Transport and Port Updates – December 2024

Overall This week, the Drewry composite index decreased by 2%. Freight rates between various ports have shown diversity; rates from Rotterdam to New York remained stable. Rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles decreased by 5% and Shanghai to New York declined by 1%. The ILA port strike, which began on October 1, 2024, ended after…

Another Strike? ILA Strike Could Hit U.S. East and Gulf Coast Ports Again in January

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), representing approximately 45,000 dockworkers along the East and Gulf Coasts, could strike again in January 2025 posing a significant disruption to U.S. supply chains. This past October, the ILA initiated a three-day strike after the expiration of their contract, primarily due to disputes over wages and the automation of port…

Montreal Strike Standoff: The Growing Economic Impact and Calls for Government Intervention

Canada’s logistics and trade sectors are facing unprecedented strain as labor disputes escalate at two of the country’s largest ports. The Port of Montreal, Canada’s second-largest container port, is now largely paralyzed, with two major terminals shut down due to an ongoing strike by dockworkers. This development comes amid a similar labor conflict involving British…

Transport and Port Updates – November 2024

Overall This week, the Drewry composite index increased by 4%. Freight rates between various ports have shown diversity; rates from Rotterdam to New York remained stable. Rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased by 1% and Shanghai to New York remained stable. The ILA port strike, which began on October 1, 2024, ended after three…

Transport and Port Updates – October 2024

Overall The latest Drewry WCI composite index per 40ft container is 64% below the previous pandemic peak in September 2021, but it is 160% more than the average 2019 (pre-pandemic) rate. Additionally, the average index for the year-to-date significantly exceeds the 10-year average, highlighting the lasting impact of the exceptional conditions during the 2020-2022 period.…