<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">Two shipping lines that had competed on routes between the U.S. West Coast and Brazil formed a partn</div>

Two shipping lines that had competed on routes between the U.S. West Coast and Brazil formed a partn

<div>Two shipping lines that had competed on routes between the U.S. West Coast and Brazil formed a partnership and will operate a single string of ships there.CMB Transport, sometimes known as Belgian Line, and Norsul Internacional of Brazil, joined forces to create a single line known as Norbel.Separately, each line had been operating three ships. Together, Norbel will operate four ships, with a fifth to be added next year.Steve Baron, Norbel's new line manager, said in telephone interview from his offices in Vancouver, British Columbia, that rationalized service will cut Rio de Janeiro-to-Los Angeles transit times to 25 days. That...

Two shipping lines that had competed on routes between the U.S. West Coast and Brazil formed a partnership and will operate a single string of ships there. CMB Transport, sometimes known as Belgian Line, and Norsul Internacional of Brazil, joined forces to create a single line known as Norbel.Separately, each line had been operating three ships. Together, Norbel will operate four ships, with a fifth to be added next year. Steve Baron, Norbel's new line manager, said in telephone interview from his offices in Vancouver, British Columbia, that rationalized service will cut Rio de Janeiro-to-Los Angeles transit times to 25 days. That voyage had been taking more than 30 days, he said. "We previously had overlapping services and port calls, but this will eliminate that," he said. "It's a combination service under a vessel-sharing agreement." The new arrangement is expected to improve the economic position of both lines, Mr. Baron said. Norbel will be a conference member, he added. Before the partnership, Norsul was a conference carrier, but CMB Transport was not. The first ship to operate under the partnership, the Rio Purus, sailed from Brazil shortly after the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission approved the joint arrangement last month. That ship was originally expected to reach Los Angeles next week but has been delayed until Oct. 26 as the result of a hurricane crossing its path. Many of the ships northbound from Brazil carry coffee, steel and breakbulk cargo. On thesouthbound leg, the ships move forest products, bulk chemicals, engineering equipment and containers. Mr. Baron said the two lines will retain separate bills of lading, but he added that they already are in the process of carrying out a joint marketing campaign for the new service. He said promoters are urging shippers in the Midwest to see if Norbel rates for cargoes shipped through West Coast ports aren't slightly lower than rates currently offered through East Coast ports. The line's two main ports in Brazil are Rio de Janeiro and Santos, with additional scheduled calls in Vitoria and Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala. On the West Coast, Norbel ships stop in Los Angeles/Long Beach, San Francisco/Oakland and Vancouver, British Columbia. Three of the ships in the combined service are about the same size, Mr. Baron said. The CMB Summit, CMB Splendour and Norsul Gacka each displace about 25,000 deadweight tons and each can haul some 628 20-foot equivalent units of container cargo. The Rio Purus displaces about 38,000 tons, he said. In the past, the line manager said, northbound runs from Brazil to the West Coast typically were the stronger part of the round trip, but new Brazilian economic laws have opened up Brazil to southbound goods. Traffic in both directions now is relatively balanced, he said. CMB Transport is one of three divisions of the Belgian conglomerate CMB Group, based in Antwerp. Norsul is based in Rio de Janeiro.

Maritime

CMB TRANSPORT, NORSUL FORM US-BRAZIL SHIP LINE

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The carrier’s new investment push seems to be an attempt to catch up with its peers, particularly MSC, which dedicated terminals at Mundra and Ennore/Chennai through joint venture arrangements with Adani.</div>

The carrier’s new investment push seems to be an attempt to catch up with its peers, particularly MSC, which dedicated terminals at Mundra and Ennore/Chennai through joint venture arrangements with Adani.

