The Loadstar Podcast

US Cargo Wars: East Coast vs West Coast

If you think East Coast versus West Coast is all about rappers, think again. In Part 2 of this episode the Loadstar examines cargo shifts in the US this year from a global perspective and from a port operator’s viewpoint. Host Mike King speaks to Peter Sand, chief analyst at Xeneta, and Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and executive director of Virginia Port Authority. Part 1 of this episode also asks if the slowdown in e-commerce is overstated and examines the limited achievements and many failings of IATA’s hosting of its World Cargo Symposium in London. We also preview COP 27 and ask where next for the EC’s liner consortia competition rule exemptions. Guests Mirja Nissen, Director, eCommerce Solutions, International Bonded Couriers, Inc. Stephen A. Edwards, CEO and Executive Director, Virginia Port Authority Alex Lennane, Publisher, The Loadstar Peter Sand, Chief Analyst, Xeneta Nick Savvides, News Editor, The Loadstar Also featuring: Olivier Casanova, deputy CFO, CMA CGM Group and former CEO, CMA CGM Air Cargo Vassilios Demetriades, Shipping Deputy Minister to the President, Republic of Cyprus Episode in more detail Part 1 – news update IATA’s London fail (2.25) CMA CGM’s air reveal (6.50) Air freight rates (10.58) E-commerce now and in future (12.13) ‘Parcelisation’ (21.55) EU liner regulation update (22.39) COP27 preview (26.18) Part 2 US Cargo Wars: East Coast vs West Coast (27.44) Virginia Port Authority CEO on cargo wins and investments (30.15) Xeneta numbers on West coast cargo transition eastwards (33.47) Congestion bites (36.17) Hinterland bottlenecks (45.49) Fixing US infrastructure (49.47) Demand outlook (54.41) Transatlantic trade bonus (56.54) Long-term cargo wins? (58.40) Credits: created, produced and hosted by Mike King Website: www.theloadstar.com

The Big Interview: The world according to shippers

In this Big Interview, Loadstar Podcast editor and producer Mike King gets the view of the freight and shipping world from the perspective of shippers as he interviews James Hookham, Secretary General of the Global Shippers’ Forum. Mike asks why do shippers still want reform of the liner industry even as rates declines? Also discussed are the impacts Covid disruptions and soaring freight rates have had on SMEs. Why container lines need more regulation. How carriers and shippers can build trust so they can cooperate more fully on critical challenges including how to decarbonise supply chains. And why more action needs to be taken to stop bugs getting into boxes. Episode in more detail Logistics now: The shippers’ perspective (1.24) The outlook in Europe (4.14) China as a manufacturing centre (5.33) Brexit and Truss (8.04) Shippers view of container lines and EC regulations (13.34) The dangers of bugs in boxes (26.00) Building more sustainable supply chains (31.00) 2023 challenges (35.10) Credits: created, produced and hosted by Mike King Website: www.theloadstar.com

Freight rate ‘normalisation’; partnering on decarbonisation; M&A activity as demand slows

In Part 1, Mike King and guests explore freight technology take-up and the latest M&A activity. They also ask if we are now seeing the normalisation of freight rates, and if the scaling back of ocean and air ambitions by some integrators and carriers are the sign of things to come. Are you trying to decarbonise your supply chain without partnering with stakeholders. If so, in Part 2 of this podcast you’ll hear why you should think again. Guests Bryn Atherton, Liner Development Director, Allseas Shipping Company Alex Lennane, Publish, The Loadstar Peyton Burnett, Managing Director, TAC INDEX Dr. Mikael Lind, Adjunct Professor in Maritime Informatics and Senior Strategic Research Advisor Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) and Chalmers University of Technology Wolfgang Lehmacher, Investor and Board Member, and former Head of Supply Chain and Transport Industries at the World Economic Forum Gavin Van Marle, Managing Editor, The Loadstar Eric Johnson, Technology Editor, Journal of Commerce Episode in more detail: Part 1 Tech uptake challenge (2.23) FedEx & Amazon pullback (6.13) Air freight rates and challenges (8.00) Ocean rates normalising? (11.40) Blank sailings (finally) (14.48) Allseas interview/UK port strikes (17.35) Chartering market as spot market falls (19.58) M&A activity (25.46) Part 2 (28.22) – Partnering to decarbonise Credits: Created, produced and hosted by Mike King Mike can be contacted at mikeking121@gmail.com [mikeking121@gmail.com]

The Deep Dive: We Need To Talk About Peak Season

In this Deep Dive Loadstar Podcast, Mike King and guests explain the traditional container shipping peak season and its role in the ebb and flow of global trade. They also examine how the last two years of Covid-driven supply chain disruption have impacted box trade seasonality. And they consider whether parts of that transformation will be permanent, or whether a return to normality is now underway in the shape of a 2022 peak season that has faltered in the face of economic headwinds. Guests: Lars Jensen, CEO, Vespucci Maritime John McCown, Founder, Blue Alpha Capital Kathy Liu, Director, Global Sales & Marketing, Dimerco Express Group Jason Haith, Manager, OEC Group Stephanie Loomis, Vice President for Procurement, CargoTrans Peter Sand, Chief Analyst, Xeneta Bruce Chan, Director & Senior Analyst, Global Logistics & Future Mobility Equity Research, Stifel Josh Brazil, VP for Supply Chain Insights, Project44 Credits: Created, produced and hosted by Mike King Mike can be contacted at: mikeking121@gmail.com [mikeking121@gmail.com]

F1 boss tackles air cargo; peak forwarder profits; port congestion vs slowing demand

In part one, Mike King and his guests from around the world of freight, shipping and logistics explore if the US peak season is already over, why forwarder profits peaked in the second quarter and how port congestion is set to continue and could act as a break on freight rate declines. In part two, Mike speaks in depth to Paul Stoddart, the former Formula 1 team owner and chairman of fast-growing freighter operator European Cargo. They cover the global economy, why the cost-of-living crisis will curtail bellyhold capacity, the challenges of air cargo for a newcomer, and why regulators and politics are threatening to sink UK aviation. Guests Paul Stoddart, Chairman of European Cargo Stephanie Loomis, Vice President for Procurement, CargoTrans Peter Sand, Chief Analyst at Xeneta Bruce Chan, Director & Senior Analyst, Global Logistics & Future Mobility Equity Research, Stifel Josh Brazil, VP for Supply Chain Insights, Project44 Episode in more detail: Part one Ocean and air freight rates update (3.39) Trans-Atlantic trade soars (5.00) Forwarder returns peak (7.49) Predictions from Stifel (11.48) M&A outlook (15.49) US bottlenecks (20.47) Has the peak season been and gone? (25.16) Xeneta: Where is the box freight rate floor? (34.42) The impact of port congestion (37.35) Part two – Interview with Paul Stoddart, Chairman of European Cargo Formula 1 – a teething ground for air cargo (48.53) European Cargo – story so far (52.48) Belly returns and the air cargo outlook (56.30) Still room for expansion? (1.00.45) Preighters vs freighters (1.02.28) War in Ukraine and air ops (1.05.57) Sweet home Bournemouth (1.11.19) Brexit and the failures of regulators (1.14.39) Credits: Created, produced and hosted by Mike King Mike can be contacted at: mikeking121@gmail.com [mikeking121@gmail.com]