Month: July 2024

Articles

Container Shipping Capacity Up 11% from Last Year

Container shipping capacity has increased by 1.6 million TEU since the beginning of 2024, marking an 11% year-over-year increase to 29.5 million TEU. According to Niels Rasmussen, chief shipping analyst at BIMCO, this is the fastest growth in 15 years. The 12,000-17,000 TEU ship segment has expanded the most, making up 22% of the container

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Articles

Canada Rail Dispute Causes Intermodal Freight Diversion

A potential Canada-wide rail strike has caused some intermodal rail freight to shift to the U.S., according to Canadian National Railway (CN). CN CEO Tracy A. Robinson reported a significant drop in intermodal volume since late May, with a -17% decrease from May 12 to July 14. Overall rail volume dropped -8% in the same

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Articles

Long Beach Port to Triple Rail Cargo Capacity in $1.5B Upgrade

The Port of Long Beach is expanding its rail yard in a $1.5 billion project called “America’s Green Gateway”. The project will triple the port’s rail cargo capacity, connecting it to 30 major rail hubs across the U.S. By improving rail operations and decreasing reliance on cargo trucks, the expansion aims to reduce environmental impacts,

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Articles

Ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges Post Growth in H1 Volumes

Europe’s two biggest ports, Rotterdam and Antwerp-Bruges, saw increased freight volumes in the first half of 2024. Rotterdam handled 6.8 million TEUs, up 2.2% from last year, while Antwerp-Bruges handled 6.6 million TEUs, a 4.1% increase year-over-year. Rotterdam Port Authority CEO Boudewijn Siemons attributed the port’s growth to higher demand for consumer goods and an

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Articles

Asian Trade Hit by Vessel Shortages

The intra-Asia shipping market is experiencing a vessel shortage with smaller container ships being reassigned to more profitable long-haul routes. Consequently, it has increased freight rates significantly. Data from the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index shows that Shanghai-Southeast Asia rates have increased from $756 per TEU on July 12. According to the Korea Ocean Business Corp’s

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Articles

Have Container Shipping Rates Peaked?

According to Linerlytica, freight rates may have peaked and are leveling off. The company said new shipping capacity into the U.S. West Coast, North Europe, South America, and the Middle East has reduced pressures on these routes. Meanwhile, Linerlytica projects freight rates will stay high until the peak season ends in September. According to Linerlytica,

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Articles

Non-Alliance Ocean Carriers Gain Ground On East-West Trades

Independent container shipping services are gaining more market share on major East-West routes. Over the next three months, about a third of Trans-Pacific trade services offered will be outside of vessel-sharing agreements (VSAs), Sea-Intelligence said. Alan Murphy, Sea-Intelligence’s CEO, said that on the Asia-North America West Coast trade lane, nearly 30% of shipping capacity will

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Articles

Carriers Adding UK Port Calls to Reduce EU Carbon Fees?

Adding UK port stops on Asia-Europe trade routes might help shipping lines avoid high EU carbon taxes. Lars Jensen, CEO at Vespucci Maritime, noted that adding the UK as a port of call before or after entering the European Union (EU) has carriers paying less ETS carbon tax. Under the Emissions Trading System (ETS) rules,

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Articles

Non-Alliance Ocean Carriers Gain Ground On East-West Trades

Independent container shipping services are gaining more market share on major East-West routes. Over the next three months, about a third of Trans-Pacific trade services offered will be outside of vessel-sharing agreements (VSAs), Sea-Intelligence said. Alan Murphy, Sea-Intelligence’s CEO, said that on the Asia-North America West Coast trade lane, nearly 30% of shipping capacity will

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