The global shipping industry is constantly evolving, and the COVID-19 pandemic began a marked shift in how container shipping operates. Disruption caused by the pandemic has forced the industry to expand its capacity and reduce costs to remain profitable.
At the peak of the pandemic, containers essentially stopped moving. As manufacturers went into lockdown and closed factories, many of the containers used to ship those manufactured goods were left stranded at ports or storage depots, where they weren’t needed. Simultaneously, freight shippers were reducing the number of vessels in use due to the manufacturing slowdown. This limited global shipping capacity and disrupted the worldwide flow of containers and goods. As a result, some regions were left with an excess of stored containers, while other places were left with no containers at all.
As the pandemic slowed and the global economy began to rebound, labor shortages and congestion at ports have left many of these stored containers stuck where they aren’t needed. Now, instead of a shortage of shipping containers, the industry is dealing with too many. Many container storage depots are turning away new clients due to lack of space, and some shippers are even giving containers away to make room. Blank and cancelled sailings are increasing as well, as shippers decide to skip a port or cancel a trip altogether in order to manage changes in demand and capacity.
Check back here for the latest news and insights on the state of the container shipping industry. You can also visit our maritime news archive to learn more about cargo shipping, or our American Shipper archive for air cargo shipping industry news.
Swiss freight forwarder looks to the Middle East for opportunity with deal for one-time provider of logistics services to U.S. military.
Rise in expansion and efficiency projects comes after strong year of growth in company’s intermodal business.
Never-ending peak season may finally be peaking as shippers rush in goods; shipowners tallying up the cost of scrubbers.
Leading dry bulk operator lists out upsets in iron ore and soybean trade as shipping rates slide on weak China demand.
Deal for intermodal brokerage and logistics firm comes amid strong growth in Pacific Northwest market.
European ocean carrier needed approval from continent’s governing anti-trust body before taking offer to public shareholders.
NS invokes precision scheduled railroading as its seeks to match peer performance and lower its operating ratio.
United Nations report says trade is flowing to countries not involved in the dispute; Asia-to-Europe boxship trade is oversupplied.
A noticeable change in the pattern of trade is underway at Australia’s second biggest box port, Sydney’s Port Botany. Botany handled more boxes in the last calendar year than in 2017 – but those boxes arrived and departed on fewer, although larger, container ships.
Cost of all-water transit could rise as higher price, low-sulfur fuel comes into play; Maersk offers a peak in the fridge.
All-in rates on the way out as new surcharge formulas on the way in as ocean carriers work on ways to share cost burden with customers.
Rail operator Aurizon has completed the sale of its Queensland Intermodal Business to privately owned Australian logistics company Linfox. The Queensland Intermodal Business delivers general cargo for more than 300 customers across the state and includes a wide variety of freight including groceries, white goods and general goods.
Georgia lays out the welcome mat for the largest containership with new gear; Maersk CEO looks to land for next deals.
Record-breaking year also showed strains in supply chains as busiest U.S. East Coast port.
Uncertainty over whether refineries are doing enough to plan for marine fuel switch pushes up premium for low-sulfur product.
Five-year high in growth seen last year thanks to tariff front-loading and tight truck supply, but shippers likely to put brakes on growth this year.
New container service provides Florida greater and cheaper access to Asia’s exporters; start-up aims to reduce per-diem fees on containers.
Class 1 railroad warns of slowdown in shipments through major intermodal hubs as tracks crack under severe cold.
It’s Northern California versus Southern California traffic as port displays turn times; Brexiting remains bad for business, shipowners warn.
Class 1 railroads may have to shorten train lengths and reduce speeds to cope with cold, while drayage supply will also be tight.
Dam collapse could pinch amount of ore heading to water; container crane falls on ship in Canada; Australian port tries to go clean.
Swiss freight forwarder says 2021 strategic plan should make Ceva worth more as independent company.
APM’s move to add automated box handling equipment at large terminal has dock workers concerned about job security.
Port’s growing base of automotive and other shippers needs better way to move freight as traffic woes mean Charleston is ‘not as quaint.‘
Hard commodity volumes were mixed, but intermodal and coal are better; pricing is the best in seven years.
