AlwaysFree: UPS Freight And Logistics News And Market Update - Week Of December 1, 2022

According to the company’s website news release on December 1, 2022 

Top Takeaways

• According to IATA, air cargo volume in the Asia Pacific region showed a 13.1% decline in October year over year, due to China’s Covid-19 restrictions and slower market growth.
• Current and possible labor strikes in the US and Europe.
• US Rail: The US Government voted to block a rail strike, which could affect 115,000 workers. Since an agreement was not reached, a rail strike could happen on December 9.
• Belgium: Rail workers have a national three-day action strike from Tuesday, November 29, until Friday, December 2.
• The EU Commission offered a gas price cap proposal of €275 MWh, starting on January 1, 2023.

North America

Air

• North American carriers show a 8.6% decrease in international air cargo volume in October. Signaling a further decline from September and the most significant drop since the start of the pandemic.

Ocean

• The Gulf and East Coast Ports continue to see rising TEU numbers in 2022. In October, Port of Houston had a 13% volume increase year over year. Port New Orleans saw a 38% volume increase year over year, and Port Corpus Christi in Texas had a 15% volume increase. The trend is for the year over year numbers to be positive in the upcoming months.

Ground

• The US Government voted to block a rail strike, which could affect 115,000 workers. Since an agreement was not reached, a rail strike could happen on December 9.

Asia Pacific

Air

• According to IATA, air cargo volume in the Asia Pacific region showed a 13.1% year over year decline in October, due to China’s Covid-19 restrictions and slower market growth.

Ocean

• There have been 56 blank sailings for the Transpacific Eastbound trade lane in November 2022, reducing 27.8% from normal capacity. For December 2022, carriers have announced there are also 56 blank sailings for the Transpacific Eastbound trade lane.

Europe

Air

• Within the next few years, British Airways is planning to expand its operations out of London’s Gatwick Airport instead of Heathrow Airport, as flight caps may return to the Heathrow Airport around the holidays.
• The Netherlands Government's proposal to protect residents from noise and emissions from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport may go into effect by the end of 2024. The measure may significantly reduce airline slots, decreasing cargo flow, and handling. Conversations between the airport and the European Union are in place.

Ocean

• The UK-based Ellerman City Liners is officially offering a bi-weekly trans-Atlantic container service to Jaxport, Jacksonville Port Authority. The service transit time is 13 to 17 days, and the port rotation is Antwerp, Belgium, Rotterdam, Netherlands, Tilbury, England, New York, Wilmington, and Jacksonville US. The transported goods include auto parts, clothing, wine and spirits, and export capabilities for goods manufactured in the US.
• Due to the continuous strikes that have occurred in the past few months, vessel arrivals, including exports, imports, and transshipment stops have decreased at the Ports of Liverpool and Felixstowe. Shippers were shifting to other ports across the UK due to the ongoing strike action.

Ground

• Due to slowing economic growth in the EU, the European international road freight market is expected to grow by 2.1% in 2023. In contrast, the domestic road freight market is projected to grow by only 0.7%. Factors such as high inflation, raw material shortages, driver shortages, and fuel prices are unpredictable, and the European road freight market will highly depend on their outcome in 2023.
• Belgian rail workers are having a national three-day action strike from Tuesday, November 29, until Thursday, December 1, over salary increases against rising costs of energy and a decline in purchasing power. The strike is expected to cause service cancellations and disrupt rail routes which are operated by the National Railway Company of Belgium (NMBS), as well as rail operations in the Netherlands.

India, the Middle East, and Africa

Air

• Starting December 18, Oman's SalamAir will offer direct flights between Muscat and Bangkok, Thailand, three times a week. This increase in flights is aligned with SalamAir’s plan to expand its presence in Southeast Asia.
• Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Cargo received IATA CEIV Pharma Certification. The CEIV Certification ensures that everything including the buildings, equipment and staff operate at the set standards and regulations.
• Under its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines, India's largest airline IndiGo now has flight services to Europe including France, Austria, Switzerland, and Portugal for the holiday season via Turkey. A total of 19 flights will be connected through Istanbul leading to an increase of cargo belly capacity. IndiGo will also operate a second Airbus A321 P2F aircraft in December with services to markets in China, Vietnam, and the Middle East.
• The Public Investment Fund (PIF) announced that Saudi Arabia plans to transform Riyadh Airport into a six-runway airport and logistics hub with 3.5m tons of cargo capacity by the year 2050.

Ocean

• Container freight rates for shipments moving from India have dropped significantly in November. Demand has also decreased globally, particularly for industrial goods, textiles, gems, and jewelry.

Customs and Brokerage

• Effective November 25, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has, for the first time, voted to prohibit the authorization of specified telecommunications, information security and other electronic equipment based on national security considerations.
• US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a new withhold release order effective November 23. The new withhold release order could have impact to US manufacturers using sugar, since the Dominican Republic is a major supplier to the US market, and Central Romana is the country's largest sugar producer. It's also possible the CAFTA-DR free trade agreement may have future limits to eligibility of goods for duty-free treatment.
• A new Joint Strategic Plan was published by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to direct their joint inspection efforts through the Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) program through 2026. To protect US agriculture and the nation's food supply from invasive insects and plant diseases, the two agencies collaborate to identify threats to plant and animal health.

Supply Chain & Market News

EU Energy Price Updates:

• The EU Commission offered a price cap proposal of €275 MWh, which would begin starting January 1, 2023.
• Energy ministers within the commission suggested applying the cap price to the Title Transfer Facility (TTF) – only to be effective if prices spike above a pre-defined level.
• The Commission requested the EU energy regulators launch a more lasting alternative benchmark for Europe by March 31, 2023.
• Germany specific updates are listed below:
• Short-term and rotational power outages are expected in households and businesses this winter due to energy shortages.
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• From January 1, 2023, until April 2024, Germany will allocate €56 - €99 billion to subsidize fossil fuel and district heat and €43 billion for electricity.

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