Maritime News
News and analysis of ocean containerized cargo movement, logistics, supply chains, technology, and end-to-end connectivity. Maritime news and analysis of containerized ocean cargo movement, breakbulk and roll-on and roll-off shipping from origin to destination.
Updated: 1 hour 17 min ago
Rate dumping fears emerge as Chinese ro/ro operators eye European expansion
Global vehicle carriers are set to feel the sting of a growing Chinese-operated ro/ro fleet amid a fight for international car cargoes.
Port Houston implementing reefer dwell fees to encourage container flow
The fees come as dwell times for refrigerated containers in Houston exceed a week and reefer volumes topped 10,000 TEUs for the first time in three years.
Ocean carriers flex tonnage control, but overcapacity is mounting
Internal and external forces in the first half of 2025 mitigated container vessel overcapacity, but steep challenges lie ahead, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi.
Carriers ‘stand ready’ to cut Persian Gulf calls as security threat escalates
Iran has yet to make good on its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, but nervous carriers are preparing contingency plans as the region moves onto a war footing.
Poor ocean reliability presents major challenge for US ag exporters
With little relief forthcoming, cargo owners need to build delays into their shipping plans as port and ship capacity remain tight, speakers at the Agriculture Transportation Coalition’s annual meeting said.
India-US liners attempt hefty peak season rate hikes despite trade volatility
But sources do not think carriers will have an opportunity to net full recovery of the proposed amounts in the current market environment unless strategic capacity cuts occur.
Cosco boosts feeder reach under pair of deals with X-Press
Consultancy MDS Transmodal said the two companies will have just under half of the almost 176,700 TEU in feeder ship capacity deployed in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Months of congestion ahead for North Europe ports: Antwerp-Bruges
Strong demand for much of the year has kept North European ports under pressure, slowing attempts to ease the bottlenecks.
Trans-Pacific spot rates falling as tariff-linked demand surge loses steam
A more than 30% one-week drop in rates from Asia to the US West Coast is showing that the import rush sparked by the temporary pause in higher US tariffs will apparently be short-lived.
Cargo bottlenecks persist at Mexico’s Manzanillo port one month after strike
Despite ongoing efforts to clear out logjams triggered by the brief work stoppage, berth waiting times for vessels arriving at the country’s busiest port have risen to their highest this year.
Cosco/OOCL saw big gains in US imports from Asia in early 2025
The China-based liners carried a combined 1.09 million TEUs in imports to the US through April, up 23% over the same period in 2024, according to Journal of Commerce rankings.
BC ports, longshore unions need new bargaining process: report
A wide-ranging report commissioned by Canada’s Labor Ministry says British Columbia’s ports are vulnerable to strikes in part because of disparate longshore unions involved in contract talks.
Are we entering a ‘golden age’ for major ocean carriers?
It is reasonable to assume the larger container carriers are now going to earn above historical returns, but they will not be immune from significant dips when supply significantly exceeds demand, writes Jeremy Masters.
Closure of Strait of Hormuz would further stretch global container capacity
While just 2% to 3% of global container traffic transits the key chokepoint, any restrictions would further tie up global vessel capacity and cut off the ports of Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi.
Market seeks to navigate medium-term cuts to heavy-lift air cargo capacity
The loss of An-124 heavy-lift air capacity will force a modal shift to ocean or a reduction in cargo sizes to fit into smaller craft, experts say.
Heavier power cargoes challenge transport, infrastructure limitations
Economies of scale are prompting shippers to superscale project cargoes, putting pressure on carriers and forwarders.
India-Europe ocean rates rebound on space, equipment pressures
Forwarders moving cargo on monthly contracts have pegged average week-on-week gains at $200 to $300 per FEU for bookings from West India to Felixstowe/London Gateway or Rotterdam.
June expected to be peak for niche carriers in the trans-Pacific: analyst
Sea-Intelligence said elevated freight rates are drawing small carriers to the eastbound trade lane, but the additional capacity should dwindle by mid-August.
Car carriers shift gears to cope with east-west trade imbalances
Rising Asian vehicle exports have surpassed falling volumes from the west, forcing trade reshuffling and a rise in ballast trips.
Industrial cargo demand challenged by regional variation, economic uncertainty
While some markets grapple with the lingering effects of trade disputes and fluctuating demand, others are experiencing unprecedented growth driven by green initiatives, robust domestic infrastructure development and the necessities of defense.