Newsletter – April 10, 2019

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

US box imports begin rising again

lloydsloadinglist.com
With tariff increases delayed for the foreseeable future and the busy summer season approaching, imports at the United States’ major retail container ports are beginning to climb again, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates. Read more here. 

Shanghai still world’s busiest container port, but Singapore is climbing back

theloadstar.com
The port of Shanghai has maintained its position as the world largest container port.
However, new data from Alphaliner today shows its lead over second-placed Singapore narrowed last year. Read more here. 

IMO 2020 doomsday predictions are overblown, claim – ‘box lines will cope’

theloadstar.com
Doomsday predictions surrounding the IMO 2020 sulphur fuel cap and its impact on container lines are unfounded, according to Alphaliner chief analyst Tan Hua Joo.  Read more here. 

Carriers making heavy weather of punctuality – but it’s not all their fault

theloadstar.com
Typhoons and other adverse weather events are playing havoc with carrier schedules, presenting a “major challenge” to the industry as it aims to recover from the record low levels of schedule reliability. Read more here. 

GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES

Freight facing severe delays on US-Mexico border

lloydsloadinglist.com
Representatives of US freight forwarders, customs brokers and import-export companies have called for the urgent introduction of a ‘fast-lane’ system for C-TPAT ‘known shippers’ as a solution to a“dramatic” rise in delays to freight vehicles at the US-Mexico border. Read more here.