JoC Week articles from November 2004

JoC Week archives from November 2004

Always someone worse off.(Textile industry)
November 29, 2004... Whenever I'm having a rough day at work, I think back to a gray winter afternoon more than 15 years ago. I was in a rural part of Mississippi, tiding down a highway with a banker I'd been interviewing for a story, when we passed a large...

DHS plans 'cargo summit'.(Radar Screen)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... Homeland Security Deputy Secretary James Loy is calling for a "cargo summit" as early as mid-December to bring together industry and government officials for a broad examination of the department's cargo-security efforts. The date, location...

Byrd Amendment battle continues.(Radar Screen)(108th Congress )(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... The Byrd Amendment is still with us. The 108th Congress did not repeal the measure, even though the World Trade Organization ruled that paying anti-dumping duties to U.S. companies was an illegal subsidy. The European Union, Japan, and even...

Setback by the WCO.(World Customs Organization turns down international cargo-security standards offer)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Robert C. Bonner was dealt a setback in Brussels two weeks ago in his effort to push forward international cargo-security standards. The World Customs Organization "High-Level Strategic Group" turned...

Russian-made Toyotas are coming.(Radar Screen)(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... Toyota Motor Corp. is in the final phase of negotiations to establish an auto-assembly plant in St. Petersburg, Russia, according to the Sankei Shimbun newspaper of Japan. The parties could announce their decision by the end of the year,...

Results of the JoC pulse.(Radar Screen)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... Results of the JoC Pulse How do you book most shipments? Online 29% By phone 49% By fax 5% EDI 7% In person 10%

ILA Settles at Philadelphia.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... ILA Settles At Philadelphia: The International Longshoremen's Association and waterfront employers in Philadelphia, South Jersey and Wilmington, Del., signed a six-year local contract to supplement the coastwide ILA master agreement that took...

West Coast ports post cargo records.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... West Coast Ports Post Cargo Records: Several West Coast ports posted record cargo volumes in October, traditionally the busiest month of the year in the eastbound trans-Pacific trade. Oakland and Pacific Northwest ports posted especially...

Bill paves way for Columbia River dredging.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... Bill Paves Way For Columbia River Dredging: The Port of Portland, Ore., received a major boost in the omnibus appropriations bill passed by Congress last week. The bill. which now heads to President Bush, includes $9 million for deepening the...

Canada threatens US with tariffs.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... Canada Threatens US With Tariffs: Canada joined the European Union in threatening retaliatory tariffs against U.S. imports to protest Washington's failure to repeal a controversial anti-dumping measure ruled illegal by the World Trade...

Bridge to link Hong Kong, Shenzhen.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... Bridge To Link Hong Kong, Shenzhen: Officials said a bridge linking Hong Kong, the world's busiest container port, with Shenzhen, its rapidly growing neighbor in mainland China, should be complete next year. When done, the bridge will...

CMA CGM stretches new ships.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... CMA CGM Stretches New Ships: CMA CGM is adding a hold to each of four large container ships it is building. The insertion of a mid-body section to the vessels will raise the capacity of each vessel from 8,200 TEUs to 9,163. The French company...

APEC endorses security, trade plans.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... APEC Endorses Security, Trade Plans: Pacific Rim leaders pledged to shore up global security and proceed with the World Trade Organization's negotiations on lowering global trade barriers at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum meeting...

Not sewn up: lifting of WTO textile-apparel quotas doesn't mean a monopoly for China.(Special report: textiles trade and logistics)
November 29, 2004... A decade ago, Peachtree Fabrics of Atlanta sourced virtually all of its textiles in the U.S. Today, Peachtree, which designs and distributes fabrics for makers of cars, furniture, boats and other products, imports 60 percent of its material....

Don't wait till next year: shippers, carriers, terminals, railroads hope to avoid a repeat of this year's peak-season mess.(Ports)
November 29, 2004... Shippers and carriers have been burned by port and rail congestion in Los Angeles-Long Beach during two of the last three years. They don't want to make it three-for-four in 2005. So with the 2004 peak import season barely over, they're...

