LA and Long Beach Ports Make Strides in Emission Reduction Despite Challenges
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach significantly reduced emissions in 2023 due to fewer vessel arrivals and the use of cleaner cargo-handling equipment from rail to drayage. Their emissions dropped by 91% for diesel particulate matter, 72% for nitrogen oxides, 98% for sulfur oxides, and 20% for greenhouse gases since 2005 – the Journal of Commerce reports.
However, stakeholders face additional regulatory challenges that could raise operating costs and potentially limit cargo volume. Those mandates, include independent source rules (ISRs) which can affect ports, railroads, and warehouse operators throughout Southern California, will significantly increase operating costs for the largest port complex in the U.S. In a letter to local mayors, industry representatives advocated for a more efficient approach to support zero-emission infrastructure instead of overly restrictive independent source rules.
IATA’s August Air Cargo Market Report Highlights Strong Demand
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released its August 2024 data for global air cargo markets, revealing continued strong growth in demand. Although air cargo demand stayed robust, global economic indicators were mixed, as manufacturing output and new export orders began to show signs of decline.
Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs), increased by 11.4% compared to August 2023 (with international operations seeing a 12.4% rise), per the IATA. This marks the ninth consecutive month of double-digit year-on-year growth.
Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), rose by 6.2% year-on-year (8.2% for international operations), per IATA. This growth is largely driven by a 10.9% increase in international belly capacity, fueled by robust passenger market performance.