Container shipping profitability is expected to improve in 2015, despite record vessel deliveries, driven by lower unit costs, according to the latest edition of the Container Forecaster, published by shipping consultancy Drewry.
Container freight rates for cargoes moving under contracts on major East-West routes have continued to erode, but at a slower pace than previously, according to the results of Drewry's Benchmarking Club.
Maersk Line and Hamburg Süd are ranked as the two most reliable container shipping carriers, according to performance rankings in the new online version of the Carrier Performance Insight (http://cpi.drewry.co.uk) published by shipping consultancy Drewry.
LPG exports are so dependent on the severity of winter in North America that all eyes are on the weather, as it hit demand for very large gas carriers (VLGCs) last year, according to the latest edition of the LPG Forecaster, published by shipping consultancy Drewry.
Soaring Chinese methanol expansion will boost demand for chemical tanker shipping on intra-Asia export trades out of China but check import traffic, according to the latest edition of the Chemical Forecaster, published by shipping consultancy Drewry.
The operational performance of the world's container terminals shows wide variation depending on location, terminal size and traffic type, according to the Container Terminal Capacity and Performance Benchmarks report published by shipping consultancy Drewry.
Airfreight rates from Asia to North America and Europe are expected to rise through to the end of the year following four months of stable pricing, according to the recently expanded Sea & Air Shipper Insight report published by shipping consultancy Drewry.
Independent specialist advisors Drewry and global forwarder network The WACO System have expanded their cooperation agreement to include exchanging and sharing market intelligence in the air cargo market.
Cabotage regulations for cargo moving to and from Shanghai have been formally liberalised. Whilst this should be positive for the port's transhipment activity, the effect is likely to be limited.
