Newsletter – March 25, 2019

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Shippers want more transparency from those who handle their ocean freight

theloadstar.com
Shippers have called on carriers, infrastructure operators and freight service providers to improve visibility in the ocean freight supply chain.
Speaking at the European Shippers’ Council’s Maritime Day in Rotterdam last week, Bart Kuipers of the city’s Erasmus University said ports had a particularly bad reputation. Read more here. 

Uncertainty remains over who will pay for compliance with IMO 2020

theloadstar.com
Carriers and shippers remain in dispute over who will pay for compliance with the pending sulphur fuel cap.
And they have further concerns over unified global enforcement. Read more here. 

Low freight rates and high bunker costs see Zim sail into the red

theloadstar.com
Israeli container shipping line Zim yesterday posted a net loss for 2018 of $119.9m, despite a 9.2% increase in revenue to $3.2bn, a four-year high.
Zim said depressed freight rates in the first half and high bunker costs were the primary causes, while a second-half rally in rates was not enough to keep the line out of the red. Read more here. 

GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES

Growing demand for electric vehicles driving change in automotive sector

theloadstar.com
Automotive supply chains are set to be transformed, particularly in Asia, with Singapore poised to emerge as a new automotive hub. Read more here. 

​INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

What are the top ten risks to supply chains this year?

theloadstar.com
The top ten supply chain risks this year include raw material shortages, safety recalls, climate change and containership fires – alongside more obvious concerns, such as trade wars and the economy.  Read more here.