For all the talk of "collaboration," the relationship between buyer and supplier in the supply chain is often more like a tug of war: in the end, one side wins, and the other loses.

When it comes to assessing the impact of business practices on the environment, the bar is being raised. Mere sustainability is no longer enough: now it's all about becoming "net positive."

As global companies increasingly explore dynamic discounting solutions to improve their operating income and provide much needed working capital flows to their supply chain, questions often arise about how government regulations and accounting standards come into play.

A logistics network is like a complex machine. When all the parts mesh and work properly, you have an efficient system that moves freight seamlessly across borders. But remove one piece - or let it get even slightly out of alignment - and the whole supply chain can grind to a halt.

The Global Shippers Forum is calling for container shipping surcharges to be eliminated by 2020.

Dozens of port authorities and marine terminals received port security grants this summer from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but millions of dollars from the $100m program went to local law enforcement agencies and other non-port entities.

Softening demand growth coupled with larger liner shipping alliances and bigger ships is moving the container ports industry towards a value sector from growth sector, albeit still highly profitable, according to the Global Container Terminal Operators Annual Review and Forecast 2016 report published by global shipping consultancy Drewry.

It has often been said that China will grow old before it becomes rich. But could it have too many offices, restaurants, and hotels before it becomes wealthy?