Sea freight rates from Asia continue to spike and remain on an upward trajectory
Between the start of April and last week, average spot rates from the Far East into North Europe increased by 31%, the US West Coast 30%, Mediterranean 25% and US East Coast 22%, with spot rates to Europe currently $6,000-$7,500 and analysts suggesting they may hit $10,000.
Market demand reach...
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Global port congestion threat to capacity
The Red Sea crisis and the much longer sailing distances triggered by the diversion around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope (COGH) soaked up existing market overcapacity, which was just enough to cope with the extended COGH transit times, provided there were no additional disruptions to maritime supp...
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Summer 2024; France supply chain alert
This summer, a number of large-scale sporting events are likely to create some supply chain disruption, with the Olympic and Paralympic Games taking place in Paris between the 26th of July to the 11th of August, and the 28th of August to the 8th of September.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games, whic...
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UK is world’s 4th largest exporter – we look behind the headline
The UK, which ranked 7th in 2021, leapt up to become the world’s 4th largest exporter in 2022, according to new data published by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). But it may not be all good news and there’s plenty to consider within the data.
The UK’s rise to become t...
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Ex-Asia spot rate spiral turned into shooting star
Container shipping lines have announced significant rate hikes on all ex-Asia trade lanes, due to increased demand and increasing equipment challenges in more origins and it would be prudent to expect more of the same.
Effective capacity to North Europe has decreased by 5% compared to a year a...
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India; sourcing opportunity
For years India has been looked to as the next global manufacturing powerhouse and it now appears to be finally becoming the manufacturing power and sourcing alternative to China that it has long promised to be.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi inherited an economy that was teetering on ...
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State of the air freight market
The effective closure of the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to container ships is adding around two weeks to supply chain transit times and creating a backlog of manufacturing components, late shipments and inventory replenishment, with critical consignments reliant on air solutions. While Iran's att...
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China makes too much, but production is moving
The West says China makes too much, but many manufacturers have moved production to other countries to cut costs, leaving once prosperous manufacturing hubs like Dongguan struggling to adjust.
In recent years workers began to demand higher wages, while companies began cutting prices in order t...
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Red Sea crisis expanding and growing
After the longest period of attack-free shipping in the Red Sea since December, the situation in the region is escalating, with an increase in Houthi attacks, fears that the ‘danger area’ may be expanding into the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean and an Iranian vessel hijack off the Gulf of Oman....
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Red Sea update
The last three months of 2023 were some of the worst for liner shipping’s finances in recent years, while early volume indications for this year suggest the coming months could bring stronger trading conditions for shipping lines, especially with the Red Sea diversions and capacity management t...
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Avoiding the bill that Dali shippers will face
The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed after the container ship, Dali, collided with it last Tuesday. The eventual cost of the disaster is expected to be hundreds of millions of dollars and shippers with cargo aboard the Dali could ultimately be responsible for the ship's damages and...
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TPM and US review
Organised by the Journal of Commerce, TPM (Transpacific Maritime Conference) is the premier global shipping and supply chain conference, attracting senior executives from all areas of the industry.
Held annually in the port city of Long Beach, California, TPM brings together shippers, carriers...
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