Some shippers are looking at Gulf Coast ports like the Port of Houston as possible alternatives to the severely congested ports along the East and West Coasts. Port congestion like we're seeing [...]
This is a guest post by Maggie Simpson. As the backbone of the global economy, international trade has its own history and quirks. Buckle up as we get the lowdown on some of the most bizarre [...]
It’s early to talk about the 2021 peak season for the international shipping industry; however, with severe congestion at U.S. ports expected to last at least into the summer, 2021’s [...]
We're not completely bereft of signs that port congestion, which is so costly to shippers, could start easing soon; however, congestion is at record-setting levels and what's probably the biggest [...]
71 U.S. agricultural industry groups teamed up to write a letter to President Biden, informing him of the injury ocean freight carriers are doing to US agriculture, food, and forestry product [...]
We're now deep in a series covering the debate over the 100-year-old piece of legislation known as the Jones Act. The controversial Merchant Marine Act of 1920, as it is formally named, has [...]
Does the Jones Act have a negative impact on the economies of noncontiguous U.S. states and territories? We'll look at arguments concerning just that, with an eye specifically on Hawaii, in [...]
Happy Chinese New Year! This year, the Chinese New Year falls on February 12th, and though it is still February 11th here as I'm typing these words, it is already February 12th in Beijing. [...]
Among the flurry of executive orders from the new administration (President Biden had already signed 40 executive orders and actions as of a week ago) is an order in which the president reaffirms [...]
Transpacific freight rates, and freight rates in general, were astronomical in 2020, rising and rising until, at last, they reached a plateau around the end of September/beginning of October. [...]
International shipping in 2021 continues right where 2020 left off. That sentence sounds obvious, but what it means is an abnormal start to the year when it comes to ocean freight shipping, and [...]
For many, today couldn't get here quickly enough. At midnight tonight, we say goodbye to 2020 and hello to 2021, hoping for a better year. Traditionally, Universal Cargo has said goodbye to years [...]
I've typed the words "ocean freight carriers are notoriously unreliable" so many times over the last decade of writing in Universal Cargo's blog that I should probably have the statement [...]
Shippers importing goods from anywhere in the world – but especially China and other Asian countries – should expect to experience delays and fees. Right now, ports in Asia and the U.S. are [...]
On November 30th, the MV One Apus had a massive shipping container collapse as it was hit by a storm and massive waves in the Pacific Ocean on its way to the Port of Long Beach. We blogged about [...]
The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) is increasing how often ocean freight carriers from the three major alliances that dominate global shipping must file trade data. Shipping lines from these [...]
U.S. agricultural exporters are getting screwed. All the international shipping attention in the U.S. seems focused on importing rather than exporting. International shipping news sources, when [...]
Headlines about soaring freight rates are still prevalent in international shipping. In fact, just yesterday (November 18th), Marine Link published an article by Roslan Khasawneh called Container [...]
U.S. shippers and truckers are being hit with detention and demurrage fees for reasons beyond their control. Again. Or maybe I should say still. For those who are unsure or unaware of what these [...]
Check out the latest post in Universal Cargo's blog for an overview of what's happening with transpacific shipping from last month to the end of the year. This could help you decide the best [...]