The Indonesian economy has surged forward to its highest level in years. While growth is expected to be 6.1 percent in 2012, on June 7 the Jakarta Globe reported the government reckons it to be 7.2 percent next year. (World Bank estimates previously had suggested 6.4% growth in GDP in 2013.)

Coal plays an increasingly important role in the great American energy renaissance. Its production is on the rise, and for the past five years, U.S. increases in coal exports have been quite remarkable.

The Offshore Group of Tucson, Arizona, has entered into a long-term relationship for the provision of outsourced manufacturing support, or "shelter," services in Mexico with UK-based manufacturer, J.J. Churchill Ltd. The British firm, a precision machinist for aerospace OEMs, will install production capacity in The Offshore Group's Roca Fuerte Industrial Park in Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico. The term of the contract between the two parties is for 10 years.

The North European containerport market bounced back strongly from the economic downturn. Total demand reached 57.9 million TEUs in 2011, representing an increase of 22 percent since 2009. The eastern Baltic is seeing particularly strong growth.

Plans for a new distribution center near Philadelphia will allow Dollar General to more effectively replenish its rapidly expanding store base.

The results of a recent survey conducted by the ICC International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in conjunction with an international trade association have served to underline the challenges associated with thefts of recyclable metals from containers.

Northeastern U.S. states are sometimes depicted as not particularly business friendly. But that hasn't deterred some major companies from locating in the Keystone State recently, not least of which is Volvo Construction Equipment Americas. For one thing, Pennsylvania's location makes it very attractive for companies that must get product to customers in a huge portion of the country within a day. And a pocket in Franklin County, in the south central part of the state, is helping them do just that.

Purfresh Inc., a developer of technology for maintaining the integrity of fresh product in transit, has joined with Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM) to serve worldwide markets.

Descartes Systems Group has acquired the assets of Infodis B.V., a Netherlands-based vendor of transportation-management system (TMS) software.

University College, the college of professional and continuing studies at the University of Denver, is offering a new major in global commerce and transportation, as part of its Bachelor of Arts Completion Program (BACP).