IHS Maritime & Trade Launches JOC Gulf Shipping Conference

NEWARK, N.J. (May 2, 2016) – IHS Maritime & Trade today announced the launch of the JOC Gulf Shipping Conference, a new event for the containerized and breakbulk/heavy-lift shipping sectors. The conference, to take place June 13-14 in Houston, Texas, will pull together some of the industry’s foremost thought leaders and practitioners to examine the Gulf region just as it’s poised to take on increasing strategic importance for importers and exporters. The Port of Houston Authority has signed on as host sponsor.

The JOC Gulf Shipping Conference is the latest addition to the annual lineup of transportation intelligence events produced by JOC Events, now part of IHS Inc. (NYSE: IHS). The editorial team behind The Journal of Commerce and JOC.com will develop an information-rich agenda and lead in-depth discussions around cargo growth drivers, market trends and unique logistical challenges of deep-water ports operating along the Gulf Coast.

“Cargo volumes moving through the Gulf ports are about to increase rapidly because of two crucial events: a booming petrochemicals market and the late-June opening of the expanded Panama Canal,” said Chris Brooks, executive editor of The Journal of Commerce and JOC Events. “This conference gives us an opportunity to provide data and analysis that retailers, manufacturers, consumer products firms and agribusiness companies need to develop their supply chain plans for 2017.”

Evidence of the region’s growing importance came this month when Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Co., the world’s two largest container carriers, announced new all-water services from Asia through the Panama Canal to Houston and Mobile, Alabama.

The agenda will include a comprehensive market outlook, IHS commodity forecasts for trade flows, as well as discussions on topics ranging from future trade with Cuba and equipment challenges, to the boom in resins and cross-Gulf services operating to and from Central America and Mexico.

“Highlighting the importance of the Gulf Coast as a gateway option for all major trade lanes is a priority for us,” said Roger Guenther, executive director of the Port of Houston Authority. “As host sponsor of the JOC Gulf Shipping Conference, we are excited to have the opportunity to reach and engage with a group of industry stakeholders focused on the opportunities for growth in, and transportation through, our region.”

The conference is part of IHS Maritime & Trade’s focus on providing container market intelligence and a further step in its expansion of breakbulk and project cargo information under its Journal of Commerce and IHS Fairplay brands. Helping to support the JOC Gulf Shipping Conference is in-depth print and online editorial coverage of economic and market developments critical to shippers moving containers, breakbulk, heavy lift and project cargo commodities worldwide.

JOC Events provide business intelligence covering the global shipping and logistics markets and utilizes the editorial expertise and data-rich resources of The Journal of Commerce, IHS Fairplay and PIERS — the world’s most comprehensive database of U.S. waterborne trade — to create programs that give attendees the unique intelligence needed to inform critical business decisions in an ever-changing global marketplace. Leading industry events include TPM, TPM Asia, JOC Inland Distribution and JOC Port Performance North America.

Follow @joc_events on Twitter or visit http://events.joc.com/gulfshipping2016 for updates on speakers and agenda details as they are confirmed. For information on sponsorship, visit http://events.joc.com/gulfshipping2016/sponsors/ or contact Tony Stein, +1-770-295-8809.

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About IHS(www.ihs.com)

IHS (NYSE: IHS) is the leading source of insight, analytics and expertise in critical areas that shape today’s business landscape. Businesses and governments in more than 140 countries around the globe rely on the comprehensive content, expert independent analysis and flexible delivery methods of IHS to make high-impact decisions and develop strategies with speed and confidence. IHS has been in business since 1959 and became a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange in 2005. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, USA, IHS is committed to sustainable, profitable growth and employs nearly 9,000 people in 33 countries around the world.