Newsletter – December 9, 2021

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Dhaka Airport gets new scanners at last, but now volumes are falling

theloadstar.com
Two new explosive detection scanners (EDSs) came online on Tuesday at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka, raising cargo handling capacity by 600 tons a day and shortening wait times.
But freight forwarders have reported that air cargo demand has fallen; in combination with the new scanners, they said the pressure on the airport had lessened – although between 400 and 500 tons of cargo are going through daily. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Maersk unveils revolutionary new boxship design

splash247.com
Looking more like a livestock carrier than a boxship, Maersk yesterday unveiled its brand new design for its next generation of green ships.
Intended to sail on green methanol with 16,000 teu of capacity, 350 m in length and a new look for container vessels, Maersk’s groundbreaking new series of eight ships will deliver from Hyundai Heavy Industries in 2024. Read more here.

US box imports set to exceed 18% growth this year

lloydsloadinglist.com
Although growth rates have slowed in recent months and even turned negative in October, imports at US major retail container ports are expected to end 2021 with both the largest volume and fastest growth on record despite supply chain disruptions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates. Read more here.

Taiwan carriers eschew multi-year contracts in favour of ‘customer choice’

theloadstar.com
Evergreen and Yang Ming are not following the contractual stance of rival operators, including Maersk and Cosco which are locking-in customers to multi-year contracts
The two Taiwanese carriers believe they should not bind their customers. Read more here.

Getting space on ships next year the biggest worry for the logistics sector

theloadstar.com
Securing space on containerships is viewed as the biggest challenge for the logistics sector going into 2022, according to an industry survey.
A poll of 800 logistics companies by online equipment trading platform Container xChange reveals that for 53% of respondents, finding slots on vessels is by far the biggest concern for businesses, followed by carrier surcharges, at 22%, and labour shortages, 19%. Read more here (login required).

US east coast ports make major plays to become intermodal gateways

theloadstar.com
US importers and forwarders are looking to New York’s Port Elizabeth Terminal for a faster intermodal link to the US Midwest and Canada.
APM Terminals Elizabeth is marketing a new service that claims faster transfers from ship to rail, with multiple daily train departures to the interior. Read more here.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

More US moves to tighten up transport security in war against cyber attacks

theloadstar.com
Washington is moving to ramp up security against cybercrime in the US transport arena.
The US Department of Homeland Security’s latest initiatives are pushing railroads to beef up their security, following a similar drive targeting airports and airlines. Read more here.