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<div class="phx-topic">Maersk is <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joc.com%2Farticle%2Fmaersk-joins-indian-shipbuilding-race-amid-government-incentives-china-pivot-5946747&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ckevin.saville2%40spglobal.com%7Cbf795d5cb03144ea34aa08dd5a480169%7C8f3e36ea80394b4081a77dc0599e8645%7C1%7C0%7C638765987479319448%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=%2Fn%2BHDOUKGomlVGJNspO46t3aciIhCJsbhyq9imu8ZpU%3D&amp;reserved=0">amplifying its Indian playbook</a> amid strong trade growth expectations propelled by diversifying Asian supply chains and new industry competition as ocean network dynamics resettle. The Danish carrier has committed a further $5 billion investment in the development of ports and other inland infrastructure projects in India, company officials told the Journal of Commerce Friday at the naming ceremony for the dual-fuel Albert Maersk in Nhava Sheva Port (Mumbai). “India is among the world's fastest-growing major economies, with a thriving manufacturing sector, a booming e-commerce industry and expanding exports,” said Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc. “Shipping and logistics are high on India’s priorities, and Maersk looks forward to partnering with India on various aspects.” In the first phase, the group plans to enhance cargo infrastructure at APM Terminals Pipavav, adding berths and deepening the channel beyond its current 48 feet at an estimated cost of $2 billion. This push comes as APMT’s concession rights at Pipavav are due to end in 2028, thus potentially creating a case for renewal. Equipped with multipurpose facilities that include a 1.35-million-TEU container terminal, Pipavav is facing fierce regional competitive challenges for box trade growth, especially from Adani Ports’ Mundra. Maersk/APMT operations in India include Gateway Terminals India at Nhava Sheva and 26 warehousing depots with the combined space totaling 350,000 square meters. “We believe we can play a role in reducing the cost of logistics by ensuring that our customers access all their supply chain needs in one place – from all modes of transportation to port handling to warehousing and distribution,” APMT CEO Keith Svendsen told the Journal of Commerce. “We are ready to invest more in developing ports with low emissions and great efficiency that will help businesses grow and connect India with the global markets.” Officials also indicated Maersk’s interest in the <a href="https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.joc.com%2Farticle%2Findia-greenlights-9-billion-deep-sea-port-off-jnpt-to-attract-larger-calls-5243629&amp;data=05%7C02%7Ckevin.saville2%40spglobal.com%7Cbf795d5cb03144ea34aa08dd5a480169%7C8f3e36ea80394b4081a77dc0599e8645%7C1%7C0%7C638765987479338303%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=HhX4jSwuknvMDjVQouHcebsFmIKvin7Mfp3Rx3%2FQVX8%3D&amp;reserved=0">Vadhavan Port project</a> near Nhava Sheva, and in extending its reach to the country’s East Coast, potentially in a minor port in Andhra Pradesh state. The Albert Maersk is the 11th 16,592-TEU vessel in the carrier’s 18-ship order of dual-fuel methanol vessels scheduled for delivery through 2025 and joins the Angelica Maersk as part of the ME11 (India/Europe) service fleet. “Although vessel capacities have by now already reached optimal levels, new generation vessels with alternate fuels are the need of the hour,” Sunil Vaswani, executive director of the Container Shipping Lines Association (India), told the Journal of Commerce. <h3>Keeping up with competitors </h3>On a broader view, Maersk’s new investment push seems to be an attempt to catch up with its peers, particularly Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC). MSC has dedicated terminals at Mundra and Ennore/Chennai through joint venture arrangements with Adani, as well as at Tuticorin via the Bollore Africa acquisition. CMA CGM also has a JV with Adani at Mundra and runs a terminal at Nhava Sheva in partnership with Mumbai-based JM Baxi Group, while Maersk's Gemini partner Hapag-Lloyd owns 40% of JM Ports &amp; Logistics, which holds terminal concessions at multiple locations in India. Contact Bency Mathew at <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/bencyvmathew@gmail.com">bencyvmathew@gmail.com.</a></div>

Maersk is amplifying its Indian playbook amid strong trade growth expectations propelled by diversifying Asian supply chains and new industry competition as ocean network dynamics resettle. The Danish carrier has committed a further $5 billion investment in the development of ports and other inland infrastructure projects in India, company officials told the Journal of Commerce Friday at the naming ceremony for the dual-fuel Albert Maersk in Nhava Sheva Port (Mumbai). “India is among the world's fastest-growing major economies, with a thriving manufacturing sector, a booming e-commerce industry and expanding exports,” said Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc. “Shipping and logistics are high on India’s priorities, and Maersk looks forward to partnering with India on various aspects.” In the first phase, the group plans to enhance cargo infrastructure at APM Terminals Pipavav, adding berths and deepening the channel beyond its current 48 feet at an estimated cost of $2 billion. This push comes as APMT’s concession rights at Pipavav are due to end in 2028, thus potentially creating a case for renewal. Equipped with multipurpose facilities that include a 1.35-million-TEU container terminal, Pipavav is facing fierce regional competitive challenges for box trade growth, especially from Adani Ports’ Mundra. Maersk/APMT operations in India include Gateway Terminals India at Nhava Sheva and 26 warehousing depots with the combined space totaling 350,000 square meters. “We believe we can play a role in reducing the cost of logistics by ensuring that our customers access all their supply chain needs in one place – from all modes of transportation to port handling to warehousing and distribution,” APMT CEO Keith Svendsen told the Journal of Commerce. “We are ready to invest more in developing ports with low emissions and great efficiency that will help businesses grow and connect India with the global markets.” Officials also indicated Maersk’s interest in the Vadhavan Port project near Nhava Sheva, and in extending its reach to the country’s East Coast, potentially in a minor port in Andhra Pradesh state. The Albert Maersk is the 11th 16,592-TEU vessel in the carrier’s 18-ship order of dual-fuel methanol vessels scheduled for delivery through 2025 and joins the Angelica Maersk as part of the ME11 (India/Europe) service fleet. “Although vessel capacities have by now already reached optimal levels, new generation vessels with alternate fuels are the need of the hour,” Sunil Vaswani, executive director of the Container Shipping Lines Association (India), told the Journal of Commerce. Keeping up with competitors On a broader view, Maersk’s new investment push seems to be an attempt to catch up with its peers, particularly Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC). MSC has dedicated terminals at Mundra and Ennore/Chennai through joint venture arrangements with Adani, as well as at Tuticorin via the Bollore Africa acquisition. CMA CGM also has a JV with Adani at Mundra and runs a terminal at Nhava Sheva in partnership with Mumbai-based JM Baxi Group, while Maersk's Gemini partner Hapag-Lloyd owns 40% of JM Ports & Logistics, which holds terminal concessions at multiple locations in India. Contact Bency Mathew at bencyvmathew@gmail.com.

Container Shipping News

Port News

Container lines

International ports

Maersk lines up $5 billion investment plan for Indian market expansion

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">Manufacturers are offering diverse views on the outlook for the wind sector, with onshore faring better than offshore in the US and blade accidents upending momentum.</div>

Manufacturers are offering diverse views on the outlook for the wind sector, with onshore faring better than offshore in the US and blade accidents upending momentum.

