Online Magazine - May Issue

What's happening in Mediterranean & Africa

Bleak outlook for Asia-Med in 2013, but big ships may
prove key to optimism

IF you thought carriers on the Asia-Europe trade had it tough, spare a thought for those operating on the Asia-Mediterranean routes.
Not only are the Mediterranean economies experiencing the worst of the ongoing European debt crisis, but on the shipping side of things, freight rates have been in an almost perpetual state of decline.
Over the past three months there has been three spot rate increases on the Asia-Mediterranean trade lane, all of which remained in place for a very limited time — the record is two weeks.
Every other week on the trade has seen contraction after contraction, based on data from the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI)…>More

Trade profile: The Red Sea (An Overview)

FOR those in the container shipping industry there is very little to be positive about these days. But this certainly does not preclude the fact that there are some positives that we can look to. There are still some trades, some regions, that offer us hope and plenty of potential for the future.
The Red Sea is one such area. With piracy down to a five-year low in the region and a new rail link being developed from the port of Jeddah on one side of Saudi Arabia to Dammam on the other, via the capital Riyadh, and logistics companies developing warehousing facilities throughout the region, the future is looking rather bright.
In this edition of the Shipping Gazette Online Magazine we will look into this region that appears set for strong growth in the coming years… >More

Weak Asia-Med volumes not enough to dampen
Barcelona's spirit

TRADE volumes from Asia to Europe and Asia to the Mediterranean were weak throughout 2012 and a similar story appears to be emerging this year.
In fact trade contracted in 2012 for only the second time on these routes for only the second time since containerisation began over half a century ago.
But for the Spanish port of Barcelona, it managed to record some impressive figures from an unlikely source—exports.
This is not to say that Barcelona's volumes were spectacular, but there was some positive movement in the so-called backhaul business, which is at least encouraging.
But this growth in exports did not come without hard work.… >More

Volatility to persist for Asia-Europe and Med rates in 2013

WHILE rates remained under pressure for the bulk of last year, shipping lines were still very successful in pushing through their General Rate Increases (GRIs) last year on the Asia-Europe and Asia-Mediterranean trades.
Once rates did rise they would soon be forced down again. But more often than not another rate increase was announced, which pushed the rates back up again. It seemed like a constant tug-of-war between shipping lines and their customer all year long.
According to Alphaliner calculations there were a total of eight GRIs attempted last year by Maersk Line, only three of these failed. The group also noted that all GRIs in the first five months of the year were successful.....>More

April Issue - Intra Asia Trade

Up and coming Cambodia to play growing role in Intra-Asia trade >More

Thai authorities to invest hopes on Laem Chabang port >More

Cabotage: a formidable barrier to world trade growth, says World
Economic Forum >More

Cheap Malaysian bunker fuel lures carriers away from Singapore >More

Global container trade growth for 2013 revised down as market mood
darkens >More

March Issue - China Trade

Shipyard capacity could be slashed by 40pc and still meet demand >More

How Carrefour's China sourcing paid off >More

Big ships do shippers no favours: fewer calls, slow transits, high
inventory costs >More

Early forecast points to stronger 2013 after disappointing 2012 >More

February Issue - Europe Trade

Will a merger between Germany's two premier container carriers materialise? >More

High hopes for Wilhelmshaven terminal amidst Europe gloom >More

Weak Asia-Med volumes not enough to dampen Barcelona's spirit >More

Go big or go home: Smaller carriers' days on Asia-Europe trade are
numbered >More

The challenges of creating stability in a naturally unstable market >More

January Issue - U.S. Trade

Shippers and carriers realise the benefits of shipping through Houston
>More

US data offers confusion about economic outlook for shipping's number
one customer >More

Port of Portland set to take advantage of changing global economic climate
>More

Ports must view market as a marathon, not a 100-metre sprint, says Long
Beach >More

Is the sunset of panamax vessels close at hand?>More

December Issue - Intra Asia Trade

No luck for PSA in Indian Subcontinent as terminal operator looks to homeward expansion >More

How much has changed in the liner landscape in 2012 >More

Trade profile: Southeast Asia (Overview) >More

Myanmar calling: shipping lines set sights on new opportunity >More

What will be the fate of Malaysia's Penang Port? >More