Empty containers could be a strong transportation demand signal for September, but the market appears ready to handle it, for now.
Folding five empty shipping containers into the space of one could curb smuggling, save shippers money and reduce emissions.
Some big ports are import focused. The Port of Oakland is a big export port. It is trying to restore the traditional import/export balance.
“Efforts to successfully move aging cargo out of shipping terminals” improve the picture at California’s San Pedro Bay ports.
Agriculture exporters on the West Coast are feeling neglected by ocean carriers. The Port of Oakland is trying to make more equipment available so they can ship their goods.
Port of Los Angeles is going vessel operators to clear out empty containers or else face big fines.
Innovation and investment are the watchwords at the Georgia Ports Authority, where officials are rushing to deal with supply chain constraints.
Port Houston’s year-to-date container traffic increased 15% in TEUs compared to the first six months in 2020.
“This was by far the busiest April in the port’s 114-year history, outpacing the previous record set just back in 2019 by a hefty 29%.”
E-commerce spurs a year-over-year container volume hike of 43.6%.
Containers have been in short supply, exacerbated by gross trade imbalances between the U.S. and China. The surging flow of empties moving back to the West Coast implies the ships won’t be slowing anytime soon.
National Retail Federation’s Jon Gold and CNBC’s Lori Ann LaRocco discuss the impact of empty containers and port congestion and how retailers can protect themselves from future supply chain vulnerabilities.
The Port of Long Beach may need to start filling out its record book in pencil as new numbers keep replacing those on top.
“This is one of the most difficult seasons we’ve been facing trying to move our cargo out of the United States,” says a California almond producer.
Shippers are willing to pay more to put freight on the rail just to get it moving out of Los Angeles.
Top July welcome news amid “devastating effects of the coronavirus on the economy.”
Executive Director Gene Seroka does not want to break the 15-month record set during the recession of 2008-09.
Portsmouth Marine Terminal will be closed while import volumes are down as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The number of empty containers returned to Asia from the California port dropped 23% in March.