<div class="phx-topic">After reporting gains in equipment orders from their latest earnings period, four of the world’s largest original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of wind turbines are bracing for blowback from changes to US wind policies in an already challenged industry. Two of those companies, Siemens Gamesa and GE Vernova, continue to mitigate problems related to blade defects. The other two companies, Vestas and Nordex SE, remain bullish on growth regardless of US developments.The breakbulk and project logistics sector relies on turbines for onshore and offshore wind farms as a key cargo source. But in the US, offshore and onshore wind development is at a standstill following an executive order from President Donald Trump to freeze approvals, renewals and permits for wind projects on federal lands and waters. Globally, the industry has also had to contend with project interruptions, high interest rates and rising commodity costs over the past few years. Nordex CEO José Luis Blanco told Reuters on Feb. 27 that the German OEM, which primarily serves the onshore wind segment, also expects continued growth in the US market despite the new administration’s policies. ”Whatever the scenario in the US, even worst-case scenario, we can still deliver our guidance,” Blanco said.In its 2024 earnings report, released Feb. 27, Nordex projected a 49% increase in its onshore turbine installations in 2025, including a 68% increase in Europe and a 78% increase in North America, led by Canada.Nordex’s overall order intake grew 20% to a record $7.8 billion in 2024, while sales increased 12.5% to $7.6 billion. Denmark’s Vestas is forecasting further growth in 2025 as it fulfills a record-high backlog of combined onshore and offshore orders, which grew 14% to $71.7 billion in 2024, largely because of offshore. The company’s order intake for the year rose 4% to $20.1 billion.In Vestas’ Feb. 5 earnings call, CEO Henrik Anderson said the company is continuing to ramp up its investments in the US despite the Trump administration’s executive order. “I think the offshore has come to a stop, more or less with immediate effect,” Anderson said. “But when it comes to the onshore backlog, we are well covered for ’25. We are well covered a long distance into ’26.” Along with Germany and Australia, the US was one of Vestas’ top three onshore markets in 2024. <h3>Turbine troubles continue</h3>Equipment defects continue to overshadow financial gains for GE Vernova and Siemens Gamesa.On Feb. 22, two maintenance workers died at a Nebraska wind farm after falling off a GE Vernova turbine. Law enforcement officials said the workers experienced an “equipment failure,” although did not elaborate further. The deaths remain under investigation.The incident comes after a 351-foot-long blade from the Vineyard Wind project off the Massachusetts coast broke off a GE Vernova turbine and fell into the Atlantic Ocean last July. At US-based GE Vernova, offshore wind performance languished in 2024 as the company recorded $1 billion in lost contract dollars that the company attributed in part to the Vineyard Wind blade failure. GE Vernova is anticipating an “inflection point” in onshore markets as the company continues efforts to turn around its wind business, according to its chief executive. “We are cautious on when that inflection point is going to come in North America,” CEO Scott Strazik said during a Jan. 22 earnings call for GE Vernova’s first full-year results since becoming an independent company. Fourth-quarter revenues increased 20% to $3.1 billion on higher onshore wind equipment deliveries, while the company’s onshore wind business delivered its most profitable quarter in three years. In the US, GE Vernova secured more than 1 gigawatt (GW) of onshore wind orders for 2024, a 76% increase from the previous year. But with offshore and onshore business combined, wind equipment orders fell 41% to $2 billion for the year and 38% to $7.1 billion for the quarter. Meanwhile, Spain’s Siemens Gamesa continues to grapple with major flaws in some of its installed onshore turbines. The company’s latest setback came in January when one of the company’s 5.X blades broke off a turbine at a Swedish onshore wind farm for the second time since November. Technical defects have bogged down Siemens Gamesa since June 2023, when major flaws were discovered in 15% to 30% of the manufacturer’s already installed 4.X and 5.X onshore wind turbines. Sales of those two turbines were put on hold, although Siemens returned its 4.X model to the market in September 2024.Siemens Gamesa’s Feb. 12 quarterly earnings remarks indicated that the company is pinning its hopes on developments in the global offshore wind market, which helped drive orders while offsetting declines related to defective onshore turbines. Orders for the fiscal first quarter, which ended Dec. 31, increased 52% to $2.6 billion, while revenues grew 18% to $2.5 billion. In its Feb. 12 quarterly earnings remarks, German parent company Siemens Energy AG attributed the growth to a $1.5 billion turbine order for a wind farm in the North Sea. “The successful auctions in South Korea and Japan indicate that offshore wind is regaining momentum,” Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy AG, told investors, referring to offshore wind auctions the two countries held in December.Contact Autumn Cafiero Giusti at <a href="mailto:autumn@autumngiusti.com">autumn@autumngiusti.com</a>.</div>

