Newsletter – January 5, 2022

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Hong Kong Bans Flights From UK, US, Canada, And 5 More Countries

simpleflying.com
Hong Kong has banned flights from eight countries as it implements stricter virus controls in response to the Omicron variant. All passengers from Australia, Canada, France, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, the UK and the US will be banned from entering Hong Kong from January 8th, with the ban set to last for 14 days. Read more here

How Will The Third Wave Affect India’s Aviation Recovery?

simpleflying.com
As India enters its third wave of cases, all eyes are on the aviation industry and how it will be impacted. While the second wave in April-May set back the recovery significantly, airlines will be hoping that the third wave is less severe. Let’s investigate the potential impact on traffic. Read more here.

December air cargo demand dampened by supply chain issues and Omicron concerns

aircargoweek.com
December demand in the general air cargo market put a final dampener on 2021 peak season volumes as continuing supply chain issues, congestion on the ground, and concerns over the new Omicron virus suppressed any end-of-year uptick, according to industry analysts, CLIVE Data Services. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Ningbo shippers divert as exports are hit by Covid-restricted trucking

theloadstar.com
Forwarders are shifting volumes to congested-Shanghai to avoid landside delays, despite carrier schedules so far unaffected by the newest Covid-disruption at Ningbo.
Ningbo-Zhoushan Port has repeatedly fallen victim to China’s tough Covid restrictions over the past six months, with the latest lockdown taking place in Ningbo’s Beilun district, which borders three of the port’s container terminals. Read more here.

Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach again delay container dwell fee

splash247.com
The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach have again delayed implementation of the container dwell fee they announced on October 25. After monitoring data over the next week, the ports will reassess the situation on January 10.
Fee implementation has been postponed by both ports since the start of the program, thanks to a combined decline of 35% in aging cargo on the docks. As expected, year-end holidays slowed progress compared with previous weeks. Read more here.

Market distortions make mockery of free-market container shipping

theloadstar.com
Increased commercial power, diminished choice and competition, along with carrier exemption from competition regulations are distorting the container shipping market, according to the British International Freight Association (BIFA).
Its director general, Robert Keen, is the latest in a list of shippers and their representatives to raise competition concerns with regulatory authorities following investigations by the US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) and a letter from European freight forwarders’ association Clecat to the EC Competition Commission in October. Read more here (login required).

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS- GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Beijing’s unwavering zero-Covid policy rattles supply chains

splash247.com
With less than a month to go until the start of the Beijing Winter Olympics there is no let up in China’s zero-Covid policy with more and more cities being plunged into lockdown, creating widespread supply chain shocks.
The port of Ningbo-Zhoushan is struggling to shift containers as less than a quarter of registered truckers have the necessary new paperwork to go in and out of the three terminals at Beilun, a district that has gone into lockdown following the detection of a Covid-19 outbreak at a clothing factory over the weekend. Read more here.