Newsletter – August 20, 2021

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Cargo logjam building after Covid disrupts handling at Shanghai Pudong Airport

theloadstar.com
Covid-testing has disrupted cargo operations at Shanghai Pudong Airport (PVG) today, with widespread delays and flight cancellations expected over the weekend.
Ramp handler Shanghai International Airport Services (SIAS) suspended activities after a positive case was detected, and all staff were sent for testing or quarantine, according to forwarders. Read more here.

US Imposes Limits On Chinese Passenger Capacity For Four Weeks

simpleflying.com
After a decision by Chinese authorities to impair the operating rights of United Airlines flights to Shanghai, the US Department of Transport (DOT) has placed temporary capacity limits on Chinese airlines flying into certain US airports. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Seoul acts to ease cargo bottlenecks and boost SMEs in tough peak season

theloadstar.com
The Korean government has again intervened in the container shipping market amid rising concern that smaller shippers (SMEs) will be starved of slots during the peak season.
Every Korean liner operator is to mobilise all available vessels for nine transpacific and four South-east Asian extra loaders this month. Read more here (login required).

Port of Los Angeles reports 36.8% volume jump in July

ajot.com
The Port of Los Angeles reported year-to-date container volumes were up in July by 36.8% over 2020 levels for a total of 6,318,675 TEUs, according to Gene Seroka executive director, Port of Los Angeles.
Imports were up by 2.9% in July 2021 compared to July 2020 for a total of 469,361 TEUs while July exports declined by 27.6% to 91,440 TEUs over 2020 numbers. Read more here.

Chittagong port going digital to deliver faster services

container-news.com
The Chittagong port is embracing new technologies gradually to make faster and efficient delivery of services as part of its digital transformation.
The port authority has digitised the entry fee collection to make faster the entrance of trucks in the port premises for transporting containers. Read more here.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Amazon now wants to reinvent the in-store shopping experience

freightwaves.com
The long-rumored Amazon move into malls could be coming soon, according to a new report. The Wall Street Journal, citing “people familiar with the matter,” reported on Thursday that Amazon plans to open several retail locations in Ohio and California. Read more here.

Six Elements Retailers Should Have in Place for Peak Season

supplychainbrain.com
Black Friday through Cyber Monday, 2020, was the first stress test of the capabilities that retailers had put into place to address last year’s anticipated crush of online orders and the corresponding avalanche of fulfillment challenges. As e-commerce order-fulfillment provider PFS discovered in its post-peak 2020 analysis, 53% of the retailers surveyed felt they did not have the resources to make the operational changes needed ahead of the season, while 48% felt they didn’t have enough time. They had no intention of making that mistake again this year. Read more here.