After reporting gains in equipment orders from their latest earnings period, four of the world’s largest original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) of wind turbines are bracing for blowback from changes to US wind policies in an already challenged industry. Two of those companies, Siemens Gamesa and GE Vernova, continue to mitigate problems related to blade defects. The other two companies, Vestas and Nordex SE, remain bullish on growth regardless of US developments. The breakbulk and project logistics sector relies on turbines for onshore and offshore wind farms as a key cargo source. But in the US, offshore and onshore wind development is at a standstill following an executive order from President Donald Trump to freeze approvals, renewals and permits for wind projects on federal lands and waters. Globally, the industry has also had to contend with project interruptions, high interest rates and rising commodity costs over the past few years. Nordex CEO José Luis Blanco told Reuters on Feb. 27 that the German OEM, which primarily serves the onshore wind segment, also expects continued growth in the US market despite the new administration’s policies. ”Whatever the scenario in the US, even worst-case scenario, we can still deliver our guidance,” Blanco said. In its 2024 earnings report, released Feb. 27, Nordex projected a 49% increase in its onshore turbine installations in 2025, including a 68% increase in Europe and a 78% increase in North America, led by Canada. Nordex’s overall order intake grew 20% to a record $7.8 billion in 2024, while sales increased 12.5% to $7.6 billion. Denmark’s Vestas is forecasting further growth in 2025 as it fulfills a record-high backlog of combined onshore and offshore orders, which grew 14% to $71.7 billion in 2024, largely because of offshore. The company’s order intake for the year rose 4% to $20.1 billion. In Vestas’ Feb. 5 earnings call, CEO Henrik Anderson said the company is continuing to ramp up its investments in the US despite the Trump administration’s executive order. “I think the offshore has come to a stop, more or less with immediate effect,” Anderson said. “But when it comes to the onshore backlog, we are well covered for ’25. We are well covered a long distance into ’26.” Along with Germany and Australia, the US was one of Vestas’ top three onshore markets in 2024. Turbine troubles continue Equipment defects continue to overshadow financial gains for GE Vernova and Siemens Gamesa. On Feb. 22, two maintenance workers died at a Nebraska wind farm after falling off a GE Vernova turbine. Law enforcement officials said the workers experienced an “equipment failure,” although did not elaborate further. The deaths remain under investigation. The incident comes after a 351-foot-long blade from the Vineyard Wind project off the Massachusetts coast broke off a GE Vernova turbine and fell into the Atlantic Ocean last July. At US-based GE Vernova, offshore wind performance languished in 2024 as the company recorded $1 billion in lost contract dollars that the company attributed in part to the Vineyard Wind blade failure. GE Vernova is anticipating an “inflection point” in onshore markets as the company continues efforts to turn around its wind business, according to its chief executive. “We are cautious on when that inflection point is going to come in North America,” CEO Scott Strazik said during a Jan. 22 earnings call for GE Vernova’s first full-year results since becoming an independent company. Fourth-quarter revenues increased 20% to $3.1 billion on higher onshore wind equipment deliveries, while the company’s onshore wind business delivered its most profitable quarter in three years. In the US, GE Vernova secured more than 1 gigawatt (GW) of onshore wind orders for 2024, a 76% increase from the previous year. But with offshore and onshore business combined, wind equipment orders fell 41% to $2 billion for the year and 38% to $7.1 billion for the quarter. Meanwhile, Spain’s Siemens Gamesa continues to grapple with major flaws in some of its installed onshore turbines. The company’s latest setback came in January when one of the company’s 5.X blades broke off a turbine at a Swedish onshore wind farm for the second time since November. Technical defects have bogged down Siemens Gamesa since June 2023, when major flaws were discovered in 15% to 30% of the manufacturer’s already installed 4.X and 5.X onshore wind turbines. Sales of those two turbines were put on hold, although Siemens returned its 4.X model to the market in September 2024. Siemens Gamesa’s Feb. 12 quarterly earnings remarks indicated that the company is pinning its hopes on developments in the global offshore wind market, which helped drive orders while offsetting declines related to defective onshore turbines. Orders for the fiscal first quarter, which ended Dec. 31, increased 52% to $2.6 billion, while revenues grew 18% to $2.5 billion. In its Feb. 12 quarterly earnings remarks, German parent company Siemens Energy AG attributed the growth to a $1.5 billion turbine order for a wind farm in the North Sea. “The successful auctions in South Korea and Japan indicate that offshore wind is regaining momentum,” Christian Bruch, CEO of Siemens Energy AG, told investors, referring to offshore wind auctions the two countries held in December. Contact Autumn Cafiero Giusti at autumn@autumngiusti.com .

Energy projects

Project cargo

Breakbulk News

Wind turbine orders propel OEMs amid stalled US development, blade defects

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The French liner joined the ranks of its profitable peers, announcing Friday that its net profit rose 2% to $5.7 billion last year on an 18% rise in revenue to $55.5 billion.</div>

The French liner joined the ranks of its profitable peers, announcing Friday that its net profit rose 2% to $5.7 billion last year on an 18% rise in revenue to $55.5 billion.

<div class="phx-topic">New ship deliveries, the possible resumption of Suez Canal transits and the impact of US tariffs on trade are the three key issues that will define the container shipping sector this year, CMA CGM said Friday. “Deliveries of new vessels, combined with any developments in the Red Sea situation, will be decisive factors in shaping the market,” the French carrier said while reporting its fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 results. CMA CGM expects global container volumes to grow 3% this year, the same as global GDP. “The prospect of higher tariffs announced in the United States could have an impact on trade and lead to a reorganization of global supply chains in the medium term,” the carrier said. CMA CGM said its net profit rose 2% to $5.7 billion last year on an 18% rise in revenue to $55.5 billion. Its shipping division saw a 16% increase in revenue to $36.5 billion, while container volumes rose almost 8% to 23.6 million TEUs. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in 2024 climbed 52% year over year to $11 billion. The contribution of shipping to total revenue was unchanged at about 66% despite the growth in the carrier’s logistics business following the full integration of Bolloré Logistics. Revenue at the logistics business climbed 21% to $18.4 billion. CMA CGM’s other businesses, including terminals and air cargo, saw revenue surge 43% to almost $2.9 billion. Contact Keith Wallis at <a href="mailto:keithwallis@hotmail.com">keithwallis@hotmail.com</a>.</div>

