Newsletter – November 4, 2020

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Why Cargo Dry Ice Limitations Could Limit The Distribution Of The COVID-19 Vaccine

simpleflying.com

The global health crisis continues to take its toll on society. However, companies are working on solutions to help improve conditions heading into next year. Simple had the opportunity to speak with the head of global pharma sales for Emirates SkyCargo, Julian Sutch, about how his firm is preparing for the rollout of the potential COVID-19 vaccine. The businessman spoke of the challenges that could be faced during the process, including the limitations of dry ice. Read more here.

Maersk Air Freight lift-off struggles to get off the runway

theloadstar.com

Maersk Air Freight seems to have rather shot itself in the foot, in PR terms anyway.

Showing off its “integrated power under the new organisation”, it has posted images of a 747 air charter it arranged, from China to Europe, for a hi-tech customer.

“We can transport via ocean, inland and air with our amazing teams around the world,” crowed the MD for China. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Hong Kong port operators to cap terminal handling charges

seanews.com.tr

CONTAINER handling charges for direct cargo at most of Hong Kong’s container terminals are to be capped on an index-linked basis for eight years.

Following an investigation by the Hong Kong Competition Commission, port operators accepted a suggestion from Maersk that truck transfers be included in the cap though transshipment cargo would not. Read more here.

Shippers should plan for higher ocean freight contract prices

lloydsloadinglist.com

Cargo owners should start planning for an upwards correction in long-term ocean freight contract prices, according to container shipping consultancy Sea-Intelligence, which believes the current levels of contract rates are not high by historical standards and that the low rates enjoyed by customers in recent years are the “aberration”. Read more here.

MSC on ‘massive buying spree of second-hand tonnage’ to build capacity

theloadstar.com

With the containership charter market virtually sold out across all sizes, MSC is continuing to expand its fleet with a series of opportunist boxship purchases.

It is thereby closing the capacity gap on its 2M partner, Maersk.
According to Alphaliner, MSC has “embarked on a massive buying spree of second-hand tonnage worth around $180m, anticipating asset price rises, on the back of a fast-improving charter market” Read more here.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

2016 vote sparked fireworks for shipping stocks. Repeat in 2020?

freightwaves.com

The surprise election of Donald Trump in 2016 sent shockwaves through the global shipping community. It also sent U.S.-listed shipping stocks soaring. Pricing and volumes went completely haywire. In a matter of days, some shares rose ten or twentyfold. Some volumes rose fiftyfold.

Could this year’s presidential election spark similar tumult for shipping equities? Read more here.