Could the coronavirus pandemic bring about more reshoring in the U.S.? The question is not just of interest in the U.S. By many measures, Europe has been hit as severely by the pandemic. If anything, Europe is even more reliant on global supply chains than the U.S. The political philosophy that underpinned the Trump administration’s […]
Category: Logistics
Week in Review: Organic molecules and machinability; gold prices; allocation market for steel
Before we head into the penultimate weekend of 2020, let’s take a look back at the week that was and some of the metals storylines here on MetalMiner, including: research findings related to organic molecules’ impact on machinability; gold prices; and the arrival of an allocation market for steel-buying organizations, as explained by MetalMiner CEO […]
Ongoing trouble on the high seas: container shortages, port congestion continue
The shortage of containers in Asia, which we reported in detail last month, has been ongoing, as has the continuation of port congestion across the U.K. and Northern Europe. Combined, these problems are having a profound impact on sea freight services. Sign up today for Gunpowder, MetalMiner’s free, biweekly e-newsletter featuring news, analysis and more. […]
Week in Review: Tata Steel looks to sell European assets; steel capacity rises; Nucor signs power purchase agreement
Before we head into the weekend, let’s take a look back at the week that was and some of the metals storylines here on MetalMiner, including Tata Steel and its attempt to spin off its European assets, the U.S.’s rising steel capacity utilization rate, China’s economic recovery and its impact on metals prices, and much […]
Problem on the high seas: container markets see skyrocketing rates
The disconnect in recovery between Asia and North America/Europe is having an unprecedented impact on the transpacific and Asia-Europe container markets. The world’s shipping industry had a near-death experience in the early part of the year as China went into lockdown. To its credit and to consumers’ detriment, the industry has since got a grip […]
The case for globalization is on shakier ground
The widely, if not universally, held belief that globalization is a win-win panacea for growth has never looked shakier. While President Donald Trump has led the charge on calling out the failings of unfettered engagement with China and all that entails in terms of loss of manufacturing capability and sharing of hard-won technology, he is […]
Import costs continue their relentless rise as U.S.-Asia trade surges
We have written in previous posts about volatility this year in the logistics market adding to buyers’ delivery and import cost uncertainty. At other times, we have also written about the decoupling of U.S.-China trade or supply chains. Events in recent months, however, suggest the two combined are likely to continue to create significant cost […]
Shipping services continue to see disruption and rate increases
Shipping freight rates continue to rise despite disruptions.
Shipping lines adopt desperate measures as pandemic disrupts operations
Shipping lines were thrown into chaos by coronavirus lockdowns — first in Asia, then Europe and finally in the U.S.
Despite unprecedented shock to world trade, shipping lines maintain high freight rates
The shipping industry’s woes started before the current pandemic.