Port plans new wharf for container-on-barge service that has been slow to take off elsewhere; container imports show big December jump.
Port truck operators could potentially increase their wages by using a new service from NEXT that helps them run shorter runs and return to ports with empty containers. The company just secured $97 million in funding to help it expand.
Tight supply of labor, chassis, railcars, and space all contribute to port woes. Autonomous ships coming to Norway by next year.
Freight volumes coming into U.S. remain high in January, but delays and congestions turn trips to major marine terminals into ‘madhouse.’
Top supply chain trends and Rhode Island collects more in toll revenue than it expected, plus the growing scooter logistics sector and more container checks.
Slowdown headed for U.S. import volumes as largest exporter sees economy weaken ahead of prolonged holiday.
New power given to the Federal Maritime Commission to scrutinize the effects of ocean carrier competition has been put on hold by the government shutdown.
Surprise fees for practice that reduces congestion at ports and improves driver turns amounts to ‘dirty pool’ on part of the steamship lines.
Capacity additions set to have knock-on effect for trades into North America; Australia’s port strike to cause Pacific Rim ripples.
Container volumes remain strong, but delays mean fewer overall pickups; drivers also not pleased with new fees for flipping containers.
Facility has been frequent target of labor action and drew attention of local politicians, who tried to evict third-party logistics firm.
‘Swedish furniture,’ along with an IT refresh and 24 percent share premium, may factor in combining two top freight forwarders.
U.K. votes down Brexit deal, leading to more uncertainty on rules for freight forwarders; stowaway bugs bug Australia.
Once-manual process now automated, offering some relief to shippers having to fetch empty containers at congestion plagued ports.
Port of Houston faces choice as to which ships to prioritize; U.K. Parliament turmoil leaves Brexit deal in doubt.
Auto parts imports could take a hit as vehicle sales slow; Japan makes its own play for African port supremacy.
Overall import growth mean more freight all around, but high drayage costs and better service bringing more boxes to rail.
The government shutdown is forcing the U.S. Coast Guard to work without pay which could begin affecting freight operations.
Once dependent on drayage to move boxes to rail, GCT Bayonne now has near-dock rail to speed shipments to U.S. hinterland.
Price impact of low-sulfur fuel may not be as bad as feared, but still remains unknown; I-5 bridge remains a chokepoint for trucking.
Gale force winds and the subsequent rolling movement of the ship are the most likely causes for the loss of around 300 containers from the mega-container vessel the MSC Zoe on 2 January. But MSC has not yet confirmed the causes of the accident, or how much cargo was lost.
SecurSpace develops Airbnb-like model for container storage as intermodal hubs getting tighter on space.
Law aims to help shippers avoid potential liability; But in an industry with many fly-by-night operators, getting monies owed still a challenge.
Chassis management and appointment times seen as targets for fixes as Los Angeles grapples with container delays.
China’s government is making the port-city of Xiamen, in the south-east of the country, one of the main nodes oin its 21st Century version of the Silk Road. A major new initiative involving ports, road transport, maritime carriers, rail transport, common-marketing, a logistics single trade window and many other features are being set up in the City.
Even the Port’s director agrees something needs to be done; East Coast port notches new record; ATA crows about California victory.
Project first suggested in 2002 may yet go forward as Port of Baltimore vies for hinterland freight movements.
Rising driver wages can’t slow driver shortage plus a Boston-based company receives funding for autonomous technology development for cargo vessels and more empty containers are leaving U.S. ports
Information about that data is more needed; box moves strong at Port of Los Angeles, but peak season in rearview mirror.
The Washington state port is retooling to handle bigger ships and heavier cargo. The transformation includes a large-scale mixed-use development featuring housing, hotels and office space.
Ocean carriers ease back capacity as import volumes slowdown, but industry still expected to be set fair for 2019.
An Eaton clutch defect leads to a recall of International truck models and other OEMs may have to follow suit, plus Amazon Air takes off and intermodal growth being driven by inland ports.
As barge rates slump in the face of increased rainfall, the Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR) has warned that Rhine River water levels could fall again in December.
A major port operator in Australia is being sued in the nation’s Federal Court by the national competition watchdog, alleging an anti-competitive deal with a state government.