New ship deliveries, the possible resumption of Suez Canal transits and the impact of US tariffs on trade are the three key issues that will define the container shipping sector this year, CMA CGM said Friday. “Deliveries of new vessels, combined with any developments in the Red Sea situation, will be decisive factors in shaping the market,” the French carrier said while reporting its fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 results. CMA CGM expects global container volumes to grow 3% this year, the same as global GDP. “The prospect of higher tariffs announced in the United States could have an impact on trade and lead to a reorganization of global supply chains in the medium term,” the carrier said. CMA CGM said its net profit rose 2% to $5.7 billion last year on an 18% rise in revenue to $55.5 billion. Its shipping division saw a 16% increase in revenue to $36.5 billion, while container volumes rose almost 8% to 23.6 million TEUs. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) in 2024 climbed 52% year over year to $11 billion. The contribution of shipping to total revenue was unchanged at about 66% despite the growth in the carrier’s logistics business following the full integration of Bolloré Logistics. Revenue at the logistics business climbed 21% to $18.4 billion. CMA CGM’s other businesses, including terminals and air cargo, saw revenue surge 43% to almost $2.9 billion. Contact Keith Wallis at keithwallis@hotmail.com .

Red Sea, tariffs among ‘decisive factors’ for liner market in 2025: CMA CGM

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">The measures are the latest in a series of support packages announced by South Korean trade organizations and government bodies to help the country’s small and medium-sized exporters weather capacity restrictions and volatile freight rates.</div>

The measures are the latest in a series of support packages announced by South Korean trade organizations and government bodies to help the country’s small and medium-sized exporters weather capacity restrictions and volatile freight rates.

<div class="phx-topic">South Korea’s largest trade group has teamed up with nine of the country’s carriers, including HMM, to offer space and preferential freight rate concessions to small South Korean exporters on 22 routes covering the trans-Pacific, European and intra-Asia trades. The program, announced Friday, is meant to help the exporters navigate market uncertainties affecting container shipping. “Although freight rates, which soared due to the Red Sea crisis last year, have been trending downward recently, uncertainty about the future rate outlook is growing due to the difficulty of navigating the Suez Canal and continued Cape of Good Hope diversions," the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said in a statement. A proposal by the Trump <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/us-port-tax-would-scramble-ocean-services-raise-shipper-costs-drewry-5952046">administration to charge a port tax on ships built in China or operated by Chinese carriers</a> “may also act as a factor for future freight increases,” KITA said. The association said its 2025 maritime transportation support project for small and medium-sized export enterprises will be done in collaboration with nine carriers, comprising HMM and eight mainly intra-Asia-focused lines including Heung-A Line, Korea Marine Transport Company (KMTC) and Pan Ocean. HMM will provide 1,000 TEUs per week at discounted rates on 14 routes to the Americas and Europe. The eight intra-Asia carriers will allocate 420 TEUs per week on eight services to India and Southeast Asia. No details of the preferential freight rates have been disclosed, but KITA said the rates would be adjusted semi-annually on routes to the Americas and Europe and quarterly on intra-Asia services, including those to India. The measures are the latest in a series of support packages announced by South Korean trade organizations and government bodies to help the country’s small and medium-sized exporters weather capacity restrictions and volatile freight rates. <h3>Group encourages long-term contracts with HMM </h3>Highlighting the current freight rate volatility, South Korea’s customs service said all-in container freight rates from South Korea to the US East Coast rose 7% in January to about $5,000 per FEU compared with a month earlier. But rates from South Korea to Europe fell 11% to $3,600/FEU, it said. KITA said it is also urging smaller exporters to sign long-term contracts with HMM to secure more stable space and rate levels on trans-Pacific and European services. “We expect this support package will help alleviate the burden of logistics costs on small and medium-sized enterprises that are suffering from uncertainty in ocean freight," Jeong Hee-chul, head of KITA’s trade promotion division, said. “The Korea International Trade Association will continue to expand support projects for companies, such as reducing logistics costs through active cooperation with national shipping companies.” Contact Keith Wallis at <a href="mailto:keithwallis@hotmail.com">keithwallis@hotmail.com</a>.</div>

South Korea’s largest trade group has teamed up with nine of the country’s carriers, including HMM, to offer space and preferential freight rate concessions to small South Korean exporters on 22 routes covering the trans-Pacific, European and intra-Asia trades. The program, announced Friday, is meant to help the exporters navigate market uncertainties affecting container shipping. “Although freight rates, which soared due to the Red Sea crisis last year, have been trending downward recently, uncertainty about the future rate outlook is growing due to the difficulty of navigating the Suez Canal and continued Cape of Good Hope diversions," the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) said in a statement. A proposal by the Trump administration to charge a port tax on ships built in China or operated by Chinese carriers “may also act as a factor for future freight increases,” KITA said. The association said its 2025 maritime transportation support project for small and medium-sized export enterprises will be done in collaboration with nine carriers, comprising HMM and eight mainly intra-Asia-focused lines including Heung-A Line, Korea Marine Transport Company (KMTC) and Pan Ocean. HMM will provide 1,000 TEUs per week at discounted rates on 14 routes to the Americas and Europe. The eight intra-Asia carriers will allocate 420 TEUs per week on eight services to India and Southeast Asia. No details of the preferential freight rates have been disclosed, but KITA said the rates would be adjusted semi-annually on routes to the Americas and Europe and quarterly on intra-Asia services, including those to India. The measures are the latest in a series of support packages announced by South Korean trade organizations and government bodies to help the country’s small and medium-sized exporters weather capacity restrictions and volatile freight rates. Group encourages long-term contracts with HMM Highlighting the current freight rate volatility, South Korea’s customs service said all-in container freight rates from South Korea to the US East Coast rose 7% in January to about $5,000 per FEU compared with a month earlier. But rates from South Korea to Europe fell 11% to $3,600/FEU, it said. KITA said it is also urging smaller exporters to sign long-term contracts with HMM to secure more stable space and rate levels on trans-Pacific and European services. “We expect this support package will help alleviate the burden of logistics costs on small and medium-sized enterprises that are suffering from uncertainty in ocean freight," Jeong Hee-chul, head of KITA’s trade promotion division, said. “The Korea International Trade Association will continue to expand support projects for companies, such as reducing logistics costs through active cooperation with national shipping companies.” Contact Keith Wallis at keithwallis@hotmail.com .

