New Zealand
AIR TERMINALS
- Import cargo terminals are operating as normal.
- Export terminals are operating as normal.
LANDSIDE
- An increase in fixed costs for devanning FAK containers starting 01 September 2024 will be reflected in a small increase in LCL Port Service Charge.
- Recently a large container depot, Manukau Container Park, significantly shortened their opening hours. The flow on result is an increased delay in obtaining empty VBS booking(s) for containers allocated to be dehired at MCP.
- 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.
Australia
LANDSIDE & CUSTOMS
- Road works and road closures continue to affect deliveries in Melbourne and are anticipated to continue throughout August.
- BMSB Season in Australia will commence, for all goods shipped effective from 1st September 2024 to 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 transhipping 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 from most origins due to the impact of the ocean delays and shipments converting to
air. The worst delays are from the sub-continent. - Exports – Capacity is available on most carriers, to most destinations.
OCEAