Aria, clima, elettrificazione, acque e biodiversità. 5116 articoli raccolti da fonti istituzionali e specializzate, classificati per area ambientale e linkati al porto di riferimento.
The world’s largest shipping association said the Trump administration’s abrupt suspension of “Project Freedom” has injected fresh uncertainty into an already volatile operating environment for commercial vessels trapped inside the...
France on Wednesday deployed its carrier strike group to the Red Sea as part of planning for a potential mission to secure the Strait of Hormuz, urging Washington and Tehran to consider the proposal given the global economic impact of their competing blockades.
U.S. forces disabled an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman on Wednesday after CENTCOM said the vessel attempted to violate Washington’s blockade on ships entering or departing Iranian...
Iran said on Wednesday it was reviewing a new U.S. proposal, after sources said Washington and Tehran were closing in on a one-page memorandum to end the war in the Gulf while leaving tricky issues such as Iran's nuclear program for later.
Shippers are grappling with the logistics challenges posed by the military conflict in the Middle East while, in some cases, also having to absorb the impact of weakening consumer demand in the region for their goods. Last week, CEO of Adidas Bjørn Gulden revealed that the company had faced difficulties getting products into the Middle East due to the Iran war. Presenting the sports and leisurewear giant’s Q1 results, he also underlined ... The post Middle East conflict sees shippers face soaring costs and weakening demand appeared first on The Loadstar .
Shippers are grappling with the logistics challenges posed by the military conflict in the Middle East while, in some cases, also having to absorb the impact of weakening consumer demand in the region for their goods. Last week, CEO of Adidas Bjørn Gulden revealed that the company had faced difficulties getting products into the Middle East due to the Iran war. Presenting the sports and leisurewear giant’s Q1 results, he also underlined that transportation costs were “starting to explode”, due to a surge in oil prices. Keeping a watchful eye on the situation is the director of the Global Shippers Forum, James Hookham. “Normal trade flows are suspended until the Strait of Hormuz is reopened, with or without a toll,” he toldThe Loadstarin an interview/ “There are long overland routes being established to import goods via the Red Sea ports of Jeddah and King Abdullah, but the unexpected movement of goods through Saudi Arabia is adding to the customs issues being encountered,” . He underlined that the Gulf region was too lucrative for exporters simply to give up on, but the higher costs and time delays would make some flows uneconomic in the long run. “Many of the expected imports will have been contracted for delivery before the onset of the conflict, hence the need for the alternative routes and perseverance by shippers and forwarders. “How the costs are passed on in the region will depend on the extent national governments are prepared to subsidise essential imports,” he added. On this point,Saudia Cargohas launched an air freight support programme with the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) to reduce shipping costs for pharmaceutical shipments and medical supplies entering the kingdom. The programme will offer facilities, and price reductions of up to 50% on shipping costs, to support medicine importers and maintain the steady movement of essentialhealthcare products. Under the agreement, Saudia Cargo and the SFDA aim to “improve the affordability and continuity of pharmaceutical imports while strengthening co-operation between public authorities and private logistics operators”. Another difficulty facing shippers exporting to the Gulf is weakening consumer demand, particularly for luxury goods, which, although pre-dating the conflict, has been made worse by it. Earlier this year, LVMH, whose product portfolio spans champagne, haute-couture, jewellery, time-pieces and perfumes, temporarily closed some stores in the region. Although some locations have reopened, demand remains soft, particularly in retail destinations popular with tourists, which traditionally generate high-margin sales. While the Middle East region only accounts for approximately 6% of the global luxury goods market, it is among the most dynamic, with annual sales growth estimated at between 6% and 8%. The conflict has not just provoked a decline in sales, but also slowed a key driver in the sector’s expansion. This will not be lost on air and ocean freight forwarders for whom the segment has long been a lucrative source of business, thanks to those high yields. Inside the industry’s AI shift Complete The Loadstar’s ‘State of AI in the Supply Chain’ survey — and receive the full report and data before release. Take the 2-min survey
Strengthening global demand and continuing congestion in Europe is prompting a shift in containers being moved back to China, reinforcing an imbalance in the market, to which European shippers are overly exposed. According to a new report from Sogese, the congestion that has gripped European depots for months has led equipment owners to reposition containers, sending many back to China, potentially to the detriment of European exporters. Andrea Monti, CEO of Sogese, ... The post Market shifting as more containers are shipped back to China appeared first on The Loadstar .
