Since 12:00 (noon) c.t. today, several ocean carriers are sending customer advisory notices regarding a Transpacific Westbound (TPWB) port congestion surcharge, which comes on the heels of the last update which was related to the Transpacific Eastbound (TPEB) port congestion surcharge.
In the last 24 hours, five ocean carriers Hanjin, CMA CGM, Evergreen, NYK and Shipco announced to their customers that they will implement a port congestion surcharge next week.
The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) today issued the following update regarding continued union slowdowns and work actions at the major West Coast ports. The union actions are tied to the ongoing negotiations for a new coast-wide labor contract. Negotiations began in May for the contract that expired July 1, and talks have been occurring almost constantly for the past six months.
More than 40 percent of the goods that come into the United States from overseas come through the twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. That fact alone gives thousands of truck drivers who haul those goods from the ports to warehouses considerable leverage with big companies (like Walmart, Cosco, and Home Depot) whose goods are mostly made in Asia as well as with the shipping companies, the municipal Harbor Commission which oversees the port, and the trucking companies who employ the drivers.
Bureau of Transportation Statistics
The Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI), which is based on the amount of freight carried by the for-hire transportation industry, rose 0.3 percent in September from August, rising for the third consecutive month, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. The September 2014 index level (121.5) was 28.5 percent above the April 2009 low during the most recent recession.
For months, contract negotiations between a powerful union and multinational shipping lines progressed amicably in public, even though roughly 20,000 West Coast dockworkers labored without a contract.
Now the public harmony has been shattered, raising fears that a strike or lockout could close ports up and down the coast and cause economic pain.
Source : Exim News Service – MUMBAI
MIQ Logistics India, part of MIQ Logistics, one of the world’s leading total logistics solutions providers, adroitly handled the transportation of a used garment manufacturing unit from ICD-Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh to Chittagong, Bangladesh in September/October 2014.
The cargo comprised high-end ZUKI machines, boilers, chimney, generator, garment manufacturing units, accessories, etc.
“Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to slow down this month following record levels seen in September and October as retailers rushed to bring merchandise into the country ahead of a possible shutdown of West Coast ports, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.”
“As predicted, the transportation ecosystem is finding itself in turmoil as freight shipments, particularly imports, climb in anticipation of a stronger holiday shopping season this year. The real story, however, is that the cargo is having trouble entering the country and moving quickly to final end users. Port congestion, especially on the West Coast, is causing trouble for retailers attempting to stock their shelves for the season kickoff on Black Friday. All of this contributed to domestic freight shipment activity dipping again in October, while total freight spending rose slightly.”
American Journal of Transportation
Strong cargo volumes continued into early November at the Port of Long Beach, resulting in delays due to a shortage of truck trailers, but underscoring this year’s rebound in international trade and pointing to an economic upswing.
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