But container volumes still going strong this quarter as U.S.-China hash out deal; but first quarter likely to see slowdown.
Main U.S. maritime agency’s probe into practices of ocean carriers and terminals winds down, but no changes yet seen.
Company makes fourth acquisition in 2018.
New service aims to provide smaller shippers more certainty when booking ocean freight.
Freight forwarder and logistics firm targets 5% annual growth through 2021 thanks to tie-up with CMA CGM.
Funding aims to keep Port’s market share as more freight moves to intermodal and off the roads.
Trucking executive points to final mile delivery as draining driver pool, so think about that on Cyber Monday.
Upcoming summit could provide surprise deal, but acrimony and lack of consensus puts deal in doubt.
In a normal year, the Port of Oakland stands out from other U.S. ports for exporting more than it imports. Not this year.
World’s largest container lines plan to look at emerging technologies as new options come to the market.
Good times at U.S. ports not expected to last as world’s largest shipping line warns trade war will rear up at start of next year.
Companies are increasingly being asked to pay for damages to equipment, even when they are not at fault, according to a national survey conducted by TCompanies.
Lows water levels are seasonal, but this year has been record, impeding low-cost barges and favoring high-cost trucking.
New group floats alternative blockchain solution for container trade.
Intermodal services firm to boost presence in consumer goods sector with acquisition of LTL consolidator and brokerage.
SONAR’s OTVI.LAX is clearly indicating that the strength in the inbound loaded container flow out of the Long Beach/LA port is continuing and gathering momentum.
Canada’s largest railroad boosts intermodal and refrigerated service offering with acquisition of major trucking company.
Surge in low-sulfur fuel use by ships could usher in two to three year period of uncertainty in refining industry.
Assets to be acquired are still unclear, but deal could expand Ceva’s North American and Asian presence.
Crude-by-rail is big growth driver for quarter as rail remains key outlet for Canadian crude.
Extra gate capacity aims to reduce turn times for drivers.
SONAR’s Headhaul Index map and the HAUL.JOT Index are both showing that the return to growth in inbound loaded container flow first seen in the Long Beach/LA port is continuing and gathering momentum.
Will the combination of oil prices, refinery cracks and scrubber economics result in easing of fears of tight supplies? Two reports chime in.
Deal for Australian freight forwarder and customs broker to increase exposure to growing regional economy.
It started with an open nomination period, and after culling through hundreds of submissions, the FreightWaves Research Institute has announced the inaugural Freight.Tech 100 companies.
The city hopes to use its role as a landlord to help move truck traffic on to barges and to trains.
Volumes still strong in run-up to tariffs, as retailers ramp up imports.
Major drayage operator at U.S. busiest port complex looks to all-electric truck to hit emissions reduction goal.
Latest round of fuel surcharges aimed at guiding expectations on IMO 2020 costs.
UNCTAD expects volumes across all maritime segments to grow in 2018. However, it warns that trade wars can disrupt the global trading system and there is a need to assess the implications of vertical integration within the industry, addressing any potential negative effects.
Logistics company argues that it has improved conditions at warehouse one year after its purchase.
Union representing 14,500 employees says new deal aims to bring stability and peace to US docks.
Peak shipping season is just starting and experts see no let up in freight demand.
A staid and technology-averse industry is in the process of changing thanks to new entrants.
US Southeast ports to be served by bigger, more modern chassis pool.
World’s largest shipping company says over-capacity and fuel costs, not trade war, are the main issues.
Fifth largest containership company says trade anxieties could still weigh on results.
Hub Group’s earnings per share at $0.66 beat Wall Street’s consensus estimate of $0.50, but executives said that the third and fourth quarters will be even stronger, and margins will grow even against tough comps.
According to CB Insights, “the maritime shipping industry accounts for 90% of global trade and is only now beginning to leverage technology. This shift could have far-reaching impact on retailers, consumer goods companies, manufacturers, and more.” With this important industry in mind, CB Insights hosted a July 24 webinar to “explore how shipping companies and global ports are utilizing automation and blockchain technology to revolutionize the shipping industry,” taking a look at various aspects of the supply chain along the way.
