New Zealand
AIR TERMINALS
- Import cargo terminals are operating as normal.
- Export terminals are operating as normal.
LANDSIDE & CUSTOMS
- Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) season starts again on 1st September and runs to 30th April 2025. This means MPI has extra requirements for imported cargo from countries with BMSB populations. Broadly, the procedures and requirements are the same as last season. This means for our LCL containers from Japan, USA, Canada, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Spain, we can only take cargo that is either low risk (eg food) or high risk goods (eg auto parts) that are accompanied by a declaration that the cargo was manufactured indoors and stored indoors prior to export. FCL loads from any of these countries also need to comply:
Target list countries:
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United States of America
Please speak to your Oceanbridge customer service representative about treatment types and requirements.
- MPI have advised that they have seen a greater risk of mosquitoes arriving from China and ask that all unpacking sites keep a vigilant eye out for this. MPI are also checking aircrafts arriving from Shanghai and asking passengers to be more vigilant when unpacking bags.
Australia
LANDSIDE & CUSTOMS
- Currently, 20’ containers are in short supply across multiple carriers for exports from Australia. Please speak with your Customer Services Representative for options.
- DP World Terminal in Melbourne will have a closure of their road operations on Friday 13th September between 0600-1400 hours due to an IT system upgrade.
- BMSB Season in Australia started on 1st September 2024, and runs until 30th April 2025 (inclusive). Measures closely replicate those of last year, with the addition of China and United Kingdom being identified as emerging risk countries (subject to random inspection). Treatment will be required for all cargo from or transshipping via Target Risk Countries. Please speak to your local Oceanbridge representative about treatment types and requirements.
Target list countries:
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, China (heightened vessel surveillance only), Croatia, Czechia, France, Japan (heightened vessel surveillance only), Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kazakhstan, Republic of Korea (heightened vessel surveillance only), Kosovo, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Moldova, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Türkiye, Ukraine, United States of America, Uzbekistan
Asia
AIR
- Imports – Capacity issues continue from various origins due to ocean freight delays and the conversion of shipments to air transport, particularly from Guangzhou and Hong Kong.
- Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airlines are facing backlogs and capacity constraints in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which is resulting in delays in transit.
- Air New Zealand flights between Auckland and Seoul will resume on October 28, 2024, and continue through March 29, 2025, with three flights each way per week.
- Exports – Capacity is available on most carriers, to most destinations. Air New Zealand will resume flights from Auckland to Seoul three times per week starting October 28, 2024, through March 29, 2025.
OCEAN
- The lead up to Golden Week is proving to be incredibly challenging, as we expected it to be. Most shipping lines
are now fully booked from China for September, with the small pockets of space only available at Spot/Short term rates. There are still opportunities to keep cargo moving via NOR options and also LCL, should you have anything that needs to move before September, please talk to your Customer Services representative. - Empty container availability continues to improve, with very few issues getting containers from major ports across Asia.
- Congestion in Singapore and Malaysia is slowly easing, with lines seeing improved accessibility to ports and less congestion at the terminals.
- MSC has altered its export service to Asia. The Capricorn and Kiwi Express service are temporarily suspended and the Wallaby service enhanced and reinstated between NZ, Australia and North Asia. Other global destinations such as the Middle East and South East Asia will transship via Melbourne. Please contact the trade manager for further details.
- ANL have announced a General Rate Increase to Southeast Asia, Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Gulf effective from 1st September 2024. The increase to South-East Asia will be USD 100/20 & USD 200/40 while the increase to Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Gulf will be USD 500/20 & USD 1000/40.
- Space remains tight on some export services to Asia. We recommend booking at least 2 weeks in advance in order to secure. Please check with your customer service representative for options.
Trans-Tasman
AIR
- Imports – Consolidations are moving as scheduled, though carriers are operating at full capacity. Securing additional space for larger ad-hoc shipments remains challenging. Air New Zealand is currently reducing cargo capacity due to decreased passenger volumes.