Strengthening global demand and continuing congestion in Europe is prompting a shift in containers being moved back to China, reinforcing an imbalance in the market, to which European shippers are overly exposed. According to a new report from Sogese, the congestion that has gripped European depots for months has led equipment owners to reposition containers, sending many back to China, potentially to the detriment of European exporters. Andrea Monti, CEO of Sogese, said: “What we are seeing in the market is a clear directional shift in container flows. Depots across Europe remain congested, while prices and demand signals in China are strengthening. “Carriers are actively repositioning equipment back to origin, and this is likely to reduce European stock levels in the near term, particularly 40ft high-cubes, as production and demand begin to align again.” The report noted routing boxes back to China had been prompted by container prices showing signs of picking up, “reflecting strengthening demand signals at origin”. In contrast, it said, the congestion in Europe meant pricing dynamics were less responsive to where demand actually sat, compounding a sense of regional imbalance in the market. Mr Monti said: “Across Europe [there] is a clear slowdown in container rotation. Each additional day at sea or waiting at port reduces how often equipment can be reused. That is why availability feels tight, even in a market that appears oversupplied.” Inside the industry’s AI shift Complete The Loadstar’s ‘State of AI in the Supply Chain’ survey — and receive the full report and data before release. Take the 2-min survey
Despite the continuing deterioration in rates, ocean shippers are being advised to avoid the spot market and stick to their allocation with carriers. Abandoning their contracted space could come back to bite them when peak season rears its head, they were warned this week. Transpacific sailings to North America aside, east west sailings experienced a third successive week of declining spot rates, seemingly leaving no one able to predict which way the ... The post Avoid cheap spot rates as liner capacity tightens, shippers warned appeared first on The Loadstar .
Despite the continuing deterioration in rates, ocean shippers are being advised to avoid the spot market and stick to their allocation with carriers. Abandoning their contracted space could come back to bite them when peak season rears its head, they were warned this week. Transpacific sailings to North America aside, east west sailings experienceda third successive week of declining spot rates,seemingly leaving no one able to predict which way the wind will blow. One punter taking a shot, Flexport’s head of ocean for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, Guillaume Caill, told those listening to the company’s European Freight Market Update, he thought the decline may be easing. “The market has stabilised from April going into May, and I think the decrease in the spot market may have hit its bottom,” he said, before warning shippers: “Do not try and overbook on the spot market; stick to your allocation, because if you do not, the carriers may see you not performing in slack season and try and use this to right-size your allocation in the peak season.” Part of the problem for all involved is that the market has become chaotic as a result of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, which has led to uncertainty not only in supply chains, but spending patterns. Vespucci Maritime CEO Lars Jensen said forwarders had noted that the chaos had prompted a slew of carriers to schedule “a lot” of blanked sailings over the first half of May, “making the current space situation very tight”. One forwarder based in China toldThe Loadstar: “Many shipments have been rolled-over to later sailings departing after the holiday, which has further tightened space in late May, as these shipments have consumed a large portion of available allocations. “As a result, securing space for new bookings has become increasingly difficult. Based on current trends, the main challenge for May will be space availability. This is why carriers are so confident in raising rates in the coming weeks.” Mr Jensen said that, should service cancellations perpetuate, shippers needed to show flexibility, adding that “lost sales in the other end is always going to be more expensive, vastly more expensive than being fair with your shipping line”. And the forwarder noted that while “it is true that there are still opportunities in the market to obtain relatively lower rates for certain special shipments”, there appeared to be a trend of ocean freight rates continuing to rise. Inside the industry’s AI shift Complete The Loadstar’s ‘State of AI in the Supply Chain’ survey — and receive the full report and data before release. Take the 2-min survey
European road freight is entering a new, cost-driven phase, as surging fuel prices push rates higher despite softer demand. According to the latest Ti/Upply/IRU report, in Q1 26, contract rates rose to 140.1 index points, up 3.2 points quarter on quarter, and 8.9% year on year, while spot rates fell to 132.3 index points, down 2.8 and 2 points, respectively. The divergence reflects what the report describes as “a cooling-off period” in ... The post Fuel costs reshape Europe’s road freight as contract-spot split widens appeared first on The Loadstar .
