Trendwatch: Boxships back up across Northern Europe; India-Pakistan 'tit-for-tat' cargo ban sparks sudden supply chain shocks; US trade deficit surges to record high in March

Boxships back up across Northern Europe

Ports across Northern Europe are dealing with what broker Braemar describes as “serious congestion” right now. 

In Antwerp, Braemar reported yesterday the yard is already at 96% capacity, and reefer plugs are overloaded at 112%. Nearly half the arriving ships are waiting for a berth, and there are 52 more containerships on the way. 

India-Pakistan 'tit-for-tat' cargo ban sparks sudden supply chain shocks

India and Pakistan have banned each other’s cargo from transiting their ocean gateways, following the 22 April attack on tourists in Kashmir.

“Direct or indirect Import or transit of all goods originating in or exported from Pakistan … shall be prohibited with immediate effect,” India’s Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) said on Friday.

US trade deficit surges to record high in March

The U.S. trade deficit widened to a record high in March as businesses boosted imports of goods ahead of tariffs, which dragged gross domestic product into negative terrain in the first quarter for the first time in three years.

The trade gap jumped 14.0% to a record $140.5 billion from a revised $123.2 billion in February, the Commerce Department's Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) said on Tuesday.

EU will not be pushed into unfair US tariffs deal, says trade chief

The European Union is under no pressure to accept an unfair tariff deal with the United States, its trade chief said on Tuesday, adding that it was being contacted by other countries seeking to forge closer trade ties with the 27-nation bloc.

The EU faces 25% U.S. import tariffs on its steel, aluminum and cars and so-called "reciprocal" tariffs of 10% for almost all other goods, a levy that could rise to 20% after President Donald Trump's 90-day pause expires on July 8.

Yang Ming earns global recognition for safeguarding Blue Whales and Skies

Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation (Yang Ming) has actively participated in the Protecting Blue Whales & Blue Skies Program, an initiative led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). By voluntarily reducing vessel speeds, the Company helps protect endangered whales while lowering underwater noise, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. In recognition of its continued participation, Yang Ming was honored with the Sapphire Award, the program’s highest distinction, for the fourth time. The award was accepted on behalf of the Company by Thomas Zin, the assistant vice president at Yang Ming (America).

Salvage tug will take another week to reach disabled Maersk ship

Maersk confirmed that a salvage tug left Europe yesterday, May 4, bound for its stricken containership Maersk Sana which continues to drift in the Atlantic off Bermuda. The vessel which has already been disabled for a week has “a little over a week’s time” to wait for the towage vessel to arrive.

The 102,000 dwt vessel is “safely adrift at sea,” Maersk said in response to an inquiry. The company reports the ship which was built in 2004 and is registered in Singapore has electric power and is able to operate its thruster to maneuver if necessary.  

US-flag international fleet plans ‘very ambitious’

The two components of the SHIPS act- actually the SHIPS for America Act and the Building SHIPS in America Act, are wide-ranging. Analysts at tanker broker and market expert Poten & Partners, in an Opinion piece, offered that: “The depth and breadth of the SHIPS Act shows the ambitions of the US to boost its maritime industry. If implemented, this has the potential to significantly transform the US shipping industry.”

Emirates to launch daily non-stop Dubai-Hangzhou service

Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, is set to launch a daily non-stop service between Dubai and Hangzhou, the capital of China’s Zhejiang province, from July 30, subject to approvals. The new service will operate a Boeing 777-300ER, which has a maximum cargo capacity of 20 tonnes. The airline’s latest expansion into Hangzhou makes the city its fifth gateway into the Chinese mainland after Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen, according to an official release.