Global Trade Management

Container Shipping Market Is Unpredictable, But Prices Are Climbing, Xeneta Reports

November 3, 2016

An in-depth analysis of Q3 container shipping costs revealed positive trends for the container carrier segment, according to Xeneta, a market intelligence company for containerized ocean freight. However, the market remains unpredictable, with the 'Hanjin Effect' ebbing away, Xeneta says.

U.S. Commerce Department Reports Fall in Durable Goods Orders

November 3, 2016

CFO

U.S. durable goods orders fell in September, confirming another weak quarter for business spending, but core capital goods showed some signs of a recovery. The Commerce Department said orders for items meant to last three years decreased $0.3bn, or 0.1 percent, to $227.3bn in September, following a 0.3 percent increase in August.

Scotland Councils Club Together to Grow Local Supply Chains

November 2, 2016

Supply Management

Three councils in the North of Scotland say they hope by combining their procurement operations, they can incentivise key suppliers to invest in local supply chains. Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council and Highland Council will be encouraging primary suppliers to increase their local footprint and help deliver social value.

Canada and E.U. Sign Trade Deal, Bucking Resistance to Globalization

November 2, 2016

The New York Times

The European Union and Canada signed a far-reaching trade agreement this week that commits them to opening their markets to greater competition, after overcoming a last-minute political obstacle that reflected the growing skepticism toward globalization in much of the developed world.

Cross-Border E-Commerce Booms in China

November 1, 2016

MultiChannel Merchant

Cross-border e-commerce is growing in popularity - particularly in China, according to a new report from market research company eMarketer. By 2020, a quarter of the Chinese population, amounting to more than half of all the nation's digital buyers, will be shopping either directly on foreign-based sites or through third parties such as Alibaba's Tmall Global and JD.com's JD Worldwide, the report says.

U.S. Industrial Production Rose in September, Federal Reserve Reports

November 1, 2016

CFO

U.S. industrial production rose slightly in September, improving on August's decline but still showing the effects of low energy prices and the strong dollar. Output increased 0.1 percent in September after falling a downwardly revised 0.5 percent the previous month, according to the Federal Reserve. The gain was in line with economists' expectations, according to Reuters.

Hanjin to Halt E.U. Routes, Operations This Month

October 31, 2016

Maritime Executive

Hanjin Shipping's European routes services have completely halted, the company said last week, and a Seoul court overseeing its receivership process has approved winding down four of its European units.

Airline Earnings Reports Point to Uncertain Growth Trajectory in U.S. Cargo

October 28, 2016

Air Cargo World

Of the three major American carriers to publish third-quarter results so far, only Alaska Airlines Cargo saw its cargo revenues increase, up 3 percent, year-over-year, to $31m - a fraction of its growing passenger revenue, according to earnings reports. Meanwhile, United registered a 4.7 percent decline in revenues, y-o-y, to $224m and, as previously reported, Delta continued its losing streak into the quarter, with revenues falling 15 percent, y-o-y, to $167m.

Why the Trans-Pacific Partnership Must Be Ratified

October 28, 2016

Robert J. Bowman, SupplyChainBrain

The Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, and free trade generally, are political poison these days. But what's the cost of rejecting the 12-nation treaty?

Galaxy Note 7 Recall May Threaten South Korea's Reputation, Economy

October 27, 2016

The New York Times

A former South Korean teacher, Kim Jeong-min was at Narita Airport in Japan this month when he watched a television news report that Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 smartphone was banned on airplanes because it was prone to catching fire. Kim, 58, said he had felt humiliated, as if the non-Koreans in the airport lounge were looking at him.