CONTAINER EXPORTS

Buttigieg vows to help US exporters resolve supply chain woes

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg pledged to step into the fray to help resolve a dispute between vessel operators and U.S. exporters over container pricing and availability.

Testifying before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday on the Biden administration’s infrastructure priorities, Buttigieg was asked by lawmakers what he could do to expedite a solution to the congestion that has been going on for months — particularly at West Coast ports — and that...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/buttigieg-vows-to-help-us-exporters-resolve-supply-chain-woes

CN, others to develop plastics resins export facility in Alabama

A photograph of a CN train traveling by a manufacturing facility.

Canadian railway CN (NYSE: CNI) has partnered with others to develop a high-tech logistics near the Port of Mobile in Alabama for the export of plastics resins or pellets.

CN, Mississippi Export Railroad subsidiary Alabama Export Railroad and Ray-Mont Logistics expect the first phase of the logistics park in Mobile to be open in late 2021. The facility, designed to bag and containerize plastic pellets, will have an annual capacity of 25,000 twenty-foot equivalent units.

“With this new project CN...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cn-others-to-develop-plastics-resins-export-facility-in-alabama

Australian shippers say COVID restrictions could delay container shipments

Aerial view of the Port of Melbourne, which could suffer work slowdowns because of new COVID safety measures.

Australian freight forwarders and shippers, worried about the potential loss of business, are seeking flexibility from new lockdown measures to contain an outbreak of coronavirus in Victoria.

The state restrictions impact warehouses, as well as container depots, and terminal operations at the Port of Melbourne and Melbourne airport.

Trade groups are asking government officials to clarify that import and export businesses will be designated an essential service. They also are proposing alternative...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/australian-shippers-say-covid-restrictions-could-delay-container-shipments

China to US box volumes fall 4 months running

Container exports from 10 major countries and regions in Asia to the U.S. (based on volumes at ports of loading) increased 1.4% to 1,435,565 TEUs in May, registering a year-on-year improvement for three months in a row, according to statistics released by U.S. research firm Descartes Datamyne. In the first five months (January-May), they rose a minute 0.9% to 6,499,909 TEUs. 

Looking at containers moved from Asia to the U.S. in May by origin, the Descartes Datamyne statistics, which had been...

https://container-news.com/china-us-box-volumes-fall-4-months-running/

Japan-to-China box traffic hits record low

Container exports from Japan to China decreased 6.3% to 903,128 tons in March, posting the first year-on-year decline in two months, according to statistics compiled by the Japan Maritime Center (JMC) from trade figures released by the Ministry of Finance (MOF). It was the lowest volume since the ministry began keeping relevant data. In terms of value, they fell 9.4% to 761 billion, which contracted year on year for the first time in two months. 

Meanwhile, imports from China to Japan swelled...

https://container-news.com/japan-china-box-traffic-hits-record-low/

Japan-to-China box traffic surged in Feb

Container exports from Japan to China increased 22% to 838,464 tons in February, scoring the first year-on-year improvement in two months, the Japan Maritime Center (JMC) said on April 24, referring to trade statistics unveiled by the Ministry of Finance (MOF). In terms of value, they soared 14.5% to 660 billion, achieving the first growth from a year earlier in three months. 

In contrast, imports from China to Japan plunged 17.4% to 1,508,615 tons, suffering the first year-on-year decrease in...

https://container-news.com/japan-china-box-traffic-surged/