Category: Supply Chain

While some container shipping lines will continue calling at Yantian, other carriers have already diverted ships as the port’s operations have deteriorated, with Maersk warning that delays are now expected to last two weeks. The Yantian congestion is yet another disruption to global shipping... Read more

Congestion levels at the major North America container gateways is expected to continue into the summer, as container imports from Asia grew a massive 31% year on year. With 1.57m teu arriving at US ports from Asia last month, the highest level on record, the container import boom shows no sig... Read more

Last Wednesday, Switzerland announced its withdrawal from negotiations on closer ties with the EU, after failing to reach agreement on wages and immigration. The move by the Swiss government to withdraw from negotiations on a single encompassing “framework agreement” may result i... Read more

If this was a typical year, we’d be approaching the start of the peak season for sea freight and the shipping lines would be preparing a round of general rate increases (GRI), but this year is anything but typical and even with demand soaring way beyond any typical peak period and freight rates... Read more

As Yantian announces further reductions in container gate-in times, to try and alleviate congestion, shipping lines are skipping calls at Chinese ports, with the mission to improve schedule reliability and equipment availability. The partial shutdown of Yantian International Containe... Read more

“Driving operational efficiency” has knocked “reducing costs” from the top spot, in Deloitte’s annual survey of leading buyers, for the first time in its 10-year history. The global consultancy’s Survey 2021 saw reducing costs pushed into second place, with digital transf... Read more

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) have said that retail sales in April were 10.6% above their pre-pandemic level, although many traditional retailers have suffered from the repeated lockdowns that accelerated the shift to online commerce. In a huge boost for retail’s recovery Britain'... Read more

Retail sales and consumer demand are still outpacing attempts to build inventory and despite the massive boom in imports, the inability to create inventory is likely to continue all year for many commodities and finished goods. So, if you want stocked shelves this Christmas, it’s time to star... Read more

The global freight market continues to present challenging circumstances wherever you are shipping, by whatever mode you have chosen and on whatever trade lanes that you are operating. It is a global situation which has worsened over the last 12 months from famine to feast from a carrier perspect... Read more

Restrictions have been announced after an ongoing coronavirus outbreak in the port area since last week, with areas suspended from operation for cleaning and disinfection, while high storage density has built up in the terminal. We have been informed by our colleagues in China today, 25th May,... Read more

Asia’s economic bounce back continues to show strong growth, driven by new manufacturing orders and the ensuing increase in export sales, which is putting more pressure on supply chains, leading to increased lead times, shortages of aircraft space and rising prices. Purchasing managers data ... Read more

Shippers from Asia to Europe continue to see increases in container spot rates, as cargo-rolling become ever more commonplace and carriers begin to cancel sailings in an effort to restore schedule reliability. Space on vessels from Asia is effectively ‘sold out’ for May and June, with a su... Read more