Q1 2025 Freight Market Overview: Trends and Outlook
In Q1 2025, the freight market remains stable yet tense, prompting shippers to adjust their strategies to cope with future fluctuations in prices and capacity.
In Q1 2025, the freight market remains stable yet tense, prompting shippers to adjust their strategies to cope with future fluctuations in prices and capacity.
Since mid-month, Chengdu airport's cargo station has implemented an outsourcing model for international palletizing services, allowing qualified freight forwarders to perform palletizing operations directly. This change responds to the rapid growth in air logistics demands and aims to enhance service efficiency and safety. Additionally, the cargo station has increased security measures and provided comprehensive support to ensure smooth palletizing operations. This initiative represents a significant innovation in Chengdu's air logistics sector.
This article discusses the stringent requirements for wood packaging materials in international trade, particularly when shipping to the United States, Canada, and Australia. Wood packaging must undergo pest treatment and display the IPPC mark. Compliant packaging can either be made of non-fumigated materials or treated wood. Packaging that fails to meet these standards may result in entire shipments being returned, making it essential to understand and adhere to the relevant regulations.
This article delves into the security surcharges in international shipping, focusing on the costs associated with the three main transportation modes: sea, air, and express. Maritime security surcharges such as AMS, ISF, and ISPS port security fees help meet international safety standards. In air transport, it is crucial to pay attention to both security and fuel surcharges, while express services introduce additional fees due to security incidents to ensure the safety of goods.
Non-Vessel Operating Common Carriers (NVOCC) play a crucial role in international freight by signing transport contracts with shippers, despite not owning transportation means directly. They collaborate with actual carriers to ensure smooth cargo transportation. To become an NVOCC, one must meet certain conditions and obtain relevant operating qualifications, but this does not necessarily mean their services are superior to other freight forwarders. The key is to correctly select a cost-effective freight forwarder.
The implementation of the smart shore power project at Ningbo Port will allow ocean-going vessels to draw power directly from the grid instead of relying on onboard generators. This shift is expected to significantly reduce pollutant emissions during shipping, creating a win-win situation for the terminal, shipping companies, and power suppliers. The project aims to notably decrease emissions of PM2.5, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen oxides, making a significant contribution to environmental protection.
This article provides a thorough analysis of the components of freight forwarding costs in foreign trade, highlighting the differences between fixed and variable costs and how to set reasonable quotes to remain competitive. By offering examples of freight forwarding charges, discussing the impact of designated forwarders, and strategizing to cope with fluctuating shipping rates, it aims to help professionals in foreign trade master the calculation methods for these costs, thereby enhancing their business efficiency.
A backdated insurance policy refers to an agreement where the insurer, at the request of the insured, retroactively sets the policy's inception date to before the shipment of goods, requiring mutual consent. This practice carries a fraud risk by potentially concealing the true date of the insurance contract. Insurers typically demand a guaranty letter to mitigate potential liabilities, ensuring that coverage is limited to risks occurring after the actual policy inception date.
The entry of STO Express has triggered a price war in the express industry, putting existing players in a dilemma. Although express companies are responding to competition through capital investment and cost leadership strategies, the rapid market growth and the impact of new entrants make it difficult for traditional business models to endure. In the future, service differentiation will be a key direction for the express industry to return to reasonable profits.
VGM tare weight errors are common in the freight forwarding industry. This article reminds freight forwarders to carefully verify container information, confirm with the shipping company, and take photos as proof to avoid problems such as cargo rejection due to incorrect VGM information, ensuring smooth cargo transportation. It emphasizes the importance of double-checking VGM data and maintaining proper documentation to mitigate potential risks and ensure compliance with regulations in container shipping.