Asia-Europe

Trans-Pacific

HMM among carriers to offer rate, space deals to smaller South Korean exporters

<div class="phx-topic abstract-wrapper">Cheetah Chassis and Stoughton Trailers contend that the same trade practices that led to an influx of low-cost Chinese chassis are now occurring with imports from the other three nations, causing significant financial harm to US producers.</div>

Cheetah Chassis and Stoughton Trailers contend that the same trade practices that led to an influx of low-cost Chinese chassis are now occurring with imports from the other three nations, causing significant financial harm to US producers.

<div class="phx-topic">Two US-based chassis manufacturers have petitioned the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission to impose steep antidumping and countervailing duties on chassis imports from Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam — extending penalties beyond those levied on China in 2021. The manufacturers — Cheetah Chassis and Stoughton Trailers — contend that the same trade practices that led to an influx of low-cost Chinese chassis are now occurring with imports from the other three nations, causing significant financial harm to US producers. The petition seeks antidumping duties of 32.37% on Mexico, 234.06% on Thailand and 304.68% on Vietnam, although it does not specify how those figures were calculated. “While the sources of dumped and subsidized imports have shifted, they still have the same effect: taking domestic market share and eroding a proud American manufacturing industry,” said Robert DeFrancesco, an attorney representing the manufacturers. The companies argue that the trade practices used by the foreign chassis makers prevented Cheetah and Stoughton from securing business in 2021 and 2022, when a shortage of chassis disrupted the US supply chain and caused demand to soar. “This pervasive underselling caused domestic producers to lose sales and revenue,” the complaint, filed Wednesday, alleges. “Customers cut off contracts early in favor of [foreign] imports, and US producers were forced to either lower prices further or lose additional sales. Moreover, as demand softens, [foreign] producers will have even more incentive to offer chassis at even lower prices to win the remaining available sales.” If levied, the duties would hurt manufacturers that include ATRO Trailers and GG Trailers in Mexico, THACO Industries in Vietnam and CIE Manufacturing in Thailand. <h3>Protracted battle with CIE </h3>The allegations are the latest chapter in a five-year battle between US chassis manufacturers and CIE, formerly known as CIMC Intermodal, a subsidiary of China International Marine Containers (CIMC). CIE was the target of the original <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/crippling-duty-on-chinese-chassis-upheld-in-final-ruling-5249958">antidumping and countervailing duties</a> on Chinese chassis in May 2021 after a year-long investigation. Shortly thereafter, CIE opened a new factory in Thailand to avoid the new tariffs. In 2022, CIE filed a complaint <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/us-commerce-department-rejects-pitts-appeal-in-marine-chassis-case-5200425">against Pitts Enterprises</a>, alleging that chassis built by Vietnam-based THACO Industries were in fact Chinese-made. Investigators ruled in 2023 that Pitts had violated US trade laws. That same year, US manufacturers alleged that chassis produced by CIE in Thailand contained <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/us-cbp-clears-chassis-maker-cie-in-case-alleging-tariff-evasion-5214408">Chinese parts</a>. Investigators determined in 2024 that those allegations were unfounded. “Yet again we will rigorously refute these baseless claims and will work with the appropriate agencies on reform so a select few cannot continue to weaponize these regulatory levers for commercial gain with no recourse,” Trevor Ash, CEO of CIE Manufacturing, said in a statement to the Journal of Commerce. In a letter to customers on Thursday, CIE warned that the proposed duties could increase the average price of a chassis by 75% and create a production shortage that would strain beneficial cargo owners, chassis lessors and drayage providers. <h3>An uphill battle this time around </h3>While CIE prevailed in previous trade disputes in 2023 and 2024, it may face a more challenging landscape this time. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized foreign trade practices that he argues harm US manufacturing and said he will implement new tariffs on China, Canada, Mexico and the European Union. The Office of the US Trade Representative has discussed <a href="https://www.joc.com/article/us-port-tax-would-scramble-ocean-services-raise-shipper-costs-drewry-5952046">charging fees of up to $1 million</a> for Chinese-operated vessels calling at US ports. In the final weeks of the Biden administration, the Defense Department added COSCO Shipping and CIMC to its sanctions list for alleged ties to the Chinese military. The Commerce Department is expected to decide within 20 days whether to initiate an investigation on the allegations brought by Cheetah and Stoughton, while the International Trade Commission (ITC) must issue a preliminary determination on material injury within 45 days. The ITC’s ruling will be critical. The commission has the authority to impose preliminary antidumping and countervailing duties while an investigation is ongoing. In the past, it exercised that power in the Pitts and CIE cases, forcing both companies to halt chassis imports until the investigations were completed. Contact Ari Ashe at <a href="mailto:ari.ashe@spglobal.com">ari.ashe@spglobal.com</a>.</div>

