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What’s Causing So Many Port Strikes? It May be the Profits
Ocean carriers and some terminal operators have had a run of exceptional earnings, and dockers want a share. PUBLISHED JUL 29, 2022 9:29 PM BY BRIAN GICHERU KINYUA Besides congestion, strikes at major ports in Europe, Asia and North America have become another...
Container rates may have peaked – 280% above pre-pandemic levels
Long-term contracted ocean freight rates in the container market may have peaked, but remain 112% up on-year and 280% up on July 2019. Gary Howard | Jul 28, 2022 Data from container market intelligence outfit Xeneta showed a deceleration in the price rise of long-term...
51-Day Strike Ends as Questions of DSME’s Financial Stability Mount
PUBLISHED JUL 22, 2022 7:44 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. and the union representing subcontractors reached an agreement at the end of the day on Friday ending a 51-day strike that threatened the financial stability...
What Does the Black Sea Grain Agreement Mean for Africa?
PUBLISHED JUL 24, 2022 7:23 PM BY WANDILE SIHLOBO If Russia keeps to the deal it has signed with Ukraine allowing for the resumption of grain exports, much needed relief will be provided to importing countries, including many in Africa. The relief would be...
US exports of crude oil and diesel are climbing even higher
More diesel flows to Latin America, more crude to Europe At-the-pump prices for gasoline and diesel may be down from all-time peaks but they remain exceptionally high. Meanwhile, as domestic energy resources flow to the highest bidder, more U.S.-produced crude is...
Congestion shifts to US East Coast ports
Port congestion in the US has shifted eastwards with more vessels now waiting at New York and Houston ports than Los Angeles and Long Beach. Marcus Hand | Jul 19, 2022 Congestion at US West Coast ports hit the headlines last year as it reached record levels with...
Stark warning on European energy crunch
Oslo-based analyst, Rystad Energy, has warned that energy turmoil, caused largely by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and sanctions that followed, may cause ‘vast demand destruction across industries and consumers’ in Europe. Paul Bartlett | Jul 19, 2022 Despite support...
Biden Heads Off Rail Strike With 60-Day Cooling Off Period
PUBLISHED JUL 18, 2022 10:49 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE To head off the supply-chain impact of a railway strike, U.S. President Joe Biden has established a presidential emergency board to help resolve a labor dispute between Class I rail carriers and their...
Clearance of Snake Island Opens Route to Ukraine’s Danube River Ports
The Reni port complex on the Ukrainian side of the Danube. Reni, Izmail and Kiliya now have improved access to the Black Sea (USPA file image) PUBLISHED JUL 11, 2022 2:48 AM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Ukraine is working to revive long-idled inland ports along the...
Post-Covid container demand boom coming to an end
The post-Covid demand surge for container shipping appears to have run its course according to Drewry’s port throughput indices. Marcus Hand | Jul 11, 2022 The Drewry Global Port Throughput Index stood at 141.1 points in April 2022 some 1.5% lower than April 2021,...
Long Beach container backlog crosses red line as delays mount
Long-dwelling containers in the Port of Long Beach now up 9% vs. Oct. 28 he number of container ships waiting off Los Angeles and Long Beach is well off its highs, but the pileup of import containers waiting on Southern California terminal yards is rapidly...
Offshore ship sunk by typhoon off Hong Kong, 27 people missing UPDATE
Jul 2 1500 UTC UPDATE: The ship is identified, it’s offshore construction ship FU JING 001. SAR is under way in extremely challenging weather conditions, 3 SAR ships in the area. So far, 3 people were rescued, 27 remain missing. Offshore construction ship, not yet...
New Maersk feeder servie cuts Asia – Italy transit times
Maersk has launched a new feeder service between Port Said, at the northern end of the Suez Canal and Vado Gateway at the Port of Genoa, which will reduce transit times. Michele Labrut | Jul 01, 2022 The first 3,000-teu feeder of this new service will depart from SCCT...
US outbound container volume drops for 12th month straight
While inbound container volumes continued to rise in the US, export volumes fell for the twelfth straight month in May. Gary Howard | Jun 29, 2022 According to the McCown Report, East Coast and Gulf Coast imports helped inbound volumes rise 2.9% in May across the top...
