KUKLA NEWS
This month we are featuring on “Managing your fine wine and En Primeur shipments”.
IN THE NEWS
London Gateway-Southampton intermodal train service was launched with the aim of improving supply chains
An intermodal train weekly service connecting DP World’s container terminals at London Gateway and Southampton was launched in November. The new service is scheduled to carry cargo, including fruits, beverages and consumer goods, every Saturday in less than 5 hours. The plan is to increase the train frequency in 2023 to ease traffic congestion, with 300,000 trucks taken off UK roads each year. More on: https://www.porttechnology.org/news/dp-world-launches-london-gateway-southampton-intermodal-train/
New IMO regulations to help the recovery of the container freight market
The new International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulations Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) will be starting on 1 January 2023 and are expected to contribute to the recovery of the shipping freight market in the medium and long term, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. The analysis shows that while freight rates are expected to return to the pre-pandemic level in 2023, limited active supply growth driven by regulations, demolitions and speed will likely help the market to recover from 2024 onwards. More on: https://container-news.com/%ce%bdew-imo-regulations-to-support-container-freight-market-recovery/
PORT UPDATES
UK port and rail strikes happening in December and January
The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union has announced that it will take further industrial action over December and January. More than 40,000 members across Network Rail and 14 train companies will walk out in a series of 48-hour strikes before Christmas. The RMT union members will walk out on 13, 14, 16 and 17 December 2022. Further strikes are also planned for 3, 4, 6 and 7 January 2023. More on: https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/when-december-2022-january-2023-rail-strikes-dates-network-rail-train-transport-rmt-b1041993.html
The truckers’ strike in Chile affects port operations
The workers’ strike at DP World Terminal at San Antonio Port ended on 25 November, as we noted in the Kukla update and vessel operations have started again. However, a national trucker strike in Chile temporarily blocked access to terminals, affecting the departures from San Antonio and Valparaiso. As a result, operations at ports and container empty depots are being heavily impacted.
Container exports from New Zealand are being disrupted
There is still a great deal of disruption to export container flows from New Zealand’s south island due to flooding that has damaged roadways. Repairs are underway and traffic is being re-routed, adding to the transit time and requiring additional trucking charges given the heavily reduced capacity. As a result, shipping from this area will likely take longer and be more expensive than expected.
SEA FREIGHT UPDATE
Continued growth in volumes on the North America East Coast
Port volumes on the West Coast have started to contract sharply in quarter three of 2022, but the situation is different on the East Coast.
According to Sea Intelligence, as shown in figure 1, the Y/Y laden inbound growth in 2022-Q3 was between 4%-11%, and the annualised growth was 7%-10%. Total handling volumes also exhibited a similar growth trend, albeit shifted slightly downwards. There is also an increase in the laden export volumes, growing Y/Y for four consecutive months in September, which shows that the carriers are starting to clear out the laden export backlog a little more. That said, empty exports are still growing at a rate of 17%-20% Y/Y when annualised compared to 2019. More on: https://container-news.com/sea-intelligence-reports-strong-volume-growth-on-north-america-east-coast/
ROAD FREIGHT
European road freight rates soften after hitting another all-time high in Q3
Diesel prices, driver shortages and drought in Europe have all significantly pushed average European road freight rates up again in Q3 despite lower consumer spending. However, data from the end of the quarter shows prices softening towards the end of Q3. More https://www.iru.org/news-resources/newsroom/european-road-freight-rates-soften-after-hitting-another-all-time-high-q3
Europe River/Inland
Droughts in Europe meant river freight capacity was reduced across the continent in Q3, pushing demand onto road freight and adding more upward pressure to rates on some routes.
And finally…
Our very own Chris Porter has, for the last year, had the honour of being the Master of his City Livery Company, the Worshipful Company of Distillers.
He stood down at the Company’s annual Installation Dinner, held at Vintner’s Hall on 17 November.
“Being Master of any Livery Company is a huge privilege, but especially as Master of one that has such close links to the heart of today’s spirits industry. It has been an amazing year, raising over £100,000 for our charity partners, a great source of pride too. It was very hard work at times, an education at others – but enormous fun along the way, meeting some incredible, talented people, with amazing generosity of spirit”, said Chris Porter.
He continued: “I look forward to continuing being part of this, helping the Company run its events and also the amazing charity and mentoring work that is being done in support of our charity partners and industry beneficiaries”.
KUKLA QUIZ 2022
Test your knowledge by taking our fun fact 2022 quiz, including some of the most important events of the year. Take the quiz here!
