February 19, 2019 - The World Trade Organization (WTO) expects slower trade growth this year. The weakness is likely to extend into the first quarter of 2019, according to the WTO’s latest World Trade Outlook Indicator released on February 19. The most recent WTOI reading of 96.3 is the weakest since March 2010 and below the baseline value of 100 for the index, signaling below-trend trade expansion into the first quarter.
Source: World Maritime News
February 20, 2019 - A new east-west tradelane is beginning to flourish, and could eventually overtake the traditional north-south route between Africa and Europe. The growing influence of China in Africa, coupled with the proximity and connectivity of the Middle East and strong trade links with Brazil, could see Europe increasingly bypassed.
Source: The Loadstar
February 19, 2019 - Container throughput at the port of Hamburg declined for the second consecutive year in 2018. The port’s throughput was down to 8.73m teu, adding urgency to the completion of the long-awaited deepening and widening programme in the river Elbe. Although this represents a marginal 1% year-on-year fall in containers handled at Hamburg’s box terminals, it has to be read in context with the strong growth achieved at rival North European hubs Rotterdam and Antwerp.
Source: The Loadstar
Import wave jams California warehouses
February 17, 2019 - A steady wave of imports into Southern California’s ports, driven by a robust U.S. economy and companies trying to get goods moving ahead of potential tariffs, has the region’s warehouses and shipping terminals overstuffed and distribution networks jammed. U.S. businesses have been pulling shipments forward ahead of expected tariff increases and China’s Lunar New Year holiday, when the nation’s factories shut down for several weeks.
Source: The Wall Street Journal