Containers lost at sea increased 400% in 2020 – 2021
There was a four-fold increase in the number of containers lost overboard during the 2020 – 2021 compared to the previous two-year. Marcus Hand | Jun 22, 2022 According to figures from the World Shipping Council (WSC) 3,133 containers were lost overboard in the 2020 –...
Analysis: The next COVID-19 booster shots will likely be updated for Omicron
NEW YORK: COVID-19 vaccines this fall are likely to be based on the Omicron variant of the coronavirus rather than the original strain, although some experts suggest they may only offer significant benefits for older and immunocompromised people. Moderna, Pfizer and...
UN Ocean Conference is a Key Step to Restoring Ocean Health
PUBLISHED JUN 26, 2022 3:50 PM BY CHINA DIALOGUE OCEAN [By Peter Thomson] With every breath we take, we are connected to the ocean. The planet-defining blue covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, providing half of its oxygen, stabilising our...
US and Norway Launch Green Shipping Challenge to Build Decarbonization
The U.S. and Norway are challenging the shipping industry to develop decarbonization plans ahead of COP 27 PUBLISHED JUN 17, 2022 7:58 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Speaking with world leaders at the third virtual Major Economies Forum President Joe Biden...
Surge in Boxship Orders Could Create Capacity Surplus as Early as 2023
Many of the next generation of boxships will be dual-fuel, like this CMA CGM LNG-powered container ship (CSSC Hudong Zhonghua / CMA CGM) PUBLISHED JUN 17, 2022 7:47 PM BY BRIAN GICHERU KINYUA Although trade volumes are cooling, the appetite by major ocean...
Freight data wars on the horizon
When it comes to anything related to supply chains, uncertainty pervades. Barry Parker | Jun 15, 2022 An early June report from the Freightwaves platform, with the headline, "US import demand is dropping of a cliff”, received a great deal of traction, and caused...
Livestock carrier with 16,000 cattle capsized in Red sea
Posted in Accidents by Mikhail Voytenko on Jun 12, 2022 at 04:10. Livestock carrier AL BADRI 1 capsized and sank along pier at Suakin Port, Sudan, Red sea, in the evening Jun 11, while about to leave port. The ship with some 16,000 cattle on board is resting starboard...
Mission to Seafarers re-opens Singapore drop-in centre
The Mission to Seafarers has officially re-opened its drop-in centre at Jurong Port after a two-year closure due to Covid restrictions. Marcus Hand | Jun 10, 2022 “It’s great to be back!” declared the Mission to Seafarers Singapore (MtSS) Chairman, Capt. Rob Walker,...
Retailer inventories could drag US-China box rates lower
Falling demand and high retailer inventories could bring US-China container rates even lower, according to a supply chain analyst. Gary Howard | Jun 06, 2022 Shifl said that US retailers are sitting with excess inventory and in many cases still awaiting orders which...
Ports get ‘much needed respite’ as container-ship traffic jam eases
Ship queues down off Southern California, Virginia and Charleston It could be the relative calm before the peak-season, post-Shanghai-lockdown storm. Or it could be the final unwinding of COVID-era congestion as inflation takes hold. What happens next is still highly...
Shanghai’s Port is Nearing Normal Operations After Two-Month Lockdown
PUBLISHED JUN 6, 2022 2:34 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE As China continues to roll back restrictions on most parts of Shanghai, port operations appear to be approaching normal levels. It, however, remains to be seen how quickly throughput can be restored at the...
IMO Breaks Deadlock on Carbon Pricing for Shipping
PUBLISHED MAY 27, 2022 8:35 PM BY NJIRAINI MUCHIRA The push to decarbonize the commercial shipping industry has achieved a major breakthrough after countries reached a consensus on carbon pricing of shipping emissions, a development that comes after more than 10...
World-First Hydrogen-Powered Tugboat to Be Welcomed by the Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Posted in Ship Building and Technology by Raghib Raza on May 26, 2022 at 06:00. The world's first hydrogen powered tug, HYDROTUG, was launched from the Armón Shipyard in Navia, Spain, on May 16th. After the completion of the remaining construction and the passing...
