Articles & announcements

Customer advisory regarding the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) risk season for 2024-25.

Please be advised that from this Saturday, 10 February Chinese New Year celebrations will take place and many factories and offices will not return to work until the last week of February.

A powerful winter storm is currently moving from the Arctic south. As it is approaching the Midwest and the Great Lakes and increasing in strength it has brought all activities at Chicago O’Hare to a complete standstill.

Low water levels in Panama Canal, recent attacks on merchant shipping approaching the Suez Canal, the recent escalating security crisis in the Red Sea region, BMSB and Chinese Lunar Year.

A new Emission Trading System surcharge for shipments from the EU will be implemented from January 2024.

An update regarding DP World's ongoing Protected Industrial Action at Australian ports.

The Maritime Union of Australia has applied to the Fair Work Commission to take protected industrial action in its negotiations for a new enterprise bargaining agreement for stevedores at DP World. The industrial action will take place at all four of DP World's Australian terminals, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Fremantle, in the coming weeks.

There has been further progress and containers from the US and UK are being released to us. Our Import team will continue to keep you appraised of any further developments.

For the last seven days most export and import shipments handled by Qantas at Australian airports have not left  the country or cleared Customs but are still sitting on the various hardstands/tarmac areas at Australian International Airports. There are now some 10,000 containers which require final clearance/electronic recognition in order to be moved.

Please be guided by the attached and we continue our efforts to have your shipments on their way at the earliest possibility.

China 2023, FCL updates. Freight rates have continued to soften since we wrote last. The 2nd half July rates were released this weekend and reflect lack of cargo from main ports in China...

Container freight rates for China to Australia, February 2023.

Global Beef Trade is beefing up, Oceania export and import volumes grow, Australian trade with the EU is forecast to grow in 2023, and ocean carriers begin to introduce LNG-fueled container vessels. Book Systems International aims to establish EU hub in the Netherlands, and is adding a third weekly service from London.

'Golden Week' in China and cancelled sailings, North American West Coast congestion has eased with operations in some ports back to normal, smaller cargo vessels continue to be removed from the world fleet, and FedEx is increasing rates!

Wharf and tugboat strikes in Australian ports, naval and military drills in Taiwan Strait, Brown Marmorated Stick Bug season, and Amazon US peak season fees on all fulfillment services...

Port strikes in Italy, Germany, USA, South Korea as well as Black Sea trade lane interruptions continue to affect sailing schedules; increases in ocean freight rates by over 400% since 2019; the Australian Border Force will increase surveillance of all licensed depots.