Shippers skeptical about PierPass: new fee on daytime moves must overcome several operational problems, shippers say.(Ports)
November 29, 2004... Marine terminal operators are trying hard to win shipper acceptance of a fee on daytime movement of cargo through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, but it's a tough sell. The 13 terminal operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach in the...

No way around it: despite efforts to take trucks off I-710, expansion of the LA freeway appears necessary.(Intermodal)
November 29, 2004... Fifteen percent of the international containerized freight moving through U.S. seaports travels on the I-710 freeway, the 25-mile highway linking the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach with the rest of the interstate highway system. Most...

Islands of adventure: Caribbean ports expand rapidly as transshipment business surges.(Special report: Caribbean and Central America)
November 29, 2004... Crystal-clear blue waters. Gorgeous sunsets. Bleached-white sand. Cruise ships disgorging flower-shifted passengers. The Caribbean isn't known as a tropical paradise without reason, but it's much more than one of the world's most popular...

Mexico makes its case: western ports say they're a faster alternative to Southern California but infrastructure remains spotty.(Special report: Caribbean and Central America)
November 29, 2004... When West Coast ports locked longshoremen out of their jobs during contract negotiations in the fall of 2002, some ocean container carriers diverted their shipments to Mexico to avoid delays. Though limited because of unreliable rail service,...

Cuba's challenge: with food imports from the U.S. surging, the island nation's next step is to rebuild its ports.(Special report: Caribbean and Central America)
November 29, 2004... Ten years ago, the mere thought of U.S. trade driving modernization efforts in Cuba was folly. The U.S. trade embargo, imposed in 1960 after Fidel Castro swept into power, was approaching 40 years old, and Castro remained entrenched as El...

Customs issues new C-TPAT draft: companies want more discussion of proposed changes.(Supply Chain Security)(Customs and Border Protection)
November 29, 2004... The current buzz in the import community could be summarized by Yogi Berra: "Deja vu all over again." Members of the import trade felt they had achieved a partnership with the government to balance the needs for security and trade...

Atlantic skies become crowded: carriers are adding freighter flights to pick up Europe-to-Asia cargo and avoid trans-Pacific losses.(Air Cargo)
November 29, 2004... The North Atlantic route has been described as a graveyard for airfreighters because of low profits caused by excess capacity. But that isn't preventing airlines from adding all-cargo flights between the U.S. and Europe. The latest...

Good news for shippers.(On Insurance)
November 29, 2004... Shippers and logistics providers will be as pleased as I was to learn that a new transportation coverage is being introduced by the insurance industry. I recently met with George Y. Tsui, chief underwriting officer of Venture Programs in West...

Yellow blurs the lines: launch of premium, next-day LTL service is a sign of deeper changes in the trucking industry.(Trucking)(Yellow Transportation Inc.)
November 29, 2004... A transportation barrier is about to be broken as the nation's leading long-haul less-than-truckload carrier prepares to muscle its way into the short-haul expedited delivery market. Yellow Transportation's announcement that it will roll...

In the black: 3PLs are enjoying healthy growth as shippers increasingly demand a wider range of services.(Third-Party Logistics)(Advertisement)
November 29, 2004... Due to increasing global trade volumes, the globalization of business and companies' continued receptivity to outsourcing pitches, most third-party logistics providers are enjoying lucrative times that many believe can last for years to come....

PBB Global Logistics delivers supply-chain efficiencies.(Third-Party Logistics)
November 29, 2004... Never has the pace of change in world markets been as rapid as it is today. Nations are forming trading blocks, regulations are constantly evolving, and the supply chain is becoming increasingly global. Trade has become increasingly complex,...

FMI International: driven by pride.(Third-Party Logistics)
November 29, 2004... Since 1979, FMI International has been a leader in providing transportation and logistics services to the fashion industry and retail community. Our proven track record of consistent, reliable service, along with our innovative solutions to...

Logistics services flexibility and technology are keys to success.(Third-Party Logistics)(Tsi Logistics)(Advertisement)
November 29, 2004... Tsi Logistics is a global transportation and logistics services company. Our vision for the past 12 years has been; to be the best at what we do, to provide more information than others in the industry, to increase freight bill payment...

With Stephen Lande Manchester Trade Ltd.(Questions & Answers)(Interview)
November 29, 2004... Stephen Lande is president of Manchester Trade, which provides trade and business advisory services to companies and governments. While with the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Lande was a senior trade negotiator and first assistant...

Air cargo.(By The Numbers)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... Traffic and capacity International scheduled services Percent change from same month previous year [GRAPHIC OMITTED] International freight Freight ton-kilometers Percent change by carrier, grouped by carriers' base...

Spotlight: Malaysia's global trade.(By The Numbers)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... While Malaysia's exports last year were up 26.4 percent overall and 26.5 percent to the U.S., its imports were up 24.7 percent overall but down 8.3 percent from the United States. The U.S. was Malaysia's largest export trading partner in...

Containerized ocean trade.(By The Numbers)(Illustration)
November 29, 2004... CONTAINERIZED OCEAN TRADE In TEUs Loaded containers only January-Current month Current % Imports ...

U.S. foreign trade.(By The Numbers)(Illustration)
November 29, 2004... U.S. FOREIGN TRADE In millions of dollars, via all modes of transportation to/from the U.S. January-September Imports 2004 2003 % change Total ...

Rail cargo.(By The Numbers)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 29, 2004... RAIL CARGO Weeks 1-45 ending November 13, 2004 Loadings, in Units 2004 2003 % change Intermodal-total ...

JoC-ECRI Industrial Price Index.(By The Numbers)(Brief Article)
November 29, 2004... The Journal of Commerce--Economic Cycle Research Institute Industrial Price Index (JoC-ECRI IPI) is a leading indicator of inflation rates. The index is based on prices of a broad assortment of raw materials used in industrial production. The...

Needed: counterweight to political rhetoric.(Other Voices)
November 29, 2004... If you saw the motion picture "American President," you may recall the scene when Michael Douglas's character said his campaign opponent was not interested in solving the problem but was "interested in two things and two things only--making...

Can the DOT rescue LA-Long Beach?
November 29, 2004... Last week, one of our JoC Online headlines proclaimed, "Congestion over at LA-Long Beach," and, strictly speaking, it was perfectly accurate. As our West Coast Editor Bill Mongelluzzo reported, for the first time since June there was not a...

They need each other.(Transportation rates high due to supply and demand for shippers)
November 22, 2004... This is a great time for ocean carriers. They're making more money than they've made in years. But what about shippers? Compared to a year ago, they're not doing well. Transportation rates are up, due to supply and demand. And for many...

A pause in the action.(Radar Screen)(World Trade Organization)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... A World Trade Organization official says that after global quotas on textiles and apparels are phased out beginning Jan. 1, there should be a two-year moratorium on anti-dumping measures until the price of textile imports begins to stabilize....

To sue or not to sue.(Radar Screen)(International Longshoremen's Association)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... There's renewed talk that federal prosecutors may soon file a civil anti-racketeering lawsuit to put the International Longshoremen's Association under trusteeship. The speculation has been fueled by the settlement of a new ILA contract,...

The devil they know.(Radar Screen)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... The Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations statute has been used since the 1980s to impose government oversight of the Teamsters, Laborers and Hotel Workers unions. Although there's no guarantee a RICO suit will be filed against the...

Big ships, big questions.(Radar Screen)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... Carriers are starting to worry about where they can use all the super-sized post-Panamax ships they have ordered, and how they will be able to keep them on schedule. Deploying 8,000-plus-TEU ships "will be a challenge," said Ron Widdows,...