Video: Barge Loses Containers on Route to Singapore
Tug lost control of the container barge during the tow to Singapore dropping at least 18 containers into the ocean (Indonesian SAR) PUBLISHED MAY 27, 2022 8:06 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE An Indonesia tugboat pulling a container barge encountered unexpectedly...
$60bn first quarter windfall for container sector
The container industry made a $59.3bn profit in the first quarter, the sixth consecutive record quarterly profit for the sector. Gary Howard | May 20, 2022 The McCown Container Results Observer noted that the result marked more than a threefold improvement over the...
LNG and the Road to Net Zero
PUBLISHED MAY 22, 2022 2:08 AM BY MARK VENABLES (Article originally published in Mar/Apr 2022 edition.) Driven by an ambitious IMO decarbonization strategy and calls from the European Parliament and European Commission to reduce global emissions from shipping,...
National Maritime Day: Why are We Still Asking if Women Belong at Sea?
PUBLISHED MAY 22, 2022 1:43 AM BY ALLY CEDENO Over the last year much has been written about female mariners and our role in the maritime industry; unfortunately, the tone and tenor of the coverage might unintentionally dampen the remarkable progress women are...
Container shipping rates: Still sky high but falling back to Earth
Asia-US container shipping indexes down around 20%-30% from peaks It’s still very expensive to ship containers full of goods across the oceans. Spot rates globally are still more than quadruple pre-pandemic levels. But rates are now materially lower than they were a...
Climate Change is Making Both Hurricanes and Hurricane Flooding Worse
PUBLISHED MAY 15, 2022 9:31 PM BY THE CONVERSATION Super cyclones, known as hurricanes or typhoons in different parts of the world, are among the most destructive weather events on our planet. Although wind speeds within these storms can reach 145...
South Korea’s Shipbuilding Orderbook Reaches Six-Year High
Despite concerns that the global boom in shipbuilding orders is slowing, South Korean shipbuilders’ orderbook reached a six-year high in April 2022. Driven by the strength of the market in 2021 and brisk orders in the first four months of this year, the South Koreans...
The world is ‘crying out for diesel.’ Product tankers could win big
Product tanker owners Ardmore, INSW, Scorpio see scramble for diesel supplies Retail gasoline prices in the U.S. are up 45% year on year. Diesel used by American truckers is up 75% and just hit an all-time high. But this is not just an American problem. Pain at...
Major Chinese ports container volume falls 5.7% in mid-April
Container volume at eight major Chinese port declined by 5.7% year-on-year in mid-April affected by the recent Covid outbreaks in Yangtze River delta region. Katherine Si | May 06, 2022 Export container volumes dropped 4.1% while the domestic volumes declined...
Retail Imports Set New Monthly Record at U.S. Ports
PUBLISHED MAY 6, 2022 8:39 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Imports at the U.S.’s major container ports set a new record this spring and are expected to continue at near-record levels into the summer of 2022 as retailers bring in merchandise ahead of rising costs and...
Despite rising risks, shipping lines on track for another record year
Kuehne+Nagel reports 15% drop in Chinese exports but expects quick recovery The year is almost a third over, and with each passing month, shipping lines look increasingly likely to pocket even more cash in 2022 than in record-trouncing 2021. New data and...
China lockdowns are not causing shipping chaos, say liner CEOs
Maersk and Matson don’t see severe China lockdown fallout yet It was predicted that China lockdowns would cause container shipping havoc. Six weeks into Shanghai lockdowns, it still hasn’t happened. Two liner CEOs — Maersk’s Soren Skou and Matson’s Matt Cox —...
How COVID transformed trans-Pacific container shipping
COVID-driven cargo demand has dramatically altered the trans-Pacific shipping landscape. New data from Alphaliner highlights just how much the Asia-U.S. trade lane has changed over the past two years. There’s now far more container shipping capacity in the trade than...
Are We Facing the End of a Pandemic-Driven Shipping Boom?
File image courtesy CSCEC PUBLISHED APR 20, 2022 2:57 PM BY BRIAN GICHERU KINYUA For the past two years, it has been a roller coaster ride in the ocean freight business. After the early-pandemic slowdown in 2020, demand soared in 2021, resulting in massive...
