Newsletter – December 17, 2019

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Air cargo optimism for 2020 tempered by hazy crystal ball

freightwaves.com

It has been a rough year for the air cargo industry overall and prospects for a rebound in 2020 are murky because experts say the direction of economic and policy variables remains so unclear. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

EPA loosens fuel restrictions in US ahead of IMO 2020

freightwaves.com

U.S. regulators made a small but important change to federal rules that will allow refineries to sell and distribute to ship owners less expensive marine fuels that still meet the IMO 2020 clean fuel standard taking effect Jan. 1. Read more here.

Data shows diverging trends in ocean freight spot and contract rates

lloydsloadinglist.com

Carriers will need to apply differing pricing policies across trade lanes to meet the demand for either spot or contract services, according to research by container shipping analyst Sea-Intelligence. Read more here.

Ports of Auckland declared “no longer economically or environmentally viable”

worldcargonews.com

The long running saga over the future of Ports of Auckland as an inner city cargo port has reached an important point with NZ’s coalition government agreeing “that freight operations on prime land in downtown Auckland are no longer viable”. Read more here.

GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES

Severe thunderstorms, snowstorms to begin messy weather week across US

freightwaves.com

The third week of December will be rough for many truckers across the U.S. From snow and ice to severe thunderstorms and high winds, our road warriors will need to chain up and keep their wiper blades moving. Read more here.

California considers requiring zero emission truck sales

canadianshipper.com

Sacramento, CA — The country’s most populous state could become the first to require a portion of new truck sales be electric or “zero emission” vehicles as California grapples with how to clean up its worst-in-the nation air quality. Read more here.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Amazon halting FedEx Ground deliveries by Seller Fulfilled Prime customers

freightwaves.com

Starting Dec. 18, Amazon.com. Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) will prohibit companies that use its website for selling products but handle their own fulfillment from using a FedEx Corp. unit for deliveries, citing the FedEx unit’s inability to hit Amazon’s performance targets.