Newsletter – August 31, 2018

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Kochi Airport re-opens following Kerala floods

aircargonews.net

India’s Kochi Airport re-opened as some semblance of normality returns to the country’s Kerala region following a period of sustained and heavy flooding.

Indian carrier Jet Airways has been amongst those to offer assistance, in its case agreeing to waive airfreight charges on all domestic cargo shipments of relief material flown to Kerala. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Maersk says low-sulphur fuel could push up costs by $2bn

lloydsloadinglist.com

MAERSK’s fuel bill is likely to rise by at least $2bn following the introduction of low-sulphur rules in 2020.

The world’s largest container line, which operates a fleet of more than 700 vessels, said high oil prices, slim availability of compliant fuels, and investment in research and development were among issues that would drive up the cost of complying with International Maritime Organization 2020 rules. Read more here.

Transpacific peak season may be short-lived

lloydsloadinglist.com

FREIGHT rates on the transpacific container trades have risen sharply at the start of the peak season but remain only at historical averages, despite a reported tightening of capacity. Read more here. FREIGHT rates on the transpacific container trades have risen sharply at the start of the peak season but remain only at historical averages, despite a reported tightening of capacity. Read more here.

Delay-hit Felixstowe loses another service as CMA CGM switches Epic 1

theloadstar.co.uk

CMA CGM heaped further misery on the port of Felixstowe this week by announcing it would withdraw one of its services from the gateway.

The Epic 1 rotation, which connects Northern Europe with the Indian subcontinent, will instead use London Gateway as its UK port of call. Read more here.

Maersk uses CargoSphere’s platform to automatically notify customers of rates

seanews.com.tr

DENMARK’s Maersk Line had adopted CargoSphere’s online platform to fully automate the distribution of its contract rates and amendments.Through the deployment of CargoSphere’s electronic Smart Upload and Diagnostics Solution (eSUDS) and CargoSphere Rate Mesh, the carrier is able to digitally send out its rates to shippers, freight forwarders and non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVOCC) customers, reported American Shipper. Read more here.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Canada and US push for a new North America free-trade agreement

theloadstar.co.uk

Agreements leading to a revised NAFTA regime could be in place by the end of this week.

Senior Canadian and US officials have signalled a determination to hammer out a new trade agreement to replace the NAFTA framework before the deadline at the end of this week. Read more here.