“Freight Market Dynamics” is a content column curated by United Logistics, which aims to provide the freight industry and readers interested in the freight market with a list of hot issues and data support.
We will continue to focus on international shipping, air transportation hot news, the latest international trade current affairs, the latest freight rates/shipping space and other topics to discuss, hope to become you to get new knowledge, understand the freight industry indispensable information source, help you grasp the pulse of the industry, insight into the market opportunities, and we look forward to your attention and feedback, together to promote the prosperity of the freight industry.
01
Major industry events
Dock shut down! A 72-hour strike at the Port of Montreal in Canada
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 375 has given the Maritime Employers Association (MEA) a 72-hour notice of a strike that will run from September 30 to October 3. The shutdown will affect the operations of the Viou and Maisonnve terminals, which handle 41 per cent of the Port of Montreal’s cargo throughput, and will severely impact the operation of cargo imports and exports.
More than 1,000 longshoremen at the Port of Montreal rejected the Maritime Employers Association’s offer earlier this week by a 99.63 per cent margin. According to the local union, which is affiliated with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, about 350 members will be involved in the action, affecting about 35 per cent of container shipments.
Mediterranean Shipping will build a new container terminal at the port of Aarhus in Denmark
Terminal Investment Limited (TIL), the port division of Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), has reached an agreement with the Port of Aarhus in Denmark to build a new container terminal there. The port of Aarhus is the largest container port in Denmark, handling more than 70% of the country’s container traffic. Under the agreement, TIL will lease approximately 170,000 square meters of land in the Ominterminal area of the Port of Aarhus, with full development planned for 2027.
The construction of this new facility will enhance MSC’s logistics capabilities in Northern Europe while providing more efficient services to its customers. TIL’s arrival also means increased competition with APM Terminals, which already operates a terminal in Aarhus that can handle 20,000 TEU container ships.
02
New rules at a glance
Department of Commerce: Launched anti-discrimination investigation against Canada
The Ministry of Commerce announced on the 26th that it has launched an anti-discrimination investigation into Canada’s restrictive measures against Chinese electric vehicles, steel and aluminum products.
The announcement said that the preliminary evidence and information obtained by the Ministry of Commerce shows that Canada will impose tariffs and other restrictions on the import of relevant electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products from China in line with the relevant legal provisions of the situation. According to the relevant regulations, the Ministry of Commerce has decided to launch an anti-discrimination investigation into the relevant measures under investigation in Canada from September 26, 2024.
The announcement also makes clear that the Canadian government has launched a 30-day public consultation on the taxation of batteries and battery parts, solar products, semiconductors and key minerals imported from China since September 10, and the relevant measures taken by the Canadian government are also within the scope of this investigation. (chinanews.com)
Ali International Station issued new compliance requirements
Ali International Station’s new compliance requirements for motor vehicles sold to the EU: Ali International Station announced that according to the relevant local laws and regulations of the EU and market regulatory requirements, the platform has added the Compliance Requirements for motor Vehicles sold to the EU, which will be issued on September 26, 2024 and take effect on October 2, 2024. (E-commerce News)
03
Data presentation
Maersk expects container shipping demand to remain strong in the fourth quarter
Maersk expects global demand for container shipping to remain strong in the fourth quarter due to strong imports from North and Latin America, as well as continued strong exports from the Far East.
In its quarterly review and outlook on Wednesday (Sept 25), Maersk expects the global shipping market to be more balanced between supply and demand, despite disruptions to shipping in the Red Sea and a possible strike at U.S. East Coast ports. “There will still be bottlenecks on specific routes and at specific ports, especially in high-traffic areas, where congestion and delays are likely to persist,” Maersk said. “Ports like the U.S. East Coast and major transshipment hubs may experience challenges in adapting to the changing environment.”
Citing FBR research, Maersk noted that global container volumes grew by 6.6% year-on-year in the second quarter, with imports from North America and Latin America up 10.5% and 15.6% respectively. Intra-asian trade maintained its growth momentum, growing by 9.6%. Exports from the Far East increased by 8.6 percent, while those from the United States and Europe increased by 2.4 percent and 0.4 percent, respectively.