Supply Chain Capacity Crunch

As one of the top stories of 2021, every day there are multiple stories about global importing and the current shipping crisis speculating when it might end. While there are many reasons it exists, sorting through the noise to find the answer is not an easy task....

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PanaMAX (or mini) Prospects?

A bigger canal still faces competition from the Suez, rail by Bill Armbruster, blog anchor The Panama Canal will become a more viable option for trade between Asia and the eastern U.S. after the waterway’s expansion is completed in 2014, but I question whether it will...

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Rates Over-Rated

Carriers say shippers should value service, consider commitment by Bill Armbruster, blog anchor Shippers should consider a lot more than just rates when they are choosing their ocean carriers, say carrier executives in reacting to the results of our December survey on...

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Rates Matter Most

Reliability ranks second in survey of shippers’ criteria for carriers by Bill Armbruster, blog anchor Last month we did a survey asking what matters most to shippers when they choose an ocean carrier. Rates ranked as the top priority, garnering 41% of the votes,...

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Rates Are Running First…

… but there’s still time to weigh in on what matters most to shippers by Bill Armbruster, blog anchor “Rates are the golden fleece. It determines whether or not you will be awarded a piece of business,” comments one respondent in our survey on top considerations for...

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What Shippers Want

What matters most to shippers when they choose an ocean carrier?   By Bill Armbruster   Below is a list of 10 criteria, in no particular order, that may affect a shipper’s choice of ocean carrier. I would like to know which you think are most important. So, please,...

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The Big Squeeze

Coping with capacity shortages and rising rates By Bill Armbruster The Problems: • Shippers are facing severe shortages of vessel capacity. Even some who have booked shipments weeks in advance and who are regular customers have had their containers “rolled” at the...

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