Two US-based chassis manufacturers have petitioned the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission to impose steep antidumping and countervailing duties on chassis imports from Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam — extending penalties beyond those levied on China in 2021. The manufacturers — Cheetah Chassis and Stoughton Trailers — contend that the same trade practices that led to an influx of low-cost Chinese chassis are now occurring with imports from the other three nations, causing significant financial harm to US producers. The petition seeks antidumping duties of 32.37% on Mexico, 234.06% on Thailand and 304.68% on Vietnam, although it does not specify how those figures were calculated. “While the sources of dumped and subsidized imports have shifted, they still have the same effect: taking domestic market share and eroding a proud American manufacturing industry,” said Robert DeFrancesco, an attorney representing the manufacturers. The companies argue that the trade practices used by the foreign chassis makers prevented Cheetah and Stoughton from securing business in 2021 and 2022, when a shortage of chassis disrupted the US supply chain and caused demand to soar. “This pervasive underselling caused domestic producers to lose sales and revenue,” the complaint, filed Wednesday, alleges. “Customers cut off contracts early in favor of [foreign] imports, and US producers were forced to either lower prices further or lose additional sales. Moreover, as demand softens, [foreign] producers will have even more incentive to offer chassis at even lower prices to win the remaining available sales.” If levied, the duties would hurt manufacturers that include ATRO Trailers and GG Trailers in Mexico, THACO Industries in Vietnam and CIE Manufacturing in Thailand. Protracted battle with CIE The allegations are the latest chapter in a five-year battle between US chassis manufacturers and CIE, formerly known as CIMC Intermodal, a subsidiary of China International Marine Containers (CIMC). CIE was the target of the original antidumping and countervailing duties on Chinese chassis in May 2021 after a year-long investigation. Shortly thereafter, CIE opened a new factory in Thailand to avoid the new tariffs. In 2022, CIE filed a complaint against Pitts Enterprises , alleging that chassis built by Vietnam-based THACO Industries were in fact Chinese-made. Investigators ruled in 2023 that Pitts had violated US trade laws. That same year, US manufacturers alleged that chassis produced by CIE in Thailand contained Chinese parts . Investigators determined in 2024 that those allegations were unfounded. “Yet again we will rigorously refute these baseless claims and will work with the appropriate agencies on reform so a select few cannot continue to weaponize these regulatory levers for commercial gain with no recourse,” Trevor Ash, CEO of CIE Manufacturing, said in a statement to the Journal of Commerce. In a letter to customers on Thursday, CIE warned that the proposed duties could increase the average price of a chassis by 75% and create a production shortage that would strain beneficial cargo owners, chassis lessors and drayage providers. An uphill battle this time around While CIE prevailed in previous trade disputes in 2023 and 2024, it may face a more challenging landscape this time. President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized foreign trade practices that he argues harm US manufacturing and said he will implement new tariffs on China, Canada, Mexico and the European Union. The Office of the US Trade Representative has discussed charging fees of up to $1 million for Chinese-operated vessels calling at US ports. In the final weeks of the Biden administration, the Defense Department added COSCO Shipping and CIMC to its sanctions list for alleged ties to the Chinese military. The Commerce Department is expected to decide within 20 days whether to initiate an investigation on the allegations brought by Cheetah and Stoughton, while the International Trade Commission (ITC) must issue a preliminary determination on material injury within 45 days. The ITC’s ruling will be critical. The commission has the authority to impose preliminary antidumping and countervailing duties while an investigation is ongoing. In the past, it exercised that power in the Pitts and CIE cases, forcing both companies to halt chassis imports until the investigations were completed. Contact Ari Ashe at ari.ashe@spglobal.com .

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US chassis manufacturers targeting makers in Mexico, Thailand and Vietnam

