Vehicle booking improvements at Felixstowe
In light of the recent criticism and industry-wide complaints concerning delays and service levels, the Port of Felixstowe – the UK’s largest and busiest container port - introduced vehicle booking changes on Monday, to improve service and lessen the delays on its terminals.
One of these c...
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India’s container shortage spreads
The anticipated equipment shortages in Asia are spreading as importers in the United States and Europe struggle to return empty containers to Asian manufacturing hubs, with India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh hit particularly hard.
The container imbalance followed the spike in imports to the US an...
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UK container ports continue to struggle
After weeks of complaints from port users, shipping lines, hauliers and cargo owners, there is some hope that Felixstowe’s service levels may be improving, but similar challenges are now being experienced at other key container ports.
After the recent well-documented service issues, delays,...
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China – Europe rail options expand further
October sees the launch of a new multimodal sea-rail service from Altynkol on the Chinese border, to Hamburg, boasting transit times of 12-14 days from Chongqing to Hamburg.
The service, a strategic joint venture between Russian Railways subsidiary JSC and Frankfurt based Belintertrans (B...
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Biggest importers struggle for space from Asia
Container freight rates are at their highest levels in five years, Westbound Asia to Europe, driven by rocketing demand and the carriers manipulating capacity to create under or balanced supply, which allows the shipping lines to cherry-pick the best paying cargo and maintain rates at the st...
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Air freight market analysis
The global air cargo sector is recovering alongside improving economic activity and while most regions are on an upward swing, at different paces, volumes in Latin America have struggled amidst challenging economic and health conditions.
Despite growing uncertainty in COVID19 developments,&nbs...
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The axing of Safmarine is more significant than losing a brand
Formed in 1946, the African specialist shipping line Safmarine, which is represented in more than 130 countries, was acquired in 1999 by Maersk. Earlier this month Maersk announced that it was closing the Safmarine brand at the end of the year, integrating it into Maersk Line. What are the market...
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Sydney strike threat removed
The ongoing congestion and industrial action at Sydney port, which caused schedule disruption to many carriers and prompted Maersk to stop acceptance of all bookings for the port, has been withdrawn.
The move to withdraw industrial action at Sydney port, will bring relief to shippers and shipp...
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Fears that Felixstowe congestion may spread
High vessel volumes, spikes in container throughput and diminished operational capability due to COVID safe-working is creating high yard density at the port, resulting in terminal-wide congestion which means vessels are unable to complete empty loading or have diverted to other ports, not loadin...
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Metro’s supply chain excellence recognised
Publisher and Events organiser, Akabo Media, is one of the most influential voices in supply chain, freight and logistics. Its annual Supply Chain Excellence awards uniquely feature clients and service providers, to emphasise the value and innovation delivered across the sector.
Despite the ch...
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Container shortages in China
Port operations have been severely diminished and inland distribution massively disrupted by the coronavirus, lockdowns and safe-working practices, which delay the unloading of containers and repositioning of equipment back to China.
As European importers struggle to return empty containers to...
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The perfect storm threatening container haulage
The perfect storm threatening container haulage
There is not an industry sector that has not been impacted to some extent by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even those deemed ‘essential’ have had to battle unprecedented economic and operational challenges, but few have felt the impact quite a...
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