European road freight is entering a new, cost-driven phase, as surging fuel prices push rates higher despite softer demand. According to the latest Ti/Upply/IRU report, in Q1 26, contract rates rose to 140.1 index points, up 3.2 points quarter on quarter, and 8.9% year on year, while spot rates fell to 132.3 index points, down 2.8 and 2 points, respectively. The divergence reflects what the report describes as “a cooling-off period” in spot markets following the peak season, even as contract pricing continues to climb on previously secured volumes. But the more significant shift is on the cost side. EU diesel prices jumped 26%, from €1.56 per litre at the end of Q4 25 to €1.96 by the end of Q1 26, after disruption in the Middle East pushed oil prices above $100 per barrel. “The Q1 picture reveals a market entering a new phase where cost pressures are overtaking demand as the primary driver behind rate movements,” said Upply CEO Thomas Larrieu. With fuel inflation accelerating, the link between demand and pricing is weakening. After freight volumes declined 8% year on year in Q1, operators are expected to pass the rising costs on. “Fuel is expected to be the dominant driver of road freight rate changes in Q2 and beyond,” says the report, warning that operators “will be unable to absorb costs of this magnitude without passing them through to rates”. That shift raises questions over how long rates can continue to rise if demand deteriorates further. Ti’s head of commercial development, Michael Clover, said: “The real question… is how the upward pressure on freight rates from high fuel costs will balance against lower volumes as the economic situation worsens.” While manufacturing offered some support in Q1, the Eurozone PMI rising to 51.6 in March to its strongest level since June 2022, the report warns that rising input costs and weakening confidence typically precede a slowdown in orders. At the same time, structural supply constraints are tightening. Driver shortages remain significant, with 12.1% of positions unfilled across the EU, while new truck registration fell 6% last year, limiting capacity growth. The result is a market increasingly driven by cost inflation rather than freight volumes. This is already reflected in sentiment. The European Road Freight Rates Sentiment Index rose 6.2 points in Q1, to 16.9, with expectations “firmly leaning towards a further increase in rates”. With diesel prices continuing to climb and supply pressures building, the report suggests Europe’s road freight market is shifting into a new cycle, where rates are set less by demand swings and more by the rising cost of keeping trucks moving. Yet again, it’s not good news for shippers. Inside the industry’s AI shift Complete The Loadstar’s ‘State of AI in the Supply Chain’ survey — and receive the full report and data before release. Take the 2-min survey
Pressure is building on Anchorage’s role as the hub for transpacific cargo, as operational constraints and fuel concerns push carriers to explore alternatives within and beyond Alaska. One industry source described conditions at the airport bluntly: “ANC is a real mess now.” Recent operational data supports that assessment. Figures for April show Anchorage handling broadly steady volumes, in the mid-60s to low-70s arrivals a day – below peak level. However, congestion appears ... The post ‘Anchorage a mess’: airlines look elsewhere as Canada pitches transpac role appeared first on The Loadstar .
