US importers are facing a perilous peak season in the trans-Pacific this year, with many likely to be forced to pay significantly higher rates to get goods onto ships that in many cases are nearly sold out. Ocean carriers in certain cases are holding the line on weekly minimum quantity commitments (MQC) as they have […]

FedEx extended its position as the world’s busiest freight-parcel carrier in 2017 (see table at end of article), while Emirates maintained its lead in terms of pure cargo despite Qatar Airways rapidly closing the gap on its Middle East rival. As expected, the latest figures from IATA’s World Air Transport Statistics report shows that the […]

U.S.-based low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has launched its Houston-Mexico City route – marking the debut of the carrier’s international shipping program – with the intention to add Cancun, Puerto Vallarta and Cabo San Lucas to its network later this summer.

The rapid growth of charter rates in the container shipping market is likely to be over as ocean carriers release some ships back to the open market in order to curb the impact of weak profitability.

Imports at the major retail container ports in the U.S. are expected to set a new record this month driven by increasing consumer demand and rising retail sales, the National Retail Federation said.

Confidence in the air cargo market and concern over tight capacity at peak periods is keeping charter operators busy, with the carriers reporting a rise in first-quarter business and renewed interest from forwarders in signing longer-term charter contracts. (This article requires a subscription to the Journal of Commerce. To subscribe, please click on the above […]

There are some signs that the ocean carrier industry is moving towards a recovery from overcapacity and low freight rates, say some leading experts. But even the most optimistic forecast comes with more than a few caveats.