NEWSLETTER

1: The port of Shanghai maintained its position as the world’s busiest container port in 2023 with a 3.6% increase in volumes to 49 million teu last year, 1.7 million teu higher than the throughput in 2022.

2: In Europe road freight must almost entirely decarbonise by 2050, a challenge made even more daunting given that demand for truck services is expected to triple over the same timeframe. This leads the International Road Transport Union to conclude that a combination of efficiency measures and alternative fuels is the best way to achieve this carbon neutrality goal, being the least disruptive and most cost-effective compared to a heavier focus on electrification or hydrogen power.

3: Global air cargo tonnages contracted 5 percent in 2023 year on year (YoY), according to figures published by WorldACD Market Data, but the 9% fall seen in the first half of 2023, YoY, was counter-balanced by improving YoY performance for each consecutive month from July, with the period closing flat compared to 2022.

4: According to Alphaliner, MSC has taken the crown from Maersk as the world's largest container shipping line with a fleet of 645 units and a combined capacity of almost 4.3 million teu; while Maersk’s fleet shrank in 2023 by 112,500 teu or 2.7%, MSC added a little more than one million teu of capacity over the same period.

5: BIMCO says that in 2024, 478 container ships with a capacity of 3.1 million teu are scheduled for delivery, beating the 2023 record by 41% and leading to container fleet capacity growth of 10% during the year. Even though recycling of ships is expected to increase in 2024, the fleet could still grow by nearly 2.8 million teu and exceed 30 million teu for the first time in history by the end of the year.

6: The average sailing speed of container ships reduced from 14.3 knots in 2022 to 13.9 knots in 2023 and could fall further in 2024, says BIMCO, adding that this lowers the efficiency of the fleet and 3-4% extra capacity may have to be deployed to ensure that the 2024 volume increase can be accommodated.

7: The US Federal Maritime Commission will hold an informal public hearing on 7 February focussing on the impact of attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and providing a platform for supply chain stakeholders to share their experiences and strategies; and allowing the Commission to gather information on new and related issues subject to FMC statutes, such as implementing contingency fees and surcharges.