Asia-Pacific

“Crew changes cannot be postponed indefinitely,” warned the world’s largest maritime and air transport organizations.

The retail apparel sector has been among the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn how international trade, supply chains and tariffs complicate things further.

Panel of importers and exporters will advise the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission on policies of competitiveness, reliability, integrity and fairness in ocean shipping.

U.S. Federal Maritime Commissioner Rebecca Dye said Fact Finding 29’s work will help the American ocean shipping industry better prepare the supply chain for the post-virus economic recovery.

Supply chain management solutions provider project44 said it has shippers covered no matter where and how their cargo is transported throughout the world.

CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco writes about the impact of COVID-19 on U.S.-China trade, particularly in regard to the trade war between the two nations.

Emirates SkyCargo’s business fell in fiscal year 2019-2020, but the airline division is experiencing strong demand for its services during the coronavirus crisis.

One of the Middle East’s largest airlines targets freight to keep its more than 250 aircraft flying during the coronavirus pandemic.

British Airways and its sister airlines are taking some comfort from increased cargo business and helping keep global supply chains intact, but the dominant passenger business is at least three years away from getting back to pre-crisis levels.

The U.S. wind energy sector is “a huge bright spot during these difficult times,” said Gene Lemke, vice president of projects at Anderson Trucking Service.

U.S. Federal Maritime Commission asks lawmakers to consider “financial bridge” to help container terminals make their lease payments.

Shippers and forwarders will be cautious with how much cargo they commit to the ocean container carriers this contract season, industry experts say.

International association of forwarders says members have tools and knowledge to ease container-shipping pain of the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 pandemic challenges American seed producers to secure airfreight capacity to meet spring planting.

Distribution patterns expected to change in post-coronavirus world.

Regulatory guidance is expected to be significant to American shippers facing container availability charges from carriers and marine terminals during COVID-19 pandemic.

Hong Kong-based shipping line says first-quarter volume was down less than half a percent despite pandemic.

The smallest of the standardized ocean containers in the global fleet remains ideal for dense, heavy agricultural goods, forest products, and machinery shipments.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created the need for social distancing, even while working. For the freight industry, the adoption of autonomous vehicles might be a good start.

A CFO, government affairs VP and two life science sales directors are hired and a Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association board appointment is announced.

While suffering a significant drop in cargo volume during the coronavirus pandemic, the seaport stands “ready to help position America’s industries for future success,” says Executive Director Gene Seroka.

The 24,000-TEU Algeciras will make maiden voyage from Qingdao, China, on Monday.

“We expect that more shippers will shift from just-in-time supply chains to just-in-case supply chains,” U.S. CEO Mark McCullough said.

Delta Air Lines is increasing the number of scheduled cargo flights between Asia and three U.S. cities, using its passenger aircraft as substitutes for freighters.

Container equipment shortage exacerbated by COVID-19 pandemic stresses upper-Midwest soybean exporter trying to fill his springtime customer orders to Asia.

Portsmouth Marine Terminal will be closed while import volumes are down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

The duty deferment applies to qualifying importers facing “significant financial hardship,” Customs and Border Protection said.

Radio frequency identification has matured in terms of its cost effectiveness and efficiency over the past decade, the company says.

The longer the coronavirus crisis continues, “the longer it’s going to take to get the ship righted,” says GPA Executive Director Griff Lynch.

The 19,200-TEU MSC Anna is retrieving empty containers piling up during the coronavirus crisis to return to Asia.

The current $61 billion set-aside for the domestic airline industry left out the forwarders.

Less-than-containerload services offer forwarders and their shippers an alternative to more expensive air freight and full-container transport services, industry experts say.

Ports of Seattle, Tacoma, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Houston, Jacksonville and Charleston all report drops in March.

The Supply Chain Intelligence Center pinpoints trouble spots on the nation’s highways and ports to U.S. humanitarian relief providers responding to the health crisis.

Problem-solving supply chain bottlenecks is the way to build customer loyalty, freight experts say.

Fee-based storage offered at five North American terminals to assist importers dealing with supply chain disruption caused by coronavirus pandemic.

The number of empty containers returned to Asia from the California port dropped 23% in March.

The global logistics giant said its Q1 profits among its five business divisions suffered from the coronavirus upheaval.

Coronavirus and tariffs blamed for lowest total in more than a decade.

Third-party logistics providers engaged in international trade are facing the difficult decision of whether to thin staff or even close altogether in the face of a prolonged economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The coronavirus is delivering a shock to the supply chain,” said port chief Mario Cordero.

Passenger aircraft are being used to fly essential cargo between continents. Learn more about what the airlines are doing to survive and to assist key supply chains.

The Justice Department said joint logistics operations among five American medical supply distributors to provide protective medical gear to virus hot spots does not violate antitrust law.

Mayor taps Gene Seroka to locate and deliver medical supplies critically needed during coronavirus pandemic.

No one was prepared for the global shipping disruption caused by COVID-19, but Mike Meierkort said Damco’s resiliency program is “the closest thing to having a playbook.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said it will do its part to keep imports of medical gear flowing efficiently into the country.

FIATA questions the reasonableness of assessing demurrage and detention charges against shippers and forwarders during pandemic.

Coronavirus-caused supply chain disruption has led to port congestion but has not burned reefer market.

FedEx (NYSE: FDX) and its subsidiary TNT International are placing surcharges on all international parcel and freight shipments. The changes go into effect April 6. The changes were described as […]

CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco provides commentary on how the Phase One trade deal between the U.S. and China has not worked as thought, at least to date….

Leader of container and chassis provider organizations heartened to see cooperation during the coronavirus crisis “to minimize the impact for the greater good.”

CEVA and DHL free themselves from contractual constraints to realign operations and facilitate pricing flexibility during pandemic.

