Congestion in China keeps growing with the capacity of ships stuck in Shanghai reaching a new level
● Following growing congestion in Shanghai (a five fold in the number of ships waiting to discharge or load has been reported. The capacity of the stuck ships is more than 14% of the fleet), another lockdown has been imposed with unclear signs of when it will be lifted. That’s why port authorities have announced that around-the-clock operations will be established. Empty container pickup and deliveries are not allowed at Waigaoqiao and Yangshan terminals at least until Friday. Transport to and from airport and container terminals will be limited.
● Trucking issues are rising in the big cities. Maersk reports that its trucking services will be impacted by approximately 30% Ocean freight has been redirected to Ningbo as there is news that the lockdown may be extended beyond 5 April.
● Maersk is consolidating its Indian calls in Mundra Port instead of at Nhava Sheva to maximize cargo capacity but the consequences of it have been the growing transshipment delays at Colombo Port in Sri Lanka.
● Slightly decreasing spot rates on Asia-Europe (they went back down to $11,192 per 40ft) have encouraged carriers to offer short-term contracts to small shippers.
● Transportation of the essential goods to Ukrain has been happening via the Black Sea route, however, rates from a Turkish hub to Ukraine and Russia today are almost twice as high as in pre-pandemic times, showing no time for a slowdown.
● Finland has suspended rail freight traffic with Russia.
● In addition to three already operation services, MSC will add a new Caribbean container service through the Jacksonville Port Authority. The rotation will be Freeport, Bahamas - Rio Haina, Dominican Republic - Caucedo, Dominican Republic - Fort Lauderdale, US - Jacksonville, US. The company has also started recruiting more staff for its company Midway in Belgium under which it has been operating its own trains for a while now with a plan to expand in the direction of North Europe.
● Intra-Asia lines are launching the China-Vietnam-India joint service that will be operating a weekly rotation of Ningbo, Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh, Singapore, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Port Klang (Westport), Ho Chi Minh, Ningbo.
● As congestion at the Chinese ports continues, China focuses on rail and its new link connecting the Chinese Silk Road hub Chongqing and Hanoi.
● Major gauge changes between Spanish hubs Zaragoza and the port of Algeciras, major getaways, have been planned after Adif awarded a 2,2 million euro contract to facilitate adjustments necessary for cargo movement.
● Antwerp’s and Zeebrugge’s rail network has received a new intermodal connection linking Antwerp with the Birsterminal in the Rhine port Birsfelden, Switzerland. The intermodal route will pass through Terminal Container Athus in southern Belgium.
● The US freight group STG Logistics will acquire XPO Logistics’ intermodal arm the value of which is reported to be between $800m and $1.3bn.
● The reorganization of Yangtze River Delta ports sees a new spin: Shanghai International Port Group plans to take a 23.08% stake in Lianyungang Port Group strengthening the Maritime Silk Road.
● Spanish supply lines are still disrupted by the strike. The hauliers rejected the €500m of the direct aid package.
● Konecranes and Cargotec have canceled the planned merger after UK CMA blocked the agreement
● The first attempt to refloat Ever Forward which has been stuck for 16 days has taken place but the results have not been reported yet
