Worldwide container shipping rates rise after more than a year of declines
Spot rates for shipping containers jumped by the most in more than two years, a sign that a 16-month slump in ocean-freight costs that helped ease the sting of goods inflation is over, the American Journal of Transportation reports. The Drewry World Container Index composite increased 11.8% to $1,761 for a 40-foot container, the fourth straight advance […]
Sainsbury’s pushes out 12 fully electric vans to handle deliveries for superstore
Rival supermarkets Waitrose and Tesco both made headlines late last year for use of fully electric-powered lorries to handle deliveries in some areas. As these chains clamor for solutions to achieve net zero by 2035, a new grocer has embraced the EV craze. Sainsbury’s announced this week it is now using a fully electric fleet […]
Report: Dole planning to shift Ireland operations to new £44M facility
According to a report from Independent.ie, Dole is planning to develop a £44.3M logistics hub in eastern Ireland. The new facility could see the company’s operations in the country move from Dublin to the new campus in Balbriggan, which is already under development at the M1 Business Park in Courtlough. The publication notes that the […]
Pallet Earth’s stackable solutions can be cost saver for produce companies
One of the many vendors worth checking out at Fruit Logistica this week is a company called Pallet Earth, which is making big strides in the development of sustainable solutions to transport and move fresh produce … and do it cost-efficiently. Their pallets are not only comprised of 100% recycled plastic and contain strong inner […]
Fresh Produce coalition worried about supply of fruits and vegetables
The Global Coalition of Fresh Produce has released a report analyzing the current global trading environment for fresh fruits and vegetables. The report alerts about a number of challenges that are currently threatening the long-term economic viability of the fresh produce sector worldwide, and thereby economic stability, food security, and health Current challenges include substantial […]
Future-proofing Last Mile Delivery for the European economy
Pandemic-driven e-commerce sales have surged across Europe, and this momentum has sustained sales despite ongoing economic challenges. New services with new models entered the market and expanded quickly, changing the expectations that even longtime online shoppers have about what is now possible. Consumers in Western Europe who spent 561 euros online per capita in 2019, […]
European ports finally making a comeback after COVID declines
After almost three years, freight levels at ports across the EU are slowly returning to their pre-pandemic state. Port Strategy reports that total weight of goods handled has recovered by 4% to 3.5 billion tonnes in 2021. During 2020, EU ports saw a decline of 7% in cargo compared to the previous year. While volumes still haven’t […]
Despite soaring profits, Maersk sees economic risks coming this year
Danish shipping group AP Møller-Maersk anticipates “a slowdown in the second half, a normalization”, according to its chief executive Søren Skou and in a report in The Financial Times. This comes despite the highest profits of $19.3 billion (+55%) made in its 114-year history, in the first quarter. “The visibility is quite low. Mainly we see risks […]
