Retailers are expanding their networks of stores internationally this year despite the presumed headwind of online shopping, with a greater percentage eyeing growth in the Americas than last year, according to a survey of more than 150 major, international brands released by CBRE Group, Inc.
The latest Container Shipping Forecaster from Maritime Strategies International reports "flickers of improvement" in February after an opening to the year which saw 1.3 million TEUs of capacity idle, freight rates struggling and the charter market on its knees.
The ocean shipping industry has traditionally used EDI for shipment tendering, booking and milestone tracking. A new solution has emerged that leverages near real time vessel tracking data to improve shipment planning and tracking.
Tanker shipping freight rates are expected to remain firm in the first few months of 2016, but with the influx of tonnage these rates are expected to soften towards the end of the year, according to the latest edition of the Tanker Forecaster, published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.
London-based Drewry Shipping Consultants says that the global capacity of reefer container ships is expected to grow by 20 percent over the next three years. Drewry also reports that perishables moved over the seas in 2014 increased by nearly five percent to exceed 100 million metric tons.
Shipping analysts Alphaliner reported that the two carriers involved in recent container line megamergers – France's CMA CGM (merged with NOL / APL) and China COSCO (merged with CSCL) – are now looking at forming a shipping alliance to compete with Maersk and MSC's 2M.
The latest Dry Bulk Freight Forecaster from Maritime Strategies International reports a deterioration of the consultancy's cautiously optimistic view for improvement in the dry bulk market in the next six months.
Container service reliability started 2016 on a disappointing note as the average on-time performance slipped by 5.7 percentage points in January to 69.6 percent, according to Carrier Performance Insight, the online schedule reliability tool provided by Drewry Supply Chain Advisors.
Shipbuilders, container lines and port operators feasted on China's rise and the global resources boom. Now they're among the biggest victims of the country's slowdown and the worldwide decline in demand for oil rigs and other gear amid the oil price plunge.
