Tag Archives: China

Europe could end reliance on China for battery production by 2027

Posted on January 24, 2023 by | 1 comment

Transport and Environment (T&E), “Europe’s leading clean transport campaign group”, has a plan. They believe Europe could be able to produce all the batteries it needs by 2027, without imports from China. It’s a laudable goal, and the idea is amazing since Europe is fast rushing to battery-powered electric vehicles, which consume lots of batteries.

The group imagines a European sovereignty fund to support domestic battery production, and streamlining of EU rules on state aid. Battery plants now take a long time to build, since there are considerable risks to their storage and manufacture.

According to the article, about half of Europe’s batteries are already sourced there. The EU is mandating electric vehicles by 2035, which sets up a big increase in demand for batteries.

The supply chains associated with electric vehicles are interesting and of crucial importance so that they will be accepted and effectively used. Batteries are a major element, and disruptions in the supply are not healthy for European manufacturers.

By Charlie Bartlett, technology editor 24/01/2023

Europe could end reliance on China for battery production by 2027 – The Loadstar

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Posted in Logistics, Supply Chains, Sustainability

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China cancels crew change quarantine against Covid

Posted on January 9, 2023 by | 1 comment

It’s long been a problem for seafarers. Due to Covid restrictions on entering and leaving a country, they could not go home after their shift on the vessel nominally ended. They had to stay with the ship because of the covid restrictions.

In China, that’s ending now. The new rules allow seafarers to leave the ship and fly home. There won’t be a requirement for quarantine.

This is good news for seafarers.

Let’s hope continued progress can be made in working conditions for crews.

Katherine Si | Jan 09, 2023

China cancels crew change quarantine against Covid

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Posted in Labor Economics, Logistics, Shipping

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Midwest soybean farmers to help pay for Pacific Northwest export terminal; rail service is risky for harvest this year.

Posted on September 2, 2022 by | 1 comment

Soybean exports are one of the US major sources of export revenue. China is the biggest consumer of soybeans that are exported, about half the US crop. The US competes with Brazil for the Far East soybean market.

Most soybeans to China are for pig feed. However, they can be used to produce biofuel as well.

The new port, in Aberdeen, WA, near Seattle and Tacoma, will export soybean meal. Six state Soybean Associations will chip in to cover the cost, along with the Soy Transportation Coalition. They’ll contribute $900K of the cost.

The terminal will have rail service, involving an interchange between the BNSF and UP main lines, which are predominant in service to Midwest farmers and their elevators, and the Puget Sound and Pacific line, which goes right to the port.

Like the agricultural shipping terminal near Oakland, CA, this facility ought to be of great value in exporting soybean products.

Elsewhere, corn farmers in the US Midwest are worried that railroad inefficiency and poor reliability will prevent grain exports from being shipped as the harvest comes on. A good summary of the situation is in the second article.

Many elevators rely on rail transport to get their grain to a port for export. Some can use barges down the Mississippi, but others, in locations more than 200 mi. from a Mississippi port, use rail at local sidings at elevators. Railroads will need to up their game to support the US export market for agricultural products.

Joanna Marsh Thursday, September 1, 2022

Midwest soybean farmers to help pay for Pacific Northwest export terminal – FreightWaves

 Joanna Marsh Friday, September 2, 2022

Grain shippers eye hiccups on rail network

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Posted in Logistics, Rail, Shipping, Supply Chains

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