Another warning for next year.(Radar Screen)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... APL Ltd. alerted the port and rail industries last March that the intermodal transportation network was not preparing adequately for the 10 percent-plus growth in imports from Asia that it expected during 2004. Containerized imports are...

Coming soon: short-sea study.(Radar Screen)(Short Sea Shipping Cooperative )(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... The Short Sea Shipping Cooperative (SCOOP) plans to publish a "national benefits study" of short-sea shipping by January 2005. The study, which is being done in two parts, is intended to provide data to show the viability of coastwise freight...

We'd like to hear from you.(Radar Screen)
November 22, 2004... The Journal of Commerce welcomes your opinions, either in letters to the editor or in essays for the "Other Voices" column, a weekly forum for discussion of important trade and transportation issues. Letters should be 300 words or less....

DHS begins testing of TWIC Card.(The Week)(Department of Homeland Security )(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... The Department of Homeland Security has begun a seven-month test of a prototype identification card for transportation workers. As a Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security, unveiled the prototype Transportation...

EU targets US goods for retaliation.(The Week)
November 22, 2004... The European Union has targeted a list of politically sensitive U.S. products for tariffs next year if the U.S. doesn't act quickly to repeal a law that the World Trade Organization has declared illegal. U.S. products on the list include...

NY-NJ to seek new ExpressBarge funding.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will seek additional funding to keep its money-losing ExpressBarge service operating when current funds run out neat spring. The New York-Albany container-on-barge service, part of the port's...

Taiwan renews push for China flights.(The Week)
November 22, 2004... Fresh attempts appear to be under way to establish a formula for direct cargo flights between Taiwan and China. Taiwan's president. Chen Shui-bian, who is on record as favoring an end to the half-century ban on direct air and sea commerce,...

Container maker to double output.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... Singamas Container Holdings Ltd., the world's second-largest container manufacturer, plans to double its annual production capacity to 1 million TEUs by 2006. The Chinese company said it expects an increase in global container shipping...

FedEx to challenge DOT repayment.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... FedEx Corp. plans to contest a Transportation Department order demanding repayment of $29 million in federal relief granted to U.S. air carriers after the Sept. 11 attacks. The DOT said its interpretation of the law found that FedEx Express...

Miami orders new cranes.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... Two large new container cranes are on their way to the Port of Miami. The cranes will have a horizontal reach of 213 feet, or the width of 22 containers, enough to handle the largest container ships afloat. The cranes are expected to arrive...

Hoffa seeks probe of organizer's murder.(The Week)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... Teamsters President James R Hoffa has urged the State Department to investigate the Nov. 5 murder in El Salvador of lose Gilberto Soto, a Teamsters representative who had been working to organize port drivers in the Port of New York and New...

Border jitters.(Customs and Border Protection implementing its own cargo-security rules)
November 22, 2004... There is a small customs broker in Texas who specializes in fresh produce from Mexico. He had spent most of the year making sure his clients complied with the Food and Drug Administration's advance-reporting requirements for food imports...

Up, up, up for how long? Cargo demand is expected to match vessel supply, at least into 2006.(Container Shipping)
November 22, 2004... Laissez les bons temps rouler"--let the good times roll. These are good times for ocean carriers. Their profits are some of the best on record, and many container ship operators are predicting even higher earnings next year. But some are...

Shippers look east more all-water services wanted to ensure reliability for supply chains.(Container Shipping)
November 22, 2004... If shipping lines in the trans-Pacific could fulfill their customers' wish list for next year, they'd launch a half-dozen new all-water services from Asia to the U.S. East Coast. Importers would be so grateful they would pay almost any price...

Yesterday's outcasts, today's stars: more companies are penetrating China, India, Brazil, and Russia to take advantage of lower costs and get a jump on potential new business.(Special report: emerging markets)
November 22, 2004... Call it the BRIC effect. When P&O Nedlloyd Logistics recently conducted an internal study of customer accounts, it uncovered an interesting trend. The company found that the four "BRIC" countries--Brazil, Russia, India and China, once viewed...