FMC Completes Meetings with Ocean Carriers Regarding Export Services
FMC increases focus on ocean carriers as export volumes continue to fall (Seattle file photo) PUBLISHED APR 22, 2022 5:56 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE The imbalance between U.S. imports and exports and the repeated complaints from manufacturers and the...
Shanghai lockdown: Container line blank sailings remain ‘normal’
The continuing Shanghai lockdown against Covid has not translated, as yet, into a large number of blank sailings by container lines. Marcus Hand | Apr 22, 2022 Analysts Sea-Intelligence compared the number of blank sailings that resulted from the Covid outbreak...
Experts Warn of China’s Near-Monopoly on Freight Container Production, Threatening Global Supply Chain
Expert says it's ‘deeply concerning’ China produces 95 percent of the world’s shipping containers A recent report from the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) showed that China’s control of global container manufacturing poses a threat to supply chains and...
Global supply chain disruption to continue into 2023
Global supply chain disruption is set to last at least another 12 months, and could run through all of 2023, according to Toll Group Managing Director Thomas Knudsen. Marcus Hand | Apr 12, 2022 Speaking to Seatrade Maritime News last week during...
Carriers Diverting Shanghai Shipments as COVID Lockdown Continues
Carriers are diverting and refusing Shanghai shipments as the backlog continues (file photo) PUBLISHED APR 15, 2022 12:11 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Three weeks into what was originally announced as a lockdown for a few days in Shanghai, China’s government has...
Vietnam Plans $1.5B Investment to Build National Shipping Line
Vietnam plans to build a national container shipping operation first in Asia and then global to combat supply chain disruptions (Vietnam Maritime Administration) PUBLISHED APR 15, 2022 6:55 PM BY THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE Vietnam is planning the launch of a national...
Shanghai lockdown: lines divert reefer containers, services
Container lines are diverting reefer shipments and some vessel calls at Shanghai as congestion worsens at the port due to the prolonged Covid lockdown in the city. Marcus Hand | Apr 11, 2022 As the Shanghai lockdown moves into its third week a severe shortage of...
Container shipping at the crossroads: The big unwind or party on?
Some indexes show falling trans-Pacific rates but signals still mixed Is faltering consumer demand curbing imports, allowing port congestion to finally ease, releasing container-ship capacity and causing ocean spot rates to sink? Is this the beginning of “the big...
Maersk setting up cargo airline
AP Moller-Maersk is launching a cargo airline as the top the container lines continue to expand their logistics and multimodal offerings. Marcus Hand | Apr 08, 2022 Maersk Air Cargo will be based out of Billund, the second largest airport in Denmark and will...
Local News
Valuations yet to price in execution and opex risks
PETALING JAYA: Despite having an “overweight” call on the oil and gas (O&G) sector, UOB Kay Hian (UOBKH) Research suggests cautious trading as the sector valuations may not have fully taken into account the execution and operational expenditure (opex) risks. In a...
ECRL anticipated to contribute 3.8pc increase to Malaysia’s GDP by 2047, says Tengku Zafrul
KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) is anticipated to contribute a 3.8 per cent increase to Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2047 by enhancing trade, boosting tourism, and stimulating regional development. Investment, Trade and Industry...
Cabotage policy reinstatement ends years-long debate
KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s decision to reinstate the cabotage policy exemption brings an end to the years-long debate over allowing foreign ships to undertake undersea cable repairs locally.Malaysia OSV Owners’ Association (MOSVA) and Malaysia Shipowners’...
Finance Ministry: Service Tax increase only affects discretionary services, B2B activities
KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 28): The increase in the Service Tax rate from 6.0 per cent to 8.0 per cent, effective from March 1, 2024, only affects discretionary services activities and business-to-business (B2B) activities, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF). Minister...
Govt on the lookout for SST profiteers
PETALING JAYA: The domestic trade and cost of living ministry has launched an operation to ensure that traders don’t take advantage of the Sales and Service Tax (SST) hike to unreasonably increase prices.Its minister Armizan Ali said the operations, codenamed Ops...
Transport minister: National Load Centre policy to centralize cargo services at Port Klang no longer applies.
PUTRAJAYA, March 1 — The National Load Centre policy introduced in 1990 to centralise all cargo services at Port Klang, Selangor no longer applies, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. According to him, the Transport Ministry’s policy of promoting Port Klang as the...
