The Ningbo Meidong Container Terminal, also called Meishan Terminal, has suspended all inbound and outbound services after an employee received a positive COVID-19 test on Tuesday, August 10th. The terminal is one of five in the port of Ningbo. The closure restricts shippers from picking up empty equipment or gating-in containers. While some industry leaders […]

The airfreight market has started to mirror the ocean freight market. This week, we are seeing the perfect storm in terms of increased demand, reductions in capacity (due to flight cancellations) and new restrictions as a result of COVID outbreaks in Nanjing, Zhangjiajie and Zhengzhou. Airfreight rates are currently $9 to $10/kilo and are trending to $11/kilo […]

Per our earlier Shap Flash, carriers announced additional surcharges for August to help offset rising costs from operational delays, vessel backlogs and other kinks in supply chains worldwide. As we expected, some carriers have announced alterations to the original list of surcharges; please click here for a detailed snapshot of the updated surcharges and the […]

As operational delays, equipment and space shortages, and vessel backlogs continue to cripple supply chains worldwide, carriers have announced additional surcharges that are scheduled to go into effect in August. Please click here for a detailed snapshot of the new surcharges and the markets that carriers are targeting at this time. We expect that other […]

Indonesia Indonesia has imposed an emergency public activity restriction (PPKM) through July 20, 2021. The restriction was passed due to ongoing spikes of COVID-19 cases. There have been 56,757 confirmed cases as of July 15. The PPKM restrictions are focused on Java, Bali, and Jakarta.  There are “rumors” that this PPKM will be extended for […]

Union Pacific railroad announced that it will halt the movement of international cargo from the West Coast to its Global IV terminal in Chicago for a week, beginning Sunday, July 18th. The announcement comes after labor shortages, pandemic restrictions and pooled chassis shortages have created congestion at the terminal. Officials hope that the weeklong pause […]

In wake of the rapidly deteriorating COVID situation in Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces, Vietnam officials have announced that the country will be instituting a full lockdown effective tomorrow – July 9, 2021 – to attempt to contain the outbreak. Please note the following details: Many offices will be severely reducing in-office staffing […]

Congestion has been one ramification of the COVID outbreak we reported on yesterday. In an effort to improve the traffic situation in the surrounding areas of the port of Yantian, Yantian International Container Terminals (YICT) has decided the following: Between 12 AM (midnight) on May 28th and 11:59 PM on May 30th, export-loaded containers will […]

COVID-19 cases were first detected at the port of Yantian last Friday, and several more infections have emerged for workers on the Oriental Vancouver. The following measures have been implemented by the Chinese authorities: Two COVID-19 tests every three days for all workers at the port. Sanitation of the whole port and residential areas around […]

We learned this morning that the grounded EVER GIVEN has been dislodged in the Suez Canal—and that it will be towed, during high tide, to Great Bitter Lake for inspection. It is expected that transits will resume later this evening and that the backlog will be addressed within the week. We will certainly keep you apprised […]

The Ever Given, operated by Evergreen, was headed to the Netherlands on Tuesday when it ran aground, sideways, in the Suez Canal during a dust storm.  The Canal is currently blocked in both directions.  Dredgers have been working to dislodge the vessel which is blocking the flow of an estimated $12 billion in goods. Some […]

Chinese New Year (CNY) will commence on February 12, 2021. In observance of the celebration, China will be on holiday between February 11th – 17th. In a pre-pandemic world, shippers typically experienced supply chain disruptions approximately 10-14 days prior to start of CNY. However, this year, experts are warning importers to prepare for an additional […]

Due to the overwhelming congestion in the ports, truckers are struggling to get containers out with the free time allotted. Carriers are not cooperating; we are not seeing free time extended.  Some of the issues we are experiencing include: Truckers are unable to return empty containers to the terminals where they were picked up, thus […]

Earlier this morning, CMA CGM announced that external access to all IT applications was unavailable as they deal with a cyber-attack. Here’s what we know: At 8:10 AM EST, CMA CGM confirmed that the service interruption was the result of what they believe to be a cyber-attack impacting peripheral servers. We have been told that […]

US imports from Asia in August increased 34 percent from June, driven by a high demand for e-commerce fulfillment and personal protective equipment (PPE). Last month alone, imports from China were up 32 percent. The combination of import fluctuations and blank sailings has had an uneven impact on supply chains at US ports and inland […]

With a 19% surge in imports from China to US and a 19% fall in exports to China in June-July, we are experiencing a situation that is growing with no sign of immediate relief. As a result of the early summer surges, an alarming trend in equipment shortages that started in August is expected to […]

Recent political turmoil and massive protests in Hong Kong have led to an unofficial labor strike today, Monday August 5, 2019. At this time, over 170 flights to Hong Kong have already been rerouted and/or cancelled, train stations are closed, and other major transportation routes have been blocked by the congestion. Most offices in Hong […]

Effective August 12th, Hong Kong Airport officials have cancelled all flights to and from Hong Kong until further notice, in light of worsening city-wide protests. At this time, it is unknown when authorities plan to resume regular airport operations. Per our Shap Flash on August 5th, most offices and major transportation routes have already been […]

The government of India has taken drastic action for the containment of Covid19. As of midnight, they have instituted a countrywide lockdown for 21 days. Please note the details below: Total nationwide lockdown effective March 24th at midnight through April 14th, all states included. All non-essential factories and services are closed, and employees are working from […]

Due to a shortage of container volume, Seagirt Marine Terminal at the Port of Baltimore will be closed next Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31. In addition to the closures, Seagirt announced that gate hours will be 6:00 AM to 4:45 PM from Wednesday, April 1 through Friday, April 3. Many U.S. terminals have […]