Before you commit: what you need to know about the BRIC countries before investing.(Brazil, Russia, India and China)
November 22, 2004... Brazil Population: 184 million. Labor force: 82.6 million. GDP: Purchasing power parity estimated at $1.4 trillion; -0.4 percent growth rate. Industries: Textiles, shoes, chemicals, cement, lumber, iron ore, tin, steel,...

Chinese puzzle: calculation of anti-dumping penalties is an arcane exercise with pitfalls for unwary importers.(Importing)
November 22, 2004... It was the largest-ever anti-dumping case against China, and it produced sharply different reactions. A 31-company coalition of U.S. furniture manufacturers praised the U.S. International Trade Commission's decision that Chinese-made bedroom...

Final farewell to paper? Web-based tools to transmit customs information gain popularity among shippers.(Technology)
November 22, 2004... Kim Greenwood remembers the old-fashioned way of processing import-related documents, and she is not nostalgic. The customs-related information traveled with the shipment, and "it could take lots of phone calls and faxes to straighten things...

Hazmat hassle: security-related fees and background checks could thin hazmat trucker ranks by 20 percent.(Trucking)(hazardous-materials)
November 22, 2004... Trucking officials fear next year's new rules requiring costly background checks for hazardous-materials drivers will worsen the driver shortage, further tighten capacity and raise costs for hazmat shippers. The Transportation Security...

Spreading the pain: gulf ports agree on minimum security fees for shippers and carriers.(Supply Chain Security)
November 22, 2004... The price of security is going up in the Gulf of Mexico. On April 1, nearly all U.S. Gulf ports will begin to charge port-security fees to offset unfunded federal mandates for post-Sept. 11 security improvements. Members of the Gulf...

Containerized ocean trade.(By The Numbers)(Illustration)
November 22, 2004... CONTAINERIZED OCEAN TRADE In TEUs Loaded containers only January-Current month Current % Imports month...

U.S. foreign trade.(By The Numbers)(Illustration)
November 22, 2004... U.S. FOREIGN TRADE In millions of dollars, via all modes of transportation to/from the U.S. August January-August 2004 2003 % change Imports...

Rail cargo.(By The Numbers)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
November 22, 2004... RAIL CARGO Weeks 1-44 ending November 6, 2004 Loadings, in Units 2004 2003 % change Intermodal-total 9,307,696 8,486,037 9.7% Trailers...

JoC-ECRI industrial price index.(By The Numbers)(The Journal of Commerce--Economic Cycle Research Institute Industrial Price Index )(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... The Journal of Commerce--Economic Cycle Research Institute Industrial Price Index (JoC-ECRI IPI) is a leading indicator of inflation rates. The index is based on prices of a broad assortment of raw materials used in industrial production. The...

Air Cargo.(By The Numbers)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... Traffic and capacity International scheduled services Percent change from same month previous year GRAPHIC OMITTED] International freight Freight ton-kilometers Percent change by carrier, grouped by carriers' base...

Spotlight: Indonesia's global trade.(By The Numbers)(Brief Article)
November 22, 2004... U.S. trade growth with Korea is lagging behind growth in Korea's global trade. Korea's exports last year were up 18.5 percent overall but only 5.8 percent to the United States. Korea's global import volume increased 17.7 percent, while...

With Michael J. 'Mick' Barr chairman, NIT league.(Questions & Answers)(National Industrial Transportation League)(Interview)
November 22, 2004... Last week the National Industrial Transportation League elected Michael J. "Mick" Barr chairman of the 600-member trade association. Barr is associate director of global and cross-border organization for Procter & Gamble and is responsible...