- Exports – Consolidations are proceeding as scheduled, with available capacity on most carriers.
OCEAN
- MSC have temporarily suspended the NZ Export Capricorn and Kiwi Express service from August and the Wallaby service has been enhanced. There are now direct export calls to Melbourne as well as Brisbane. Nelson will be serviced by the Noumea service and will connect in Tauranga to the Wallaby. Port Chalmers continues to be serviced by the OC1/OC2 service and also connect in Tauranga to the Wallaby. Please contact your customer service representative if you need further details.
- The ANL Kiwi Trader phased into the ANZ Shuttle service in early September. This vessel will replace the Contship Win to allow a regular and reliable weekly call into Auckland.
- ANL have a General Rate Increase to Brisbane effective from 1st September. The increase will be USD 150/20 & USD 300/40.
- Zim at this point will not have a service going forward from Australia, and the last sailing is the first week in September.
- Space for 20GP’s with Maersk are slim to none out of all Australia Ports. This situation is likely to continue.
Europe
AIR
- Imports – Consolidation shipments from Frankfurt and Milan are progressing efficiently. However, there have been occasional transit delays from London and some EU countries due to congestion at transshipment points.
- Exports – Capacity constraints persist for shipments to Europe, but relief is expected with increased flight schedules beginning in early to mid-October for the summer season.
OCEAN
- BMSB season started on September 1st with the same policies and procedures as last year.
- Peak export season from Europe after the summer holidays has filled up some sailings. Currently, 3-4 weeks’ notice is best to be safe.
- On-going attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea have made all container carriers to NZ avoid the Suez Canal until further notice. There will be delays of approximately 2-3 weeks and extra costs as shipping lines reroute via Cape of Good Hope.
- Bad weather around the Cape of Good Hope has delayed some vessels.
- Container shortages are happening particularly at depots that are further inland, eg Czech Republic, Austria.
- Asia transship ports are getting congested leading to delays of 3+ weeks.
- There are equipment shortages in Turkey.
- 20’ reefers are in low supply across Europe.
North America
AIR
- Imports – Most Consolidations are moving as planned. For LAX, please allow an additional day to the estimated time of arrival. Although capacity is reduced, delays are generally within 24 to 48 hours and are not expected to exceed this timeframe.
- Exports – Capacity remains highly constrained for shipments to the United States, with limited availability until early October.
OCEAN
- Panama Canal services for ANP/OC1 service with Hapag Lloyd, Maersk and MSC – Continuing low lake levels in the Panama Canal is adversely affecting vessel deadweight capacity. Space is restricted and vessels are booked 3-4 weeks in advance of departure.
- Reminder – The ANP/OC1 service with Hapag Lloyd, Maersk and MSC no longer has a direct Charleston SC call. This has been replaced by Savannah GA. Transshipment services are now available for Charleston, SC.
- West Coast North America:
- There are only 3 WSN departures in September and in October as the CMA CGM Seattle is going into dry dock. All vessels are heavily booked with booking lead times of 3+ weeks.
- Los Angeles terminal change; Reminder, vessels are now calling Long Beach and not Los Angeles.
- USA Rail Services; Seattle rail car supply is severely deficient, leading to higher import rail dwell times, with no improvement expected in September.
- Canadian Rail Services; The CN and CPKC railway network resumed operations and all previously implemented embargos have been lifted at all ramps and marine terminals. Both railways continue to work through the backlog of operations.
- Blank sailings are occurring for US to NZ.
- Carriers are moving to Long Beach to avoid congestion – currently, delays are minimal.
- Potential East Coast Ports and Gulf Ports strike is still on the horizon, due to start on 1st October. No positive outcome to avoid the Port strikes has yet been achieved. Our solution is to move any East Coast cargo via the West Coast should this strike take place.
- US East Coast and Gulf Ports have an average berthing wait time of 2 days. Seattle has delays of 5 days. Oakland and Long Beach have no delays. Vancouver has delays of 3-5 days.
