Most of the world’s top 30 ports saw strong cargo growth in 2024, rising by 7% overall, according to Alphaliner. The most significant volume growth came from Los Angeles/Long Beach at 19.8%, Tanger Med at 18.8%, and Tanjung Pelepas at 16.9%. Alphaliner attributes the significant increase in Los Angeles/Long Beach volumes to concerns about U.S. tariffs
Over the past 25 years, the capacity operated by carriers in the container shipping industry has grown immensely. In 2000, the 50 largest carriers moved a combined 2.5 million TEU. These carriers now operate 26.7 million TEU, increasing their collective capacity by 983%. This equates to an average annual growth rate of 10% over the
The EU’s advanced cargo information system, Import Control System 2 (ICS2), aims to improve security in the international transportation of goods and the supply chain. However, the system is posing “significant challenges” for freight forwarders as the EU bloc enforces stricter customs regulations, according to Nicolette van der Jagt, director general of CLECAT, the European
The U.S. government is imposing a 25% tariff on all foreign-built cars, light-duty trucks and certain auto parts. This is a significant increase from the current rate of 2.5%. The tariff will take effect starting April 3, 2025, for vehicles, while auto parts will be taxed by May 3. The new policy applies to finished
In February 2025, global schedule reliability rose to 54.9%, up 3.6 percentage points month-over-month and 1.8 points year-over-year. Maersk led the top 13 carriers with a reliability rate of 60.2%, followed by MSC at 57.4%, and Hapag-Lloyd at 57.3%. Two new carrier alliances, Gemini Cooperation and Premier Alliance, were launched in February, while the 2M
According to TMC Marine, a subsidiary of Bureau Veritas and international marine consultancy, avoiding the Red Sea has led to a significant rise in container losses. TMC’s Group CEO, Simon Burthem, reported that three major incidents off South Africa between July and August 2024 resulted in 200 containers being lost overboard. Extreme weather has been
During a seminar held in Singapore hosted by the Association of Maritime International Commercial Interests & Expertise (AMICIE), panelists discussed the challenges of navigating geopolitical risks in international trade and shipping. SeaLead Singapore’s Chief Operations Officer, Chow Kitwei, was asked about the potential impact of the United States Trade Representative’s (USTR) proposal to levy tariffs
The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is investigating global shipping chokepoints, examining whether foreign laws, regulations, or practices are disrupting U.S. trade. The international shipping lanes under review are the English Channel, the Malacca Strait, the Northern Sea Passage, the Singapore Strait, the Panama Canal, the Strait of Gibraltar, and the Suez Canal. The FMC
Airfreight demand and rates have stabilized after recent volatility caused by the Lunar New Year and tariff concerns. According to data from analyst WorldACD, global air cargo demand has remained unchanged week-over-week but is up 2% compared to the previous year. In early March, the average worldwide airfreight rates for both spot and contract shipments
The Global Tracker Report from the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Hackett Associates indicates that U.S. container imports will likely remain strong through spring but may record a year-over-year decline in the summer. Retailers are frontloading goods due to concerns about new tariffs on Chinese imports, which have already doubled from 10% to 20%, with