Tag Archives: ports

US regulator probing China’s role in container shortage

Posted on March 2, 2022 by | 1 comment

The FMC is looking into Chinese control of containers and equipment to move them. Most containers and chassis are produced in China. So says Carl Bentzel, an FMC commissioner.

China certainly has a large stake in production of both containers and chassis. There are three state-owned firms in China that dominate container production. Even with elevated prices recently, it is still about the same cost to buy a new container in China for the voyage to the US, or to recycle one from the West Coast of the US. Even if you would rather recycle an empty container, the ocean shipping firms can affect that balance by refusing to pick empties up at say Long Beach or Los Angeles, or delay their transit by long enough to cause headaches for those who need them by a certain date.

If empty containers build up in the US, tying up chassis as well, that’s a form of industrial pollution. Having to spend large sums for storage yards rather than getting them back to China is an environmental cost that should not have to be borne by US local governments and citizens.

It’s certainly worth an investigation and perhaps some action by the US government.

John Gallagher, Washington Correspondent Thursday, May 6, 2021

US regulator probing China’s role in container shortage – FreightWaves
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Posted in Logistics, Ports, Shipping, Supply Chains, Sustainability

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PierPass shelves permanent TMF plan as Long Beach calls for 24/7 supply chains

Posted on February 14, 2022 by | 1 comment

The problem with 24/7 operation at ports is that no one wants to pay for it. And that is despite the fact that the costs will probably wind up being added to the import cost and passed on to the shipper and customer.

It seems port executives and supply chain players differ in their view of what’s needed. Terminals and warehouse operators and perhaps even drayage firms don’t think 24-hour service is needed to relieve the current congestion. And the staffing costs of staying open 24/7 would rise, with a lot of potential dead time. It is also hard to find additional trained staff today.

Unions are resisting because they claim the port terminals and other unionized players are not willing to hire more union workers.

And the PierPass is being taken unfair advantage of; apparently some are charging higher fees for using the time slots in the hours outside normal working times. See the second article below, which claims PierPass is only incentivizing adjustments that make them more money, rather than enhancing the flow of goods.

Is it possible for port management to get control of this? It’s doubtful under the current port governance rules.

Perhaps we need even more involvement from the federal government or the FMC to get action.

By Ian Putzger in Toronto 14/02/2022

PierPass shelves permanent TMF plan as Long Beach calls for 24/7 supply chains – The Loadstar

Kim Biggar February 14, 2022

https://splash247.com/fmc-says-non-profit-pierpass-at-los-angeles-and-long-beach-is-making-millions-in-profits/

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Posted in Logistics, Ports, Shipping, Supply Chains

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Glimmer of hope: Has the ship gridlock off ports finally peaked?

Posted on February 9, 2022 by | 1 comment

Flexport’s chief economist seems to think that’s possible.

He points to the fact that there won’t be any more stimulus checks to generate more demand for consumer goods. And the graphs show a rollover after a peak in January. The chart is telling:

Source: American Shipper, Chart: American Shipper based on data from Marine Exchange of Southern California

Flexport is a major broker and forwarder, based in San Francisco. They have a very thoughtful approach to understanding what they face in their markets. A pronouncement from them has some weight. Flexport just managed to raise $935 million to continue their advancement. That’s a bunch of capital.

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/flexport-winning-8b-valuation-with-tech-enabled-global-logistics
The backers are big names, too. Andreesen Horowitz is a major VC with many successes to its credit.

It’s too early to declare victory. over port congestion. More demand will come. There is a lot of replenishing of inventory going on. And the excess empty containers at LA and Long Beach, and elsewhere as well, are still a big source of onshore logistics problems. And the truck driver shortage, and the Great Resignation. And demand is still elevated; when people can’t travel or go to restaurants, they buy stuff.

But with recognition of a problem, and it’s certainly well recognized now, people have started to work on solving the many little bottlenecks that conspire to make a supply chain grind its gears. Perhaps we will see a slow unwinding of the problems.

Greg Miller, Senior Editor Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Glimmer of hope: Has the ship gridlock off ports finally peaked? – FreightWaves
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Posted in Logistics, Supply Chains

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