Global shipping lines announced major changes ahead of February’s alliance reshuffling. Hapag-Lloyd’s exit from THE Alliance has brought about the formation of the ‘Premier Alliance’, partnering Ocean Network Express (ONE), HMM, and Yang Ming. Leaving its 2M agreement with Maersk, MSC will largely operate standalone services. The carrier plans to run five East-West trades with
As a potential dockworker strike on October 1 looms for major U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports, shippers and forwarders are exploring alternative routes and preparing contingencies to minimize supply chain disruptions. Planning ahead is a crucial step to mitigating the potential impact. The Impact • Work stoppages: Key East Coast and Gulf Coast ports,
A robust Q3, 2024 for air freight leads to high hopes for continued strong performance in Q4. Global cargo demand continued its double-digit growth, rising 11% in August. Lufthansa Cargo noted unusually high freight rates for this time of year, driven by supply and demand pressures, including geopolitical factors. Xeneta’s Chief Airfreight Officer, Niall van
Shippers are advised to secure space and create contingency plans due to anticipated air cargo capacity shortages from key Asian markets during the peak season. According to a Xeneta and Tiaca webinar, dynamic load factors from Asia Pacific to Europe were 86% and 88% to North America in July, which is atypically high for this
A planned strike at India’s major ports was canceled after workers accepted a new five-year contract. Nearly 20,000 workers were set to walk out on August 28. Reuters reported that Unions agreed to an 8.5% pay raise over five years, down from their initial 10.6% demand. The deal ends talks that began in 2021 when
The Ningbo Beilun Phase III Terminal has reopened and is operating normally. The port had shut down for two-and-a-half days after a container holding hazardous goods exploded on the YM Mobility containership docked at Ningbo-Zhoushan port on August 9. There were no casualties, and all crew members were found safe. Ningbo-Zhoushan is China’s second busiest
Dockworkers at India’s 12 largest ports plan to strike indefinitely starting August 28. The decision for a nationwide strike follows seven rounds of unsuccessful negotiations. A joint statement released by the six labor organizations representing dockworkers said port labor contracts had expired in December 2021. The unions have formally notified the port authorities and government
Most of the world’s 30 largest container ports saw revenue growth in the first half of the year, except for three. According to Alphaliner’s report on container throughput in the first half of this year, Hong Kong, Xiamen, and Hamburg experienced declines of -4.5%, -4%, and -1.2%, respectively. Hong Kong, once the 10th largest container
The upcoming contract season brings uncertainty for shippers. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are leaving their current alliances, 2M and THE Alliance, in February to form the Gemini Cooperation. The shakeup in ocean alliances will likely impact contract negotiations, says James Hookham, director of the Global Shippers Forum. Shippers are undecided over which alliance to utilize for
For air cargo carriers and forwarders, as well as those involved in automotive logistics, there is significant business potential in this specialized segment of the airfreight industry. However, there are also challenges that need to be addressed. Lufthansa Cargo, a part of Germany’s national airline group, transports automotive spare parts and vehicles worldwide. The company’s