China’s extreme Covid-19 zero policy could be a major obstacle to full recovery for the freight forwarding sector. In fact, it is also aggravating the crisis just before the holiday season, with emptied shelves across the globe. In an attempt to keep the virus in check, the authorities have kept on prohibiting crew changes for […]
The turnaround and shipping of cargo was deemed quite efficient before the pandemic. While there are no easy ways out of the crisis, experts say it may be another year before the situation gets better. Last week alone, 87 commercial ships queued at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, most of which arriving […]
The Suez Canal Authority recently announced fee increases for commercial vessels passing through the waterway. Experts warn that this move will cause price increases and further inflationary pleasures on the global supply chain. As the shortest route between Europe and Asia, linking Red Sea with Mediterranean Sea, about 12 percent of all commercial cargo ships […]
The cold chain is key to preserving food and reducing the risk of foodborne illness. Stakeholders around the world, including researchers, standard-setting agencies, regulators, and industry leaders agree on the importance of ensuring food safety during transit. Food laws aim to incorporate safety best practices in line with changes in distribution, technical innovation, and knowledge. […]
Shortages of magnets and microprocessors mean that manufacturers find it increasingly difficult to fulfill orders as they cannot produce enough tablets, phones, and computers. When it comes to plastic, shortages affect manufacturers across sectors, including medical products, personal care and hygiene, and food and beverages. The situation has also resulted in backlogs for plastic cups […]
Airline staff, truck drivers, and seafarers have been subject to testing requirements, travel restrictions, and quarantines to keep global supply chains moving during a prolonged pandemic. Many are on the brink of exhaustion, which is yet another threat to carriers shipping cargo around the globe. In September, industry groups sent an open letter to the […]
Toymakers warn about significant disruptions in global supply chains caused by the ongoing pandemic, the recent blockage of the Suez Canal, rising labor costs, resin shortages, and power outages in different parts of China. All these have led to higher prices and additionally strained the supply chain. Delays in Unloading Cargo Vessels Cause Shortages The […]
A year and a half into the pandemic, the global shipping crisis is getting worse, with shortages of goods and rising prices. This year consumers are likely to face fewer choices during the holiday season. Giants such as Hasbro, Crocs, and Adidas already warned of disruptions due to the fact that supply chains are not […]
Lockdowns and social distancing protocols led to a significant drop in purchases in 2020, followed by growing demand as countries began to reopen economies in 2021. Carriers, forwarders, and businesses have tried different solutions, from outbidding one another for containers to chartering ships and buying their own containers. This is what the Swedish giant Ikea […]
A year and a half since the pandemic started, shipping cargo from China to Europe now costs 6 times more than it did back in 2019. Surging costs have only made the situation worse, adding to existing problems such as the high cost of raw materials and the global semiconductor shortage. There is only a […]
The global logistics crisis is not solely caused by a spike in consumer demand but it is a factor that can’t be overlooked. When the pandemic started, shipping fell due to uncertainty how lockdowns and social distancing measures would affect consumer demand. Crew safety has also been a source of concern. Then the situation changed […]
Refrigerated containers or reefers are used to ship perishable goods such as flowers, dairy products, meat, seafood, and fruits and vegetables. Carriers also use temperature-controlled containers to transport frozen and chilled goods, photographic film, and pharmaceuticals. If not shipped at appropriate humidity and temperature, such cargo might spoil quickly during transit. Reefer Design Reefers […]
Commercial ships are responsible for about 1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis or 3 percent of total emissions. Experts explain that if vessels were a country, it would be the world’s sixth biggest polluter. Unless urgent action is taken, shipping greenhouse gas emissions are forecasted to reach up to 130 […]
The 2021 Seafarer Workforce Report released by the International Chamber of Shipping and the Baltic and International Maritime Council on Wednesday warns about a possible shortage of sailors to staff commercial vessels over a five years period. Steps should be taken to increase numbers and ensure the smooth movement of cargo across the globe. The […]
2020 was a difficult year for most sectors, and the shipping industry is not an exception. A year and a half into a global health and economic crisis, freight forwarders face a number of challenges, from marine insurance claims and risk of cargo damage to machinery breakdown and delays of servicing of equipment and vessels. […]
A series of events is driving global trade to a breaking point, from cyber threats at major South African ports to natural disasters in Germany and China and a new wave of Covid-19 and cases rising worldwide. According to shipping experts, economists, and businesses, the effect is an interrupted flow of consumer goods, parts, and […]
Global vaccinations of crews are not going fast enough to prevent outbreaks onboard vessels, resulting in trade and supply chain disruptions and endangering the life of seafarers. The fact that vaccinations are going too slowly is potentially slowing economic recovery for countries trying to pull out of a deep, pandemic-induced recession. Effect on Supply Chains […]
Distri24 is the new distribution division, composed and implemented by Corneel Geerts Transport Group and operating since April 2021 via its depot (Hub) in Venlo. It is a parallelized freight distribution network with a fast and reliable national coverage, serving a wide variety of customers. The service is provided in collaboration with local partners for […]
The congestion caused by a recent outbreak in Southern China has been expected to impact air freight in summer. Yet, despite predictions that the chaos at major ports would cause a modal shift from sea to air, the volume of converted orders has only slightly increased. Experts are not really sure why this is happening […]
The freight transport industry has suffered significant supply chain disruptions due to the ongoing global health crisis. Intermodal transport in Europe, including truck carriers and railroad shippers, has been affected. Ports around the world have seen a reduction in cargo volumes due to uncertainty. Parcel delivery companies have been the least affected as they face […]