Newsletter – December 15, 2017

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Record-high air freight rates continue ex-Europe
source: lloydsloadinglist.com
Air freight rates remain at record-high levels out of Europe on key lanes to Asia and North America due to continuing supply-demand imbalances that have been exacerbated in recent days by severe winter weather conditions. Read more here.

Ryanair Offers Pilot Unions Recognition To Stop Strikes
source: news.airewise.com
In a surprise move Irish low cost carrier Ryanair has offered to negotiate on union recognition for its European pilot groups. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT RATES

Yang Ming to launch new China-Vietnam Express service in the new year
source: shippingonline.cn
TAIWAN’s Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) is to launch the new China-Vietnam Express service (CVX) on January 9, 2018. Read more here.

MOL joins IBM for blockchain cross-border trade operations test
source: lloydsloadinglist.com
Japan’s Mitsui OSK Lines has teamed up with IBM Japan and other firms for a demonstration test to see how effectively blockchain technology can be implemented in cross-border trade operations. Read more here.

Christmas cheer for east-west box carriers from rate hikes, but will it last?
source: theloadstar.co.uk
Container shipping spot freight rates on the chief east-west trades turned a corner this week, with near double-digit gains on the transpacific and; Asia-North Europe headhaul legs. Read more here (login required).

Words of caution from the world’s biggest shipping line
source: ttnews.com
The world’s largest container shipping line says international freight rates are reversing after climbing for most of this year, raising questions about the sustainability of the global trade recovery. Read more here.

Floating terminal & new port proposed to ease congestion at Chittagong
source: shippingonline.cn
BANGLADESH has commissioned two studies to explore the technological and economic feasibility of developing a mid-sized seaport north of Chittagong and a floating terminal in Chittagong in an effort to ease chronic congestion at Chittagong port. Read more here.