ocean freight consolidators

FMC considers changing service contract filing requirements

U.S. Federal Maritime Commission

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on Friday announced it initiated a notice of proposed rulemaking that will consider a change to regulations that would allow initial service contracts to be filed at the agency up to 30 days after the agreement’s effective date.

This action is separate from the temporary exemption granted by the commission in April and extended earlier this month.

FMC Chairman Michael Khouri sees this potential regulatory action as one of many taken by the agency in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/fmc-considers-changing-service-contract-filing-requirements

FMC extends coronavirus-related service contract filing flexibility

Federal Maritime Commission

The U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) on Thursday afternoon voted to extend an order that allows service contracts to be filed up to 30 days after they take effect to provide relief to shippers, freight forwarders and consolidators, and ocean container carriers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The initial order, which the FMC approved on April 27, had been scheduled to expire Dec. 31. However, the commission approval of the order’s extension will provide the ocean container shipping...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/fmc-extends-coronavirus-related-service-contract-filing-flexibility

3PLs frustrated by ocean service contracted rate upheaval

Federal Maritime Commission

For many U.S. freight forwarders and consolidators moving freight during the coronavirus pandemic, it is as if the container-shipping rates of their initially contracted transport arrangements with the ocean carriers are no longer valid.

The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) has voiced this concern to the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) in a recent white paper and asked the agency to launch an investigation. The FMC is tasked with monitoring the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/3pls-frustrated-by-ocean-service-contracted-rate-upheaval

FMC keeps spotlight on ocean forwarder, consolidator concerns

U.S. Federal Maritime Commission

The coronavirus pandemic may have disrupted international supply chains for much of the year, but a top official at the Federal Maritime Commission said his agency has remained vigilant in its responsibility to ensure competition within the U.S. ocean container shipping trades.

“I am pleased to say that, because of advance planning and preparation, the commission has remained fully open and operational throughout these difficult times,” FMC Chairman Michael Khouri told online attendees of the Nat...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/fmc-keeps-spotlight-on-ocean-forwarder-consolidator-concerns

E-commerce logistics, airfreight fuel Kerry Logistics’ 1H profit

Kerry Logistics

Kerry Logistics (HKSE: 0636.HK) scored a first-half-year net profit of HK$845 million (US$109 million), up 26% over the same period last year, despite a significant downturn in warehouse business caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

A decline in logistics revenue from operating fewer warehouses in Hong Kong was offset by strong growth in last-mile fulfillment and e-commerce logistics.

Demand for general warehousing and regional distribution centers plummeted this year across Asia with the...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/e-commerce-logistics-airfreight-fuel-kerry-logistics-1h-profit

Trans-Atlantic LCL steady despite COVID-19

ocean freight

Ocean freight consolidators and forwarders have taken comfort in less-than-container-load (LCL) volumes and services in the U.S. trans-Atlantic trades, despite the ongoing economic headwinds caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

In recent months, more American and European shippers have turned to LCL services as a cheaper alternative to air freight and a way to counter ocean carrier service disruptions involving full-container-load (FCL) transport.

“Owing to the higher FCL and airfreight charges,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/trans-atlantic-lcl-steady-despite-covid-19

Expedited trans-Pacific LCL filling a growing niche

Southern California ports

Major ocean freight consolidators in the U.S. market see no shortage in demand for expedited less-than-container load (LCL) service requests from freight forwarders during the ongoing global pandemic.

These services promise roughly 12-day port-to-port transits between China’s dominant seaports and Los Angeles and Long Beach in Southern California, compared to mostly standard, monthlong ocean transits for eastbound, trans-Pacific container traffic.

Although expedited LCL services are three to four...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/expedited-trans-pacific-lcl-filling-a-growing-niche