Europe

SmartLynx Airlines is in a difficult situation after DHL Express pulled its contract for airfreight service in Europe.

UPS makes acquisitions to bolster the health care segment of its business.

CMA CGM has announced several surcharges affecting US container services but delayed one after reports that union dockworkers and port employers would resume contract negotiations.

Shippers continue to navigate the known and the unknown as trans-Pacific container rates moved higher as 2024 comes to an end.

Suez Canal revenues have suffered an abrupt 60% decline y/y as vessel operators divert services away from the Red Sea.

Liner operator Hapag-Lloyd announced new surcharges ahead of a possible
January strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association at East and Gulf Coast ports.

Fears of new tariffs and a strike at East Coast ports combined to push up ocean container rates on Asia-U.S. routes in December.

Continuing consumer demand and frontloading by importers in November helped the Port of Los Angeles to double-digit gains in container volumes.

Rates on Asia-U.S. West Coast and Asia-U.S. East Coast container transport fell for the latest week tracked by Freightos but rose by double digits for Asia-Europe/Mediterranean traffic.

Ocean container rates to the U.S. remained steady as shippers maneuver to minimize the effects of higher tariffs and a potential port strike in 2025.

Supply chain services giant Kuehne+Nagel said it has acquired a majority share of IMC Logistics, a marine drayage provider handling 2 million TEUs per year.

Despite a first-half lull in domestic network demand for logistics services, the world’s largest forwarder saw overall volume growth in the third quarter.

Zim Integrated Shipping Services is restructuring its Cross-Atlantic services connecting Mediterranean ports with North and South America.

Russia conveyed Iranian data to help Houthi rebels in Yemen attack commercial shipping in the Red Sea.

German transportation provider Hapag-Lloyd reported preliminary nine-month profits and raised its full-year forecast as vessel diversions pushed up shipping rates.

Lufthansa Cargo is the first airline to apply a surcharge on shippers to help cover the cost of blending expensive alternative fuel with fossil fuel-based jet fuel.

Continued robust demand for container shipping services could help balance supply and demand, the world’s second-largest vessel operator said, easing strains despite disruptions across the global supply chain.

Salvors began towing the Greek-flagged tanker Sounion, still burning from attacks by Houthi militia in late August. The vessel became a symbol of civilian shipping targets that have led container and other vessel operators to detour around the region.

No talks are scheduled between employers and the International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents unionized workers at ports on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts. Bargaining has stalled over technology and pay issues.

A New York-based venture capital firm and European transport specialist are vying to acquire Schenker, the logistics unit of German national railway Deutsche Bahn, which could shake up the market for logistics services in the U.S.

Lufthansa Cargo saw a big drop in profitability last year because of difficult market conditions.

U.S. crude exports have never been higher. Overseas buyers are incentivizing American producers to pump more “black gold.”

Polish truck drivers are blocking four key border crossings. They’re hoping to draw attention to a European Union regulatory change.

The volume of Russian crude exports is growing and the price is rising, spurring the U.S. and its partners to begin sanctions enforcement.

A flood of tanks, military vehicles and weapons systems is flowing from the U.S. to Europe. Shipowner ARC plays a pivotal transport role.

Inflation and economic fallout from the war are curbing demand just as a tidal wave of new ship supply hits the water.

Diesel is an essential fuel for the global economy. The world’s second-largest seaborne supplier, Russia, just halted exports.

Spot ocean shipping rates from Europe to the U.S. held up much longer than trans-Pacific rates. Now they’ve sunk to historic lows.

Price caps have been breached, discounts on Russian exports are dwindling, and more money is flowing to Russian coffers.

Spreads between high- and low-sulfur fuels are down to pandemic levels and LNG has become much more economical.

Tanker shipping sanctions compliance is getting a lot more complicated as the price of Russian crude oil rises.

The agreement should keep tanker and bulker orders in check, while increasing the risk of a future carbon tax on container shippers.

The Wagner mutiny is drawing attention to what happens after the war in Ukraine ends. When it does, shipping will see major changes.