Malaysia may permanently waive rules for foreign ships working on undersea cables
Malaysia has decided to reverse an earlier decision and allow foreign vessels to repair undersea cables in its waters, its transport minister said on Friday, adding the move may be made permanent to encourage tech investments and support the digital economy. The...
Port Klang, PTP among the top 20 busiest ports in the world, says Loke
PUTRAJAYA: Port Klang in Selangor and Johor's Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) remain among the top 20 main and busiest ports globally, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke. Loke said Port Klang recorded the highest number of containers processed last year, with 14.06...
Transport minister: Port Klang posts record total container handling volume of 14.06 million TEUs in 2023
PUTRAJAYA, Feb 23 ― Port Klang recorded the highest container handling volume in its history at 14.06 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in 2023 compared to 13.22 million TEUs in 2022, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke. Port of Tanjung Pelepas (PTP) in Johor...
Meeting next week to iron out economic zone issues before talks with Singapore
JOHOR BARU: Malaysia and Singapore will be meeting next month for further discussions on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), says state executive councillor Lee Ting Han (pic). The Johor investment, trade, consumer affairs and human resources committee...
Malaysia Paper Packaging Market to Soar Beyond US$ 3.3 Billion by 2032, Fueled by Sustainable Practices and E-Commerce
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES, February 21, 2024 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐚 is poised for remarkable growth, with projections indicating that the market 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬𝐞 𝐔𝐒$ 𝟑.𝟑 𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟑𝟐, flourishing at a 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝...
Cross-border drone delivery between Malaysia and Singapore in the works
A new initiative is set to introduce cross-border drone delivery services between Malaysia and Singapore. The focus will be on critical deliveries such as urgent documents, high-value electronics, medical supplies, and perishable foods. The project is being...
Preserving our ocean’s jewels
“The need to restore coral reefs is evident, not only for marine life but also for the livelihood and food security of coastal communities.” SABAH is facing an increasing menace of fish bombing, with multiple incidents reported each year. Also known as blast fishing,...
Orchids can generate RM4bil in exports yearly, says Agriculture Dept
SEPANG: The export of Malaysian orchids can contribute up to RM4bil a year to Malaysia’s floriculture industry due to high demands from other countries, says the head of the Department of Agriculture Floriculture Industry Unit (Floriculture Industry Development...
Maybank IB: Impact of Red Sea conflict on Malaysia minimal but some shipments may be delayed
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 15 — The ongoing conflict around the Red Sea would have minimal impact on Malaysia’s sea freight companies but some shipments of certain goods could still expect delays and higher freight costs, Maybank Investment said in a note issued yesterday....
Malaysia mega-port begins construction
A new facility in Kuala Linggi International Port (KLIP) in Malaysia has officially begun construction, Port Strategy reports, kicking off the first of 42 months of work. The $3.15 billion investment is expected to become a key hub for international trade....
Analysts say SST tax expansion revenue to benefit more people in the form of cash aid, urban infrastructure and healthcare
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — The additional revenue from sales and service tax (SST) expansion to 8.0 per cent from 6.0 per cent effective March 1, 2024 can benefit the rakyat in the form of cash aid, urban infrastructure and healthcare amid the ageing population in the...
Malaysia Technology Expo 2024 bridges ideas and innovations through awards, exhibitions and tech talks
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 — The Malaysia Technology Expo (MTE) 2024 is inviting tech enthusiasts and industry experts to take part in an impressive showcase of technological wonders and pioneering breakthrough. MTE, that serves as a crucial hub for innovation, inspiration...
Johor’s one-stop investment centre to be ready this year, says MB
JOHOR BARU: The one-stop centre to facilitate investment in Johor is expected to be completed this year, says Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi. The Mentri Besar said the centre, among the initiatives in the Johor-Singapore special economic zone (JS-SEZ), will be the first of its...
Malaysia’s tax collection among the lowest in the region
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is one of the lowest tax revenue collectors in Southeast Asia, with a tax-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio of 11.8 per cent.Malaysia University Science and Technology (MUST) economist Prof Emeritus Dr Barjoyai Bardai said Malaysia fell...