Container lines

U.S. steel exports in June totaled 1.064 million tons, falling 8.5 percent from 1.163 million tons in May and 9.1 percent from June 2012, according to government reporting.

An increasing volume of cargo is being delayed by late deliveries or rolled over as the peak season comes into full force, according to Drewry Maritime Research.

Major container lines have announced rate increases for a variety of trades, as detailed below, slated to take effect in August, September and October.

Crowley Maritime’s Panama liner and logistics teams have relocated to a new, shared location in Panama City.

The South Korea carrier's net loss widened in the second quarter as growth in cargo demand lagged capacity, putting downward pressure on rates.

OOCL, Golden Sea Shipping and Gold Star Line will launch a joint intra-Asia service connecting Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia.

New Zealand exporters are operating at a serious disadvantage because of a lack of language and cultural awareness skills, according to a new study.

Matson reported its net income in the second quarter of 2013 was $20.1 million, up from $7.8 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Hapag-Lloyd reported its profit in the second quarter of 2013 was €20.9 million (about US$27.8 million), compared with a net loss of €7.3 million in the same period last year.

Non-operating owners of vessels that charter small feeder ships to shipping lines are getting hit hard by the waning of demand for these ships.

In June, the U.S. goods deficit decreased $9.7 billion from May to $53.2 billion.

Canada’s merchandise exports in June rose 1.4 percent month-to-month, while imports inched up 0.6 percent, resulting in a trade deficit of C$469 million (about US$451.9 million)...

Buoyed by profits, the sale of some assets and cash infusions from two outside investors, CMA CGM is sporting a much healthier balance sheet this year than it was just two years ago. If it continues to post profits and the financial markets allow, it will launch an initial public offering of its stock at the end of 2014.

Zim Integrated Shipping Services will launch a new service, Balboa Central America Express, which will connect ports on the west coast of Central America with the carrier’s Container Service Pacific via the Port of Balboa, Panama.

The members of the G6 Alliance will modify their trade route between the Far East and the Black Sea or east Mediterranean, starting week 36.

I’ve been through my share of chaos in the international shipping arena. The beginning of 2010 and parts of 1973, I believe, were among the most chaotic. But what I’m surrounded with now on a global basis is running a good race for the most chaotic year I’ve seen in my 40-year career in the business.

SHANGHAI, China — The global economy is improving and shipping demand is growing gradually, but neither is occurring rapidly enough to ease the overcapacity ocean carriers face, according to a senior executive with the Shanghai Shipping Exchange.

The centuries-old trade between North Europe and the U.S. is all but stagnant, especially on the eastbound leg of the trade. U.S. imports from Europe are recovering, while exports must await economic revival of Europe, which seems trapped in its own dedication to austerity. All eyes are on 2014, when signs of improvement in recession-bound southern Europe may augur for an economic turnaround, albeit a weak one.

The European Union is ratcheting up efforts to boost short-sea shipping with plans for an attack on customs red tape that will allow sea transport to compete with trucks and trains in moving freight among its 28 member states.

Thanks to an improving balance sheet and new financing from Chinese shipyards, CMA CGM is expanding the number of new 16,000 20-foot-equivalent unit container ships it plans to order.

Compañía Sudamericana de Vapores reported its profit in the second quarter of 2013 was $34.3 million, compared with a net loss of $140.2 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Seacor Holdings reported its net income in the second quarter of 2013 was $19.3 million, increasing 71.3 percent from $11.2 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines reported its net income in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, ending June 30, 2013, was 14.5 million Japanese yen (about US$147.5 million)...

“K” Line reported its profit in the first quarter of fiscal year 2013, ending June 30, 2013, was 6.9 million Japanese yen (about US$70.8 million), up from a net loss of 674 million yen...

The peak shipping season this fall should be uneventful, with only a modest increase in cargo volume, a temporary spike in freight rates and no real shortages of transportation capacity or equipment to disrupt the supply chain, according to industry experts who spoke at a Journal of Commerce webcast Tuesday.

NYK Line reported its net income in the first quarter of 2013, ending June 30, 2013, was 8.6 million Japanese yen (about US$87.7 million)...

Shreyas Shipping and Logistics has announced plans to launch two coastal container services linking India’s major ports on the east and west coasts.

Danaos reported its net income in the second quarter of 2013 was $19.5 million, jumping 117.9 percent from $9.0 million in the second quarter of 2012.

U.S. steel imports in June totaled 2.441 million tons, falling 11 percent from 2.838 million tons (revised) in May 2013 and 13 percent from June 2012, according to government reporting.

The National Shipping Company of Saudi Arabia (Bahri) has received a new general cargo vessel of 26,000 deadweight tons in South Korea.

Diana Containerships reported a net loss of $5.0 million in the second quarter of 2013, compared with a net income of $2.2 million in the respective period in 2012.

Mediterranean Shipping Co. has placed so many orders for new container ships recently that its orderbook is the largest among all carriers, according to Alphaliner.

Ocean carriers are likely to retain more of their Aug. 1 general rate increases in the Asia-Europe trade than earlier this year as a result of tightening capacity on that route.

Seaspan reported its net profit in the second quarter of 2013 was $127.2 million, compared with a net loss of $6.7 million in the second quarter of 2012.

Hapag-Lloyd is recommending that shippers to reroute cargo from the Port of New York and New Jersey to avoid delays that the carrier said it expects will continue until mid-September.

Major container lines have announced rate increases for a variety of trades, as detailed below, slated to take effect in August and September.