Pressure is building on Anchorage’s role as the hub for transpacific cargo, as operational constraints and fuel concerns push carriers to explore alternatives within and beyond Alaska. One industry source described conditions at the airport bluntly: “ANC is a real mess now.” Recent operational data supports that assessment. Figures for April show Anchorage handling broadly steady volumes, in the mid-60s to low-70s arrivals a day – below peak level. However, congestion appears uneven, with maximum taxi times exceeding 60 minutes on some days. At the same time, the airport is regularly operating close to stand capacity, with peak aircraft on the ground reaching the high teens. Data also suggests that not all transpacific flows rely on Anchorage, with roughly a third of eastbound flights already routing via alternative pathways. Source: ANC Daily Report, 5 May According to one reliable source, multiple factors are converging, including fuel availability, infrastructure limitations and ongoing works. “There’s lack of fuel… construction and slots issue in ANC as well,” and thesource added that wider structural issues were also at play. “ANC is a problem not just due to the current war causing fuel supply problems, but also a construction project this summer which reduces parking slots, and also huge snow and parking issues every winter.” Against that backdrop, some operators are understood to be adjusting their networks.Indeed, one industry source said some operators were “taking payload hits” to avoid Anchorage, flying direct transpacific sectors into the US rather than stopping in Alaska. Source: ANC Daily Report, 5 May While such moves are not widespread, Anchorage remains heavily used, but sources said carriers were increasingly looking at ways to reduce reliance on the hub. Within Alaska, that has led to interest in Fairbanks as a secondary option, although its role appears limited to Atlas Air – which is increasing its use of the airport. “Atlas Air… [is] the only one that could make Fairbanks work due to scale… If you have daily or multi-daily flights, ok, but for rest it’s no option at all.” The source added that Canada’s Edmonton (YEG) had “been getting a lot of requests”, as Fairbanks was not proving a viable alternative for many airlines. Attention is therefore shifting beyond Alaska, with some in the industry actively promoting Edmonton as a longer-term solution. “The case for YEG is very strong,” said one North American source. Proponents argue the airport offers both operational resilience and commercial upside, including access to both US and Canadian markets. “Using it instead of ANC gives carriers… access to two markets… gives carriers the ability to de-risk by having two revenue sources.” They also point to payload performance advantages on transpacific sectors, explaining: “For the 777-200F, there are no, or minor, gross payload hits from most major transpac cities. For 747Fs… there are major possibilities there as well.” YEG’s local industrial base is seen as another key factor. “The region has very attractive exports to Asia… especially in the perishable foodstuffs, oil and gas and pharmaceutical industries.There are a lot of charters to/from YEG – horses, oil, and gas, etc. There are even cherry exports from British Columbia and Oregon … mostly trucked from YEG to Calgary.” Interest from Asian carriers is said to be rising, Japanese and Korean airlines are said to be considering Edmonton as a permanent alternative to ANC. The case for Canada is also being strengthened by wider trade developments. It and the UAE have recently expanded their bilateral air transport agreement, allowing unlimited all-cargo flights and full fifth-freedom rights. Emirates SkyCargo has launched a weekly freighter service to Toronto, adding around 100 tonnes of capacity, underlining the growing trade flows. Badr Abbas, divisional SVP at Emirates SkyCargo, said:“Our freighter service to Toronto is an important milestone… as we continue to strategically expand our freighter fleet and network in line with evolving trade corridors.” He added: “Exports from Canada to the UAE have been growing steadily… increasing 24% year on year.” Operational pressures at Anchorage and the expansion of alternative trade corridors are beginning to shift how carriers assess their transpacific networks. As one source put it: “There is an alternative.” Inside the industry’s AI shift Complete The Loadstar’s ‘State of AI in the Supply Chain’ survey — and receive the full report and data before release. Take the 2-min survey
Intra-Asia rates continue to rise – despite sluggish cargo volumes – as operators continue to use volatile bunker prices to justify emergency fuel surcharges. Korea Ocean Business Corporation’s Container Composite Index (KCCI) shows that, as of 27 April, Busan-South-east Asia rates averaged $1,097 per 40ft, up $12 from a fortnight ago. And compared with average rates of $933 per 40ft in March, this is a 16% increase, a level not seen since ... The post Bunker surcharges driving intra-Asia rates up, even as demand falls appeared first on The Loadstar .