Low-carb global sourcing.(Other Voices)
November 22, 2004... The problem with fad diets is their tendency to dangerously exploit a common cultural desire among Americans to save time. We're easily distracted by the "lose weight quick" appeal of these pitches, and the first casualty is logic and common...

The snooze that greeted the news.
November 22, 2004... I don't know if it's just me, but the news that non-vessel-operating common carriers will be given the right to sign confidential contracts with proprietary shippers seemed to land with a distinct thud. Any news development has a certain feel...

Room to grow.(container terminals, construction)
November 15, 2004... For years, James Edmonds, chairman of the Port of Houston Authority, has been promising that construction was about to begin on the new Bayport container terminal. Now it appears that he's finally right--and not a moment too soon. ...

Wal-Mart sweeps up capacity.(Radar Screen)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... When Mediterranean Shipping Co.'s MSC Maglia called at Norfolk on Oct. 27, it dropped off 550 containers bound for Wal-Mart's nearby distribution center. The 650 remaining containers on the ship were bound for a second Wal-Mart distribution...

New face in USTR post?(Radar Screen)(U.S. Trade Representative)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Now that President Bush has been re-elected, the talk of Washington's trade community is that U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick will be stepping down. Although Zoellick is widely applauded, it's a tough job, says Dan Griswold,...

Home away from home.(Radar Screen)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Trucking companies and railroads aren't the only transportation providers struggling to hire and keep workers. Inland towing companies report problems finding workers willing to tolerate odd hours and long stretches away from home. "It not so...

Shipbuilders missing the boat.(Radar Screen)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... The continuing shipping boom has lifted almost all boats in the industry. One exception is shipbuilding. Despite the flood of orders being received by Japanese and Korean shipbuilders for container vessels and oil tankers, their profits...

Chinese shipbuilding volume surges.(Radar Screen)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... China, which already accounted for 10 percent of all the world's new ships built in 2003, aims to capture as much as 42 percent of the world's shipbuilding market by 2012, according to Andy Westwood, vice president and regional manager of Der...

Offshore passing lane.(Radar Screen)(ferry services)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Ship technology has improved enough in the past decade that high speeds are almost routine in ferry service. That's good news for short-sea shipping supporters, according to Bob Kunkel, vice president of operations for Apex Marine Ship...

Crunching numbers on a rail shuttle.(Radar Screen)(Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority's plans container rail)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... The Alameda Corridor Transportation Authority plans to run a pilot container rail shuttle for six to nine months starting next summer between the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to a railyard in Colton, Calif., about 60 miles from the...

Radio-frequency identification use remains limited.(Radar Screen)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Many manufacturers and retailers are still in the early stages of radio-frequency identification investment, despite the clear potential of the new technology to transform the retail supply chain through up-to-the-minute tracking and...

Correction.(Radar Screen)(Correction Notice)
November 15, 2004... The Nov. 8 cover story, "NVOs win a big one," misspelled the name of Tom Donahue, vice president of ocean shipping at BAX Global. The photograph that was published with the story actually was one of Tom Donohue, president of the U.S. Chamber...

US trims duties on Chinese furniture.(The Week)
November 15, 2004... US Trims Duties On Chinese Furniture: The U.S. International Trade Administration scaled back anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese furniture even as it upheld a ruling that Chinese products were being sold in the U.S. at unfairly low...

TSA proposes hazmat fees for truckers.(The Week)(Transportation Security Administration, hazardous materials)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... TSA Proposes Hazmat Fees For Truckers: Beginning next year, truckers who want to carry hazardous materials will have to pony up as much as $105 to get the security clearance and background checks required under federal rules, the...

Freeport wins new banana business.(The Week)(Turbana Banana Corp.)(Brief Article)
November 15, 2004... Freeport Wins New Banana Business: Turbana, a Coral Gables, Fla.-based subsidiary of Colombian banana growers' cooperative Uniban, next year will shift its banana-importing operation to Freeport, Texas, from Gulfport, Miss. Turbana's sister...