Headlines

• Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach postpone container dwell fee for the eighth week in a row due to improvements in moving aging cargo
• Environmental coalition calls on major retailers to cut down on shipping emissions
• Shanghai port continues to rank first in container throughput worldwide for 12 consecutive years

UPDATE: U.S./Canada Port Congestion

• Savannah: 10 Backlogged Vessels
• Charleston: 14 Backlogged Vessels
• Norfolk/Newport News: 31 Backlogged Vessels
• Los Angeles/Long Beach: 67* Backlogged Vessels
  • Note: This does not include LA/LB bound vessels waiting at ports of origin
• Vancouver: 75 Backlogged Vessels

IMPORT: China to North America (TPEB)

Recent Developments:

• High import volumes expected for first half of 2022
• Pre-Chinese New Year sailings are limited leading to high demand, critical capacity, and rate increases

Rates: Rate levels will remain elevated. Strong pre-CNY demand also leads to potential rate increases. In return, more shippers and importers are changing bookings from standard to premium.

Space: Space remains critical.

Capacity/Equipment: Capacity remains severely under. Equipment deficits critical.

TIPS: Book at 4 to 5 weeks prior to CRD. Strongly consider premium service—sooner than later as it may become limited.

IMPORT: Europe to North America (TAWB)

Recent Developments:

• Schedule reliability is expected to diminish as winter weather affects the North Atlantic
• Likelihood of port omissions and port rotation changes continue into the mid-term
• USEC port congestion remains manageable, and some lines are reinstating a Savannah call from January 2022
• USWC remains heavily congested at Los Angeles and Long Beach ports

Rates: Rates levels remain relatively stable but are still noticeably high.

Space: Space remains critical, especially for the USWC.

Capacity/Equipment: Capacity remains tight for both North Europe and Mediterranean services. Equipment availability at ports, however shortages remain at inland terminals.

TIPS: Book 5 or more weeks prior to CRD. Strongly consider premium service for higher reliability and no-roll guarantees.

EXPORT: North America to China

Recent Developments:

• Diminishing schedule integrity is contributing to void sailings, delay, and challenging post earliest return dates
• Vessel arrivals remain fluid for USWC POLs

Rates: GRI advisories are out for select Southeast Asia and Oceania destinations for January.

Capacity: Available capacity remains fluid for USWC POLs. USEC capacity has become for readily available.

Equipment: IPI origins remain adversely affected by deficits on containers and chassis. Standard equipment availability has not been an issue, but special equipment is remains elusive.

TIPS: Book 4 to 6 weeks prior to CRD to secure equipment and vessel space.

AIR FRIEGHT: United States

Export:

• US export demand will remain high until the last weeks of December. Larger shipments from outbound gateways can take 2 to 4 days from booking to uplift to Europe, Latin America, and Asia destinations.
• Transpacific to Asia and transatlantic to Europe have not experienced any cancellations due to the new COVID variant.
• Rates to Latin America, Europe, and Asia are subject to seasonal increases and will remain higher until the final weeks of December.
• Slightly higher transit times into top European hubs due to the current influx of cargo arriving to their terminals.

Import:

• US has lifted the ban on travelers from the EU causing European Airlines to introduce more bellyhold capacity.
• LAX/ORD/JFK ground handlers continue to face backlogs and are using off-airport facilities to manage the flood of inbound cargo.

TIPS: Book early considering the current dwell time at airports.