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The Loadstar

The Loadstar is fast becoming known at the highest levels of logistics and supply chain management as one of the best sources of influential analysis and commentary.


Monday, December 9, 2024
cargo ships loading at port of oakland
Shipping

FMC Halts Premier Alliance Rollout Over Competitive Concerns

The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has issued a request for more information from ONE, HMM and Yang Ming on their proposed Premier

December 9, 2024
Total Views: 750

Friday, December 6, 2024
cargo ships loading at port of oakland
Shipping

Spot Rate Rollercoaster: Carriers Bank on GRIs Ahead of Lunar New Year

Asia-Europe carriers saw their early December general rate increases (GRIs) stick this week, with spot rates into both North Europe and Mediterranean ports

December 6, 2024
Total Views: 1060

Tuesday, November 26, 2024
The Ever Max ready to transit the Panama Canal. Photo courtesy Panama Canal Authority
Shipping

Panama Land Bridge: Can It Solve the Canal’s Drought Woes?

Rising water levels have restored transits through the Panama Canal, but the canal authority is also looking into how a land bridge could move even more cargo

November 26, 2024
Total Views: 1955

Friday, November 22, 2024
Aerial view of containerships at the port of Southampton
Shipping

FAK Fantasy: Carriers Struggle to Keep Rates Afloat

Container spot rates were largely unchanged for a third consecutive week, as it became evident that a 15 November rate hike on Asia-Europe trades had failed to

November 22, 2024
Total Views: 1028

Thursday, November 14, 2024
French frigate escort. Photo: EUNAVFOR
Shipping

CMA CGM Bends to Customer Pressure, Re-Routes INDAMEX Service Back Around Cape

Pressure from customers has apparently caused French mainline operator CMA CGM to u-turn on plans to operate its INDAMEX (Indian Subcontinent-US East Coast)

November 14, 2024
Total Views: 803

Friday, November 8, 2024
Asia-Europe Container Spot Rates Surge – What’s Fueling the Off-Season Spike?
Shipping

Asia-Europe Container Spot Rates Surge – What’s Fueling the Off-Season Spike?

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Despite generally weak cargo demand, spot rates on the Asia-Europe trades continued to show gains this week, as

November 8, 2024
Total Views: 618

Friday, October 18, 2024
Aerial top view of a containership underway
Shipping

No End in Sight: New Ships Won’t Stop Freight Rates From Climbing in 2025

By Charlie Bartlett (The Loadstar) – Some three million TEU of new tonnage arriving next year will most likely be “more than offset” by further

October 18, 2024
Total Views: 1836

Wednesday, October 2, 2024
Port workers from the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) participate in a strike in the Virginia International Gateway in Portsmouth, Virginia, U.S., October 1, 2024. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez
Ports

Box Lines Declare Force Majeure as U.S. Dockworker Strike Enters Day 2

By Alex Lennane (The Loadstar) – Shipping lines are beginning to declare force majeure, as the US east and Gulf coast port strike enters its second

October 2, 2024
Total Views: 2202

Thursday, September 26, 2024
SC Ports accommodating three ships at Wando Welch Terminal. Photo: SCPA/Walter Lagarenne
Ports

Scores of Ships Headed for US East Coast Face Delays as Strike Looms

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) A prolonged strike on the US east and Gulf coasts could prove “toxic” to global container supply chains – and even if

September 26, 2024
Total Views: 1895

Thursday, September 19, 2024
The CMA CGM Marco Polo, an Explorer class container ship crosses under the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, to enter New York Harbor as seen from Brooklyn, New York, U.S., May 20, 2021. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
Ports

Impending Port Strike: Carriers Announce Disruption Surcharges

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – As the possibility of strike action at ports on the US east and Gulf coasts draws nearer by the day, container

September 19, 2024
Total Views: 1242

Friday, September 13, 2024
The Port of Savannah's Garden City Terminal courtesy Georgia Ports Authority
Ports

Container Spot Rates Continue to Tumble as Peak Season Comes to Early End

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Spot freight rates on every major container lane continued to tumble over the past week as demand remained flat,

September 13, 2024
Total Views: 3340

Friday, September 6, 2024
A containership docking at the Port of Cape Town
Shipping

Container Spot Rates Plummet as Asia-Europe Trades Witness Double-Digit Declines

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – The steady decline of container spot freight rates between Asia and Europe turned decidedly steeper this week, with

September 6, 2024
Total Views: 1831

Friday, August 30, 2024
Aerial top view of a containership at port. Stock Photo: Shutterstock/Avigator Fortuner
Shipping

Ocean Carriers Blank Sailings Ahead of China’s Golden Week Holiday

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Fearing another container spot rate crash, ocean carriers have blanked a number of export sailings from Asia to Europe

August 30, 2024
Total Views: 1162

Friday, August 23, 2024
Container vessel approaching the terminal at the Port of Savannah, Georgia
Ports

Transpacific Spot Rates Rise Amid Looming U.S. Port Strike Threat

By Mike Wackett (The Loadstar) – Transpacific container spot rates were in the ascendancy this week as industrial action storm clouds gathered over US

August 23, 2024
Total Views: 867

Friday, August 16, 2024
Aerial view of a container ship
Shipping

Container Spot Rates Continue to Slide as U.S. Port Strike Threatens

By Charlie Bartlett (The Loadstar) – The downward trend of the Drewry World Container Index (WCI) continued this week, showing average rates have fallen

August 16, 2024
Total Views: 1842

Friday, August 9, 2024
Port of Rotterdam. Photo Credit: Aerovista Luchtfotografie / Shutterstock.com
Shipping

China-to-N Europe Spot Rates Start to Fall as Record Peak Demand Eases

By Charlotte Goldstone (The Loadstar) – 2M Alliance members Maersk and MSC have reduced port calls in Europe on upcoming sailings to avoid congestion

August 9, 2024
Total Views: 599

Thursday, July 25, 2024
Photo of the Maersk Frankfurt shared by the Indian Coast Guard on July 23, 2024.
Shipping

Shipowner Declares General Average Over Maersk Frankfurt Fire

By Angelo Mathais, India correspondent (The Loadstar) Shippers with cargo on the Maersk Frankfurt, which has suffered fires on board for six days, have

July 25, 2024
Total Views: 7414

Friday, July 12, 2024
Aerial view of a container ship
Shipping

Container Spot Rates Take a Breather

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Spot freight rate levels on the major east-west container trades this week remained flat, as the third-quarter peak

July 12, 2024
Total Views: 1320

Friday, July 5, 2024
Aerial top view of a containership at port. Stock Photo: Shutterstock/Avigator Fortuner
Shipping

Spot Rate Surge to Continue Post-Golden Week

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Since the 1 July implementation of a series of peak season surcharges (PSS) and new FAK (freight all kinds) levels,

July 5, 2024
Total Views: 910

Wednesday, July 3, 2024
MSC Container ship enters portCatstyecam / Shutterstock.com
Shipping

MSC Hits Record 20% Market Share of Global Containership Capacity

By Charlotte Goldstone (The Loadstar) – MSC now holds a 20% share of the global container shipping market, in terms of capacity offered, a record in the

July 3, 2024
Total Views: 1479
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