold out into Q2.
Freight forwarder guides customers through online shopping shift and transport capacity choke points.
The one-two punch of the Pfizer vaccine and Joe Biden’s victory will affect container and tanker shipping in multiple ways.
U.S.-listed carrier reveals the latest on trans-Pacific holiday rush, restocking, e-commerce spike and port congestion.
The trans-Pacific market is bursting at the seams as shippers rush in holiday cargoes.
A half-dozen basic physical characteristics of ocean containers should be considered before shippers or their packers stuff them.
What happens next at the IMO will affect oceangoing ship capacity — and freight rates — for decades to come.
More recovery signals: container lease pricing up over 50% versus second quarter, new container prices up 40% year-to-date.
On a collision course: holiday timing, surging consumer demand, thin inventories, and capacity constraints for container liners and ports.
Cargo mix and larger locks kept Panama Canal volumes rising despite headwinds.
A “blue sweep” win for Democrats could be good for container ships, bad for tankers.
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission will consider a change in its regulations that would allow filing of service contracts up to 30 days from the agreement’s effective date.
Listed carriers are poised to post stellar third-quarter numbers on higher rates and volumes.
‘Get ready for the biggest restocking cycle on record,’ says Jefferies.
U.S. Federal Maritime Commission anticipates COVID-19 impact on U.S. supply chain to continue into the first half of 2021.
As NYSHEX expands and Maersk Spot nears U.S. approval, ocean transport contracts could become more binding.
Marine fuel prices are down 30% year-on-year despite the IMO 2020 regulation.
Analysts point to upside prospects for container-ship stocks as charter rates rebound.
China could decide enough is enough if trans-Pacific rates rise too high.
FreightWaves CEO and Director of Freight
New Panjiva survey reveals extent of coronavirus fallout on global supply chains.
The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America said its members are tired of ocean carriers charging them hundreds of dollars over their service contract rates.
COVID-19 may have disrupted supply chains but not the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission’s regulatory and policy focus on ocean container shipping, FMC chairman says.
As prosecutors rack up guilty pleas in 2019 case, more coke crosses via ship from South America to Europe in 2020.
New ocean container floor design developed and tested by the Institute of International Container Lessors over the past 10 years reduces wood use by up to 45%.
U.S. importers now paying three times more per mile than Europeans for transport of Chinese goods.
CMA CGM bonds that traded at 55 cents on the dollar in March are now trading near par.
McKinsey warns that global shocks will become more frequent and shippers must improve the resiliency of their supply chains.
Layoffs loom. Maersk maintains changes are not about cutting costs amid COVID, but about improving service.
Direct ChassisLink has added 1,000 new chassis to the Gulf Coast region since its departure from the OCEMA Gulf Consolidated Chassis Pool earlier this year.
U.S. importers turn to Chinese sellers in the wake of COVID.
Good news: Ocean volumes are recovering from COVID.
New normal for container shipping: active capacity management and digital spot bookings.
COVID-19 could ignite geopolitical clashes and cause “meltdown” in U.S. consumer demand.
Asia-U.S. ocean freight rates are hitting record highs as import demand outpaces vessel supply.
Containers are used to carry imports to the U.S., but they also carry exports from the U.S. The agriculture industry depends on them, but COVID-19 has caused the system to fray…
Ports on the Atlantic are losing imports from Europe as well as Asia.
New data reveals just how far ship orders have sunk. The fewer ships ordered, the higher future rates could climb.
Darren Prokop’s commentary concerns whether price gouging is taking place on container shipping between Asian ports and the U.S.
A new interview with AgTC’s Peter Friedmann on how China COVID fears affect U.S. food exports.
U.S. shippers importing cargo from Asia are getting some price relief.
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission enters “phase two” of its fact-finding investigation into COVID-19 impacts on container shipping in the Port of New York and New Jersey.
Lori Ann LaRocco illustrates the disruption to global trade by profiling what has happened at the Port of Miami since the coronavirus pandemic began.
“Optics” are bad but freight pricing doesn’t appear to meet regulatory bar for intervention.
Shipboard COVID cases will make it even harder to roll back travel restrictions that block crew changes.
E-commerce and coronavirus fallout are buoying container services from Asia to the West Coast.
For years, exporters and importers have been frustrated by the former U.S. Customs and Border Protection process to withhold their names and addresses in manifest data from the public.
By artificially restricting capacity, carrier alliances have engineered rates higher and may book a profit this year.
New court documents shed light on a shipboard drug ring.
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission has rolled out guidance on how the ocean shipping industry can collaboratively improve the flow of containers among ocean carriers, marine terminals, shippers and drayage truckers in San Pedro Bay during COVID-19 and beyond.
New data reveals third-quarter ocean schedules still largely intact — a positive sign on cargo bookings.
Ships could be idled as thousands of seafarers refuse contract extensions.
Global trade could be the next casualty if the virus resurges, warns OECD.
COVID effects far from over, but more positive news on the trans-Pacific.
An exclusive interview with Sea-Intelligence CEO Alan Murphy on how canceled sailings can signal future demand.
Move aimed at preventing possible container transportation emergency.
What the war of words between the U.S. and China means to ocean shipping.
Operator of Staten Island terminal spurned by container giant is not giving up without a fight.
Fewer sailings will be canceled starting in July but that won’t help restock shelves in June.
U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner Rebecca Dye said Fact Finding 29’s work will help the American ocean shipping industry better prepare the supply chain for the post-virus economic recovery.
An exclusive interview with Deutsche Bank’s Amit Mehrotra on what COVID-19 means to transport stocks.
Supply chain management solutions provider project44 said it has shippers covered no matter where and how their cargo is transported throughout the world.
“Nowcasting” platform uses ship-tracking data to detect coronavirus fallout.
World’s largest box carrier expects capacity cuts to mitigate volume downside.
As ships sail full in May, the hope is that fewer 3Q sailings get the ax.
New data from eeSea reveals that U.S. ports will see capacity plunge by up to 20% this month.
Liners could scrape bottom over next two months, then recover.
Industry sage Martin Stopford dives deep into the future of global trade.
Judge gives Maersk go-ahead to jump ship from GCT terminal in Staten Island.
Service contract negotiations between container carriers and shippers are being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission says.
IHS Markit’s Paul Bingham predicts sustained 2020 weakness and higher long-term costs.
Maersk plans sudden switch from Staten Island to New Jersey. The Staten Island terminal is fighting back.
Here it comes: Ports will soon feel full force of canceled box-ship sailings.
Big April gains at Southern California container terminals are deceiving.
Pandemic yet to heavily impact Caribbean container transshipment but fallout looms.
Pandemic pressures on tourism, oil and textiles squeeze Caribbean cargo demand.
World’s second-largest box carrier resolves its website woes.
Good news for box carriers: Freight rates haven’t collapsed. Bad news: Volumes have.
Website and the online booking platform of MSC have gone offline but fallout appears contained.
Cargo flows face worst hit in a century but have potential to bounce back fast.
No collapse yet for ocean container spot rates. In fact, they’re up.
Plunging demand on land has yet to be fully felt by ocean shipping
Join us as we explore how to make disruptions a thing of the past and look at emerging trends.
