The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines said last week that reduced freight volumes and cargo capacity indicate that the industry is heading for a dismal future.  Last month the international freight load factor fell to 64.5%, while capacity decline 3.1%. This year the trend has been steadily downward with the demand for air freight being [...]

The International Transport Forum is an intergovernmental strategic think tank for transport policy with 52 member countries. Their latest data indicate a marked macroeconomic slowdown, noting that freight by sea in the EU and the USA stabilised below pre-crisis levels, while freight by air has declined in the EU. The report also emphasised the dangers of [...]

Emerging markets will become more and more important in the global economy, as countries like India and China report growth rates of around 10%, in sharp contrast to the developed Western economies.  The CEO of Agility Europe wrote in the journal of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport that logistics providers need to re-examine [...]

One of the world’s major shipping lines has announced that profitability is suffering as higher volumes were offset by increased fuel costs and competition. Container shipping rates are under pressure because there are now more ships sailing the seas and the future will be difficult.  Rates for containers have been especially volatile, and various measures [...]

Container Trade Statistics report that imports into Europe from Asia in June were 4.6% down on May, but are above the levels recorded during the same month last year.  Exports to Asia in Quarter 2 of 2011 increased compared with last year. There was a decrease in imports from South and Central America to Europe, [...]

A recently published report shows that exports and imports of freight through European ports increased in May compared with the previous month, but declined from volumes recorded in March.  Overall, import and export container growth at deepsea ports has been weakening, and is expected to get worse. Consumer confidence is being eroded by the debt [...]

Freight rates on shipping lines operating services from Asia to Europe seem to be on the rise, in spite of the fact that ships have been operating below full capacity.  Spot market prices from Shanghai increased by $17 per tonne last week compared to the week before. Cargo volumes have been gradually increasing, with ship [...]

Having announced last week that they would impose a freight increase on the Asia Europe route in August, shipping lines have revealed that spot rates have fallen on average.  The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index showed that rates declined from 809 dollars per tonne two weeks ago,  to 800 dollars per tonne. Shipping line hope that [...]