Intra-Asia rates continue to rise – despite sluggish cargo volumes – as operators continue to use volatile bunker prices to justify emergency fuel surcharges. Korea Ocean Business Corporation’s Container Composite Index (KCCI) shows that, as of 27 April, Busan-South-east Asia rates averaged $1,097 per 40ft, up $12 from a fortnight ago. And compared with average rates of $933 per 40ft in March, this is a 16% increase, a level not seen since last June, when rates averaged $1,129. The KCCI Busan-South-east Asia averages are calculated based on freight rates for the Busan-Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore routes. On 1 May, Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index registered a 6% hike on rates a fortnight ago, averaging $918 per 40ft. The inceased rates belie the weak cargo demand. Korea Customs figures for March show container traffic between South Korea and eight South-east Asian countries down 6% year on year, to 353,600 teu, continuing a post-Chinese New Year decline. Both export and import volumes weakened: exports fell 4% year on year, to 174,400 teu; while imports dropped 8%, to 179,200 teu. By country, all except Indonesia showed negative growth. Vietnam, South Korea’s largest trading partner on South-east Asian routes, recorded a 9% year-on-year decline, to 111,300 teu. Its third-largest trading partner, Malaysia, saw an 8% drop, to 51,500 teu, and Thailand, the fourth-largest trading partner, recorded a 10% decline to 48,200 teu. Indonesia, on the other hand, recorded a 13% jump in container trade, to 55,900 teu. Meanwhile, the higher oil prices have brought inflationary pressures, causing consumers to tighten their belts. And the spike in oil prices is also driving up freight rates, with shipping lines justifying $100 emergency fuel surcharges and $50 low-sulphur surcharges on top of GRIs. This is despite bunker prices having cooled from an initial surge that saw prices pass $1,000 per tonne. Shipping lines have argued that as long as the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, they must cover themselves against unexpected fuel price hikes. Drewry Supply Chain Advisors head Philip Damas toldThe Loadstar: “GRIs were supported by the effect of Middle East disruptions and bottlenecks on intra-Asia capacity and Asian ports.” Inside the industry’s AI shift Complete The Loadstar’s ‘State of AI in the Supply Chain’ survey — and receive the full report and data before release. Take the 2-min survey
The Global Maritime Forum has reshaped its board, bringing in fresh voices from shipping and finance while long-serving members step down after reaching term limits. Stephen Fewster, global lead for shipping finance at ING Bank, and Mads Peter Zacho, chief executive of Navigator Holdings, have been appointed as new board members. The changes come as …
Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. appears to have been able to export a second liquefied natural gas shipment through the Strait of Hormuz, according to ship-tracking data compiled by Bloomberg, even as the Iran war halts most traffic.
Oslo-listed Stainless Tankers is reshaping its leadership, with a change at both board and executive level as the Tufton-backed owner prepares for its next phase. Chairman Ted Kalborg will step down from the board, with the company proposing that current chief executive Andrew Hampson takes over the role, subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming …
Key takeaway: As AI devours power and land, MOL and Hitachi bet on floating compute, but the real story is what an overcapacity-plagued shipping industry does with its ageing fleet. There is a certain elegance in the idea that the same industry responsible for moving the world’s goods might soon be responsible for storing its thoughts. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Hitachi and Hitachi Systems announced on 30 March the signing of an ... The post Your next data centre – what about a retired car carrier? appeared first on The Loadstar .
Key takeaway: As AI devours power and land, MOL and Hitachi bet on floating compute, but the real story is what an overcapacity-plagued shipping industry does with its ageing fleet. There is a certain elegance in the idea that the same industry responsible for moving the world’s goods might soon be responsible for storing its thoughts. Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Hitachi and Hitachi Systems announced on 30 March the signing of an MoU for the development, operation and commercialization of a floating ...
REUTERS reports: Wall Street’s top regulator on Tuesday proposed allowing U.S.-traded companies to switch from quarterly to twice-annual earnings reports, pursuing an idea President Donald Trump has personally pushed during both his presidencies. The Securities and Exchange Commission proposal would end a 55-year-old requirement that U.S. public companies share detailed financial results four times a year, within 45 days of the end of their fiscal quarters, in a major shake-up of U.S. ... The post Reuters: US SEC proposes allowing public companies to opt out of quarterly earnings reports appeared first on The Loadstar .
(…but don’t confuse the DOL rule with the one that bites.) The US logistics sector is built on layers of subcontracting: trucking carriers farming out capacity to fleet contractors, warehouse operators staffing up through agencies, and parcel giants routing deliveries through nominally independent service providers. It is a model predicated on a clean legal separation between the company that controls the work and the company that employs the workers. The Department of Labor’s ... The post FedEx paid nearly $470m to learn this lesson… appeared first on The Loadstar .
(…but don’t confuse the DOL rule with the one that bites.) The US logistics sector is built on layers of subcontracting: trucking carriers farming out capacity to fleet contractors, warehouse operators staffing up through agencies, and parcel giants routing deliveries through nominally independent service providers. It is a model predicated on a clean legal separation between the company that controls the work and the company that employs the workers. The Department of Labor’s (DOL) proposed joint employer rule – ...