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The world of LTL is slow to embrace change. Business anachronisms permeate current supply chain processes. These vestiges of the way things used to work define the LTL freight transportation procurement process of many modern shippers.David Knuth, logistics specialist at IEWC, a global supplier of cable and wire based in Wisconsin, is happy to have modernized the RFP process, automating the entire LTL bidding procedure with Bid$ense, SMC³’s automated truckload and LTL freight transportation sourcing solution. But when prompted, he can still recall what once was.In his previous job, a large part of his duties were consumed by creating an intermodal bid package for carriers. In a spreadsheet, Knuth detailed the company’s volumes lane by lane, taking care to delete any errant keystrokes or misleading data. He would then email out the information to each carrier, taking time to respond to detailed technical questions about the spreadsheet data. Finally, he had to compile all the results, create an algorithm that would compare the carriers on each lane, and award the business.“It was a huge undertaking. It took about four months to do,” Knuth said of the old process. “It was almost a full-time job for that part of the year, every year.”In his new job at IEWC, he sat down with Bid$ense on day one and was amazed at the capabilities. Knuth had never before used a bid tool. SMC³’s latest versions of Bid$ense automate the process even further, taking truckload and LTL RFPs entirely online. The tool draws on RFP best-practices protocols to streamline the bidding communication process, enabling bidding carriers to respond accurately and promptly to shipper requests. The solution also does all the distribution work automatically, electronically submitting shipper bid data to carriers based on their actual service capabilities and performance records. Carriers are alerted with timely prompts for RFP deliverables, so shippers aren’t waiting by the phone for responses.Another benefit of automating the process is the data-cleansing assistance. When Knuth sent spreadsheets to carriers, data errors might cloud the bidding process; he might have to resend data or simply accept a price that did not truly reflect the costs of doing business. Data cleansing is incredibly beneficial, he said.The spreadsheet technique also made bidding analysis an onerous task. Since Bid$ense automates and streamlines the entire RFP process, intensive examination is now simple. SMC³ knows that each bid has more than one best outcome. With uniform responses from each carrier, shippers can quickly rank results and create an unlimited quantity of what-if scenarios to make the optimal procurement decision.Jesse Burnett of Central Garden &amp; Pet experiences many of the same benefits. Founded in 1980, Central Garden &amp; Pet has spent the last three decades growing from a small garden supply company to a provider of a range of products from dog chews and bird seed to soil supplements and natural insecticides. For much of its life, the company shipped these disparate goods via LTL and truckload carriers to retailers throughout the country, relying on each business unit to negotiate directly with their freight transportation providers. This arrangement worked fairly well for a small company, but as Central Garden &amp; Pet expanded, leadership decided to consolidate decision making.Burnett helped centralize the transportation decision making in 2015 with SMC³’s Bid$ense. Before Bid$ense, every business unit operated independently as far as negotiating with carriers.“There were a lot of different things just floating around,” he said. “We didn’t have master agreements in place; no national pricing at all. The pricing from carriers was just all over the place, depending on where you were.”The transformations he saw with Bid$ense were immediate. Burnett has been using the tool about every other year since its implementation at the company. Central Garden and Pet’s $19.6 million 2019 LTL bid saved the company just more than 9 percent when compared to its historical average. For Burnett, though, bid automation extends far beyond savings.“We knew that we weren’t getting the best pricing offer from our carriers just because nothing was centralized,” he continued. “We knew that if we combined everything from all these business units and paired it with one corporate offering, then it would drive some cost benefit with it.”When the company initially decided to centralize bid procurement, executives researched a number of different methodologies and technologies. In the end, though, Burnett found that Bid$ense was both widespread and well known, and that his carrier partners already knew how to use the application. Burnett also highlighted the data-cleansing process as a major benefit, saying the rigorous process ensures that carriers always return the best price.“It definitely has helped drive savings,” he said. “Any time you go out there and you drive that competitiveness with the carriers and they know they’re in a bid environment, it seems to sharpen their pencils.”Transportation procurement is an integral part of the modern supply chain. With Bid$ense, shippers can develop a strategic implementation plan that saves them time and money, but also helps them create strong relationships with their carrier partners. These carriers appreciate the solution’s data-cleansing process; when carriers receive a complete shipment history and future volume forecast, they don’t have to guess on pricing. Carriers that receive more data from shippers get a complete picture of that shipper’s freight, allowing them to accurately plan instead of simply preparing for the worst-case scenario. Clean data presented through an automated system can lead to both bigger shipment savings and a lasting partnership between carrier and customer.Whether customers are looking to streamline over-the-road transportation bidding by automating the RFP process or create an entirely new, centralized sourcing process, Bid$ense has the analytical horsepower to get the job done.SMC³ 2020 Customer Case Study

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Shippers save money, time with automated transportation bidding tools

If there’s one immutable truth in the world of logistics, it’s this: LTL is an inherently complex form of transportation. Tariffs, rates, DIM weights, transit times — it’s enough to confuse even seasoned logistics professionals. The solution to this knowledge gap has historically been on-the-job training or university supply chain education, but for a variety of reasons there is now a pressing need for third-party, remote LTL training that prepares logistics workers for transportation success. Global Scope Can Overlook Local Intricacies In the past, professionals looking to move into a supply chain career learned about the basics of supply chain from universities. However, many of these college supply chain programs are now global in scope, focusing on worldwide supply chain management instead of the intricacies of specialized domestic transportation. And even these programs, which used to be widespread, are becoming less common. LTL is not an industry of broad-brush strokes; supply chain professionals really need a pointillistic understanding of the logistics of LTL in order to excel in the industry. Accelerating Need for Dedicated LTL Education This lack of specified training put the onus on employers to prepare new hires with the LTL knowledge needed to do their jobs. Dedicated LTL study is a necessity, not a luxury. At the same time, changes in LTL and the broader supply chain world are accelerating. The reliance on e-commerce has ballooned since the start of the pandemic, and last-mile LTL shipments and related e-commerce strains on the supply chain won’t diminish once social distancing abates. That genie isn’t going back into the bottle. So supply chain employers need logistics workers that are fully versed in all aspects of the industry, ready to solve unique shipping and delivery problems based on their extensive supply chain knowledge But why care about LTL? It’s been reported that some shippers in today’s world are no longer concerned with what mode is used to ship their goods. A Multimodal Approach Ensures On-Time Delivery This mode agnosticism means supply chain stakeholders have to be well versed in all modes of transportation. As unforeseen weather events and other disruptions, such as protests, become more common, savvy logistics employees will need to be armed with familiarity of all modes, not just the most popular, to ensure that freight is delivered on time, without damage, and in the most financially expedient way possible. Offerings like SMC³’s LTL online education courses cover a wide range of topics from LTL basics and operations to more advanced concepts like pricing analytics and transportation law. The company also has plans to continually refresh content, adding new expert presenters and taking the feedback of students to make the courses even better as time goes on. Learn more about&nbsp;<a href="https://logisticstrainingcenter.com/smc3-courses/" rel="noreferrer" class="joc_admin__link">SMC³’s LTL Online Education program</a>&nbsp;and view the 2021 hybrid schedule, featuring live industry experts,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.smc3.com/onlinelearning2021/" rel="noreferrer" class="joc_admin__link">here.</a>

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