Newsletter: April 11, 2022

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

WestJet adds its first freighter

aircargonews.net
WestJet Cargo has entered the freighter market with the arrival of the first of four B737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters (BCF).
The aircraft, which is on lease from BBAM Limited Partnership (BBAM), will be used for express and e-commerce freight and is the first B737-800BCF to be operated by a Canada-based airline. Read more here. 

Shanghai airfreight remains under pressure from city lockdown

aircargonews.net
Operations at Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) remain constrained as it largely handles pre-lockdown air cargo and supply chain operations are still limited.

This is according to the latest advisory from UK-based logistics, freight forwarding & supply chain specialist Woodland Group.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Lines start to omit calls to Shanghai, the world’s largest container port

splash247.com
Looking on horrified at millions of hungry, irate Shanghainese, citizens in many other cities across China have started to hoard food in preparation for any impending Covid-19 lockdown.
China’s heavy-handed municipal lockdowns have attracted sharp criticism. Authorities have relented a little in Shanghai, the country’s largest city, where lockdown entered its third week today. However, down south mass testing is underway at another important port city, Guangzhou. Read more here.

Shanghai port runs out of space for refrigerated containers

freightwaves.com
Container vessel operators are preparing to divert refrigerated containers destined for Shanghai to other ports because the area to plug into electric power is full of cargo that trucks can’t retrieve in the face of a citywide COVID lockdown.
The notices to customers are the latest manifestation of how the strict restrictions on movement within the city are impacting imports and exports through the world’s largest container port and Pudong International Airport. Read more here. 

Oceanfreight consolidation set to benefit air cargo in the long term

aircargonews.net
The consolidation of the oceanfreight market is set to benefit the air cargo market in the long term as the price differential between the two modes will remain closer than in the past.
Speaking at this week’s Nordic Air Cargo Symposium, Boeing Commercial Airplanes market analysis — air cargo specialist Thomas Crabtree said that containership yields had skyrocketed since mid-2020. Read more here. 

US imports now Gulf-bound as port congestion worsens on the east coast

theloadstar.com
US importers must be feeling like they’re stuck in a game of ‘whack-a-mole’.
In response to congestion and concerns over likely further disruption at west coast gateways, many shifted some imports from Asia to the east coast – only to find congestion there getting worse than on the Pacific coast. Read more here. 

GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES

CMA CGM the latest carrier to launch block-train services across India

theloadstar.com
Container lines serving India are seeing greater value in reliable, time-definite containerised rail services as they look to differentiate their operations in the country. Read more here (login required).

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Firms struggle amid Sri Lanka’s economic crisis

bbc.com
It is a daily struggle for Ranjith Koralage, the boss of a Sri Lankan clothing manufacturer, to find enough diesel to run his company’s machines and steam rollers.
The chief of Kolonna Manufacturing, which is based in Sri Lanka’s central province, has been running from station to station looking for 400 litres of fuel for the generator – just enough for one day. Read more here.