Container spot rates continue to ease with latest Asia-North Europe rates as low as USD 1,786/40’ (Asia – NAWC – USD 1,326/40’)

Ocean carriers now locking in longer term contracts with shippers to achieve more market stability in effort to stop rate decline.

China – Australia ocean services continue to be affected by overcapacity and lack of demand. Rates for February are still soft as demand only increases slowly.

Ocean carriers blank more than 50 sailing Asia – North Europe in first six weeks of New Year and reduce capacity by more than 27% in the trade lane.

Book Systems International suspends regular deliveries to retailers and libraries in New Zealand due to severe transport disruption of large parts of Auckland during worst flooding in history.

European air cargo volumes continue to drop due to conversion to land transport. Major airports report reductions of 10 -25% year-on-year.

Air cargo rates continue to soften as capacity grows increasingly affecting flights/rates to Australia.

Global reserves of copper, cobalt, manganese, and nickel will not be enough to support the growing BEV market worldwide.

French logistics center suffered severe fire damage – they were storing lithium-ion batteries which were destroyed.

Amazon is experiencing increasing levels of return shipments and is analysing the cost of this service. UPS handled over 70 million return shipments in their U.S. system between 20 November and 21 January - a rise of almost 10%.

FedEx slashing Sunday deliveries in the U.S. market to 50% of coverage and concentrating on urban areas only.

U.S. warehousing sector is cooling with Amazon postponing or shuttering projects after the e-commerce giant more than doubled its warehouse footprint over the last four years.