Crew members evacuated from container ship, tested for coronavirus and hospitalized in China.

If confirmed, these would be the first reported cases of COVID-19 on board a container ship.

Carrier generates $815 million in cash with sale of stakes in eight port terminals.

The second-shift change will provide time to clean handling equipment to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

One of the world’s largest suppliers of disposable rubber gloves may resume exports to the U.S. after resolving forced labor concerns, Customs and Border Protection said.

International Maritime Organization secretary-general stresses that world trade during the coronavirus pandemic depends on the mariners who move goods.

“It’s important for us to keep the supply chain fluid” during the coronavirus pandemic, Executive Director Gene Seroka says.

“This agreement will help our farmers and ranchers by maintaining export markets, which will reduce the overall impact of an outbreak to our agriculture industry,” USDA said.

Ports of Seattle and Tacoma still operating normally but handling less cargo.

“IT strength and capability” helping Orient Overseas (International) Limited service customers during coronavirus crisis.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative acknowledged, “the imposition of tariffs on certain Chinese imports has resulted in an overall decline in the availability of needed medical equipment and supplies.”

UNIX Line’s tanker, Zao Galaxy, discharged the contaminated water overboard in early 2019 during a voyage between the Philippines and California’s Port of Richmond.

The Chinese government is using the reason “Acts of God” to void many contracts due to coronavirus. Darren Prokop explores whether that is hurting current trade and will impact trade in the future.

Blanked sailings blamed for two terminals scheduling one- and two-day suspensions of operations.

Americans for Free Trade, which represents more than 100 trade organizations, said eliminating existing U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods would boost the American economy by $75 billion during the COVID-19 crisis.

Executive Director Gene Seroka said the coronavirus has not impacted landside operations.

Coronavirus has strained supply chains and had a huge impact on the movement of freight.

“As an industry representing brands and retailers, we do not tolerate forced labor in our supply chains,” said five large U.S. apparel and footwear associations.

Trump administration reminds U.S. exporters of semiconductors and other technologies that it views the Chinese telecom equipment manufacturer as a continued security threat.

The companies that control the bulk of ocean cargo opearte under different rules than most companies. Read Darren Prokop’s explanation of why that is…

Although the number of new coronavirus cases in China is dropping, shipping lines are still canceling sailings in response to expected low demand.

“China has continued to embrace a state-led, mercantilist approach to the economy and trade, despite WTO members’ expectations,” the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said in its annual report to Congress.

CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco writes about the ramping up of manufacturing in China, and the subsequent ramping up of cargo headed to the U.S. via ships.

The fake Oral-B toothbrush heads, which arrived at Philadelphia airport from Turkey, were likely made in “unsanitary facilities with substandard materials,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

Brian Aoaeh explores the vulnerability of supply chains in an interconnected world that is threatened by a potential pandemic.

The 2019 Protecting America’s Food and Agriculture Act provides funding to help Customs and Border Protection close a shortfall among its agriculture specialist ranks over the next three years.

Baltimore terminal reduces working hours; Georgia ports brace for volume dive

American Association of Port Authorities says year-over-year cargo volumes in the first quarter could be down by at least 20%.

“This exception ensures that the declaration requirement fulfills the intent of the Lacey Act while reducing the regulatory burden on importers,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture said.

China’s largest ecommerce company, JD.com, not ready to completely quantify coronavirus disruption.

A proposed $1.8 billion sale of U.S.-origin air defense systems is expected to open a pathway to increased exports to the South Asian economy.

Passenger and freight traffic showed big declines this month in certain regions. Airports and airlines are moving to right-size operations to the downmarket caused by the coronavirus.

Unix Line admitted that its tanker, Zao Galaxy, illegally discharged oily bilge at sea while on route from the Philippines to California’s Port of Richmond in late January 2019.

Purchase of Canadian port operations part of global strategy “to connect directly with customers to offer logistics solutions and remove inefficiencies in the supply chain to accelerate trade.”

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said most benefits of “Phase One” trade deal with China should be realized in 2020, despite commercial disruption from coronavirus.

The trade war between the U.S. and China caused companies to adapt supply chains and the transportation of their products. Darren Prokop writes about those changes and their impacts.

Head of academic center sees spike in rates, or continued pain through the sector.

The Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation ordered the revocation of export licenses linked to violators of the Iran, North Korea and Syria Nonproliferation Act.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at International Falls, Minnesota, discovered the illegal product in two 40-foot containers from China.

The Artic Ocean may be the next area that sees the superpower nations “rubbing up” on each other in search of faster ocean passage and a new source of natural resources.

USTR’s Bilateral Evaluation and Dispute Resolution Office will ensure China commits to “Phase One” trade obligations and provide forum for settling disputes involving the bilateral trade pact.

The Justice Department also said Huawei and its subsidiaries violated the RICO Act by stealing trade secrets and copyrighted works from six U.S. companies.

Lori Ann LaRocco writes about the impact of coronavirus on maritime trade between China and the U.S.

President Trump tells the nation he kept his campaign promise to renegotiate the 26-year-old trilateral trade agreement with Canada and Mexico.

“As long as there continues to be a lack of cargo and documentation handling in the ports due to the virus, our exporters and importers shouldn’t be on the hook for per diem or demurrage charges,” AgTC Executive Director Peter Friedmann said.

World’s second largest oil consumer taking extended holiday to deal with virus, keeping businesses shuttered.

The U.S. International Trade Commission, in response to a recent request from the House Ways and Means Committee, will investigate the integrity of the country’s seafood import supply chain.

The Wuhan coronavirus has forced several Chinese cities into a state of lockdown, severely affecting manufacturing hubs and constricting global supply chains.