Not all cargo markets are back to pre-COVID “normal.” Container shipping rates to South America remain elevated.

Europe faced a potentially disastrous energy shortage after war broke out. LNG shipping played a vital role in limiting the fallout.

The war has stoked fears of global shortfalls of wheat, corn and fertilizers, but the flexibility of shipping trades has limited the risk.

Ed Aldridge is retiring from CMA CGM America, and Uffe Ostergaard is leaving Hapag-Lloyd.

FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller outlines how FreightWaves SONAR pointed to the global freight recession months ago.

A 24-hour strike by Lufthansa cockpit crews will shut down the company’s freighters. Logistics providers worry future union actions could be more serious.

FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller assesses the potential for a “great purge” in trucking fleets.

FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller analyzes the bullwhip effect on the current retail and trucking environments.

Green hydrogen producer Plug Power is building a plant at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges in Belgium to help decarbonize the region’s logistics.

FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller analyzes changes taking place in global supply chains.

FreightWaves founder and CEO Craig Fuller lays out the premise of Freedom Trade.

Craig Fuller explains the impact of higher diesel prices on the U.S. economy and consumers.

Fancy a Moscow mule or White Russian? Get ready to change brands.

FreightWaves Founder and CEO Craig Fuller writes about the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the U.S. freight system

The truck driver shortage in the U.K. and Europe is getting worse with cross-border traffic being interrupted by the Ukraine crisis and Ukrainians going home to defend their country.

Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is a leader in computer science education; Jonathan Hoffman has expertise in national defense.

Volkswagen Group has not said how many vehicles are on the Felicity Ace or the breakdown of the models, although it has been reported they included 2022 Porsche Boxster Spyders as well as Audis, Bentleys and Lamborghinis.

E-commerce is becoming an increasing area of focus for some ocean carriers.

The company plans to recruit would-be entrepreneurs to provide trucking services in five countries, according to The Information.

The District Court of The Hague in the Netherlands on Wednesday ordered Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by a net 45% compared to 2019 levels by the end of 2030. Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie), six other organizations and more than 17,000 co-plaintiffs, who issued a document to […]

Lufthansa Cargo is one of more technologically advanced air cargo carriers. New material-handling systems highlight the overhaul of its main warehouse.

ASL Airlines United Kingdom on Monday flew its first cargo flight with an ATR 72-200 turboprop freighter. It is the first carrier to receive an air operator certificate from the United Kingdom’s Civil Aviation Authority since Brexit. ASL Aviation Holdings, which operates four for-hire cargo airlines in Europe, said the new subsidiary will operate daily […]

Chicago Rockford and Cologne Bonn airports operate under the shadow of Chicago O’Hare and Frankfurt airports. But they are rising stars in the cargo arena and have decided to pool their resources.

The German logistics giant forecasts more than $7 billion in operating profit as far out as 2023.

“Ordering a truck in Poland is completely different than shipping something in Greece or Portugal.”

Brussels Airport may be the busiest airport when it comes to moving coronavirus vaccines by air.

You’ve probably flown in a Boeing 737-800, a next-generation variant of this popular 737, but when they are put to pasture they become valuable assets for all-cargo airlines. ASL Airlines in Europe is snapping some up and converting them to freighters.

Ocean carriers as airlines? No one thought an online retailer would own a private airline until Amazon did it. The ocean carrier also owns a logistics company. You connect the dots.

“ZEBOX will assist innovative startups in developing new technologies in transportation, logistics, mobilities and industry 4.0,” says CMA CGM CEO Rodolphe Saadé.

SONAR is the leading freight forecasting platform. Two recently added SONAR indices are proving very useful to SONAR subscribers. Learn more.

There’s a steep learning curve for importers and exporters now that the U.K. is no longer part of the European Union. Botched customs forms are leading to freight backlogs.

FedEx Express unveils its dual-hub strategy in Europe and says redundancies will result in significant attrition.

This is an excerpt from Monday’s Point of Sale retail supply chain newsletter. The UK grocery supermarket sector was once highly oligopolistic, but in recent years, European brands have expanded in the UK and have created a much fiercer competitive landscape. There are 4 primary British supermarket chains dubbed ‘The Big Four’: Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA, […]

Cawston, Chowdhury are tapped for top positions at the new company.

Dachser promotes Burkhard Eling to CEO; GlobalTranz hires Bryan Foe as SVP; the Containerization & Intermodal Institute appoints Randy Bayles to its board; and Illinois Railroad Association taps Michelle Kelm as executive director.

XPO gets most of K + N’s U.K. contract logistics business.

The European Commission has released its Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy. Massive investments and infrastructure are needed to meet the EU Commission’s sustainability milestones.

Beyond the EU, the U.K. will have to busy itself establishing bilateral air service agreements with other countries as well.

DHL will be the first to deliver COVID-19 vaccines in Germany. Integrated logistics companies like DHL, FedEx and UPS have an advantage with their closed networks and sophisticated delivery methods for keeping vaccines at the correct temperature.

The GEODIS Women’s Network “is also intended to improve the reputation of the logistics and transport industry, a field traditionally dominated by men.”

CP will serve Hapag-Lloyd at the New Brunswick port through 2025.

Wabtec shares its “30 by 30” strategy for combating climate change. Greenbrier plans to track its emissions and energy intensity in 2021.

Hapag-Lloyd and ONE chief executives will lead the “unified voice of liner shipping.”

The London-based maritime market data provider will offer subscribers airfreight indices via partnership with TAC.

European 3PL says integration with e-commerce marketplaces strengthens activity with American online retailers and shoppers.

Freight forwarder guides customers through online shopping shift and transport capacity choke points.

Wholesale by Vels sees newly formed Amsterdam-based air cargo consolidation service for freight forwarders taking off during coronavirus pandemic.

Rate increases, which apply to ground, air and international services, take effect Dec. 27.

Air Transport Services Group’s freighter leases offset financial losses from its grounded passenger planes.

Danish third-party logistics services provider’s bottom-line benefits from easing COVID-19 during summer months.

Kalitta Air’s order of 777 passenger-to-freighter converted aircraft is an industry first.

Data Gumbo uses blockchain to automate transactions between buyers and sellers using a combination of data held by those parties and other third parties as verification.

Crowley has the Jones Act-compliant marine transportation assets to accommodate the start of the burgeoning U.S. offshore wind industry.

Svitzer, Alvys, Blue Ridge, Duluth Seaway and Bureau Veritas announce appointments.

German forwarder says acquisition will expand its global business in handling nonhazardous bulk liquids such as alcoholic beverages and edible oils.

The carrier sought relief from commission regulations earlier this month as part of its efforts to recover from a crippling cyberattack in late September.

The ocean container industry association files an agreement with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission to ensure its collective activities do not violate the Shipping Act.

The Agriculture Transportation Coalition, together with TradeLanes, surveys hundreds of American shippers about the cost to their bottom lines of uncommunicated earliest return dates from ocean carriers.

Former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive takes over at IICL from Steven Blust, who will continue in a senior adviser role.

The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America’s general counsel Ed Greenberg looks forward to spending time with his grandson.

While COVID-19 helped increase e-commerce sales volumes, retailers struggle to manage lengthening holiday season lead times.

Cold storage operator Americold expands its portfolio again, this time in a $1.74 billion bid for the world’s fourth-largest provider. Americold plans to offer 33 million common shares in total to facilitate the deal.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission will consider the French liner carrier’s relief petition to give it time to clean up its systems.

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission wants to learn the extent of allegations that ocean carriers are targeting noncontracted service providers for freight payment.

Self-driving trucks will drastically cut down on the need for truck drivers, while also disrupting allied segments like insurance, fuel stations and truck stops.

U.S. Federal Maritime Commission steps forward with notice of inquiry to evaluate alleged ocean carrier abuse of “merchant” definition for bill of lading responsibility.

SAL Heavy Lift Group sees Intermarine expanding its ability to serve project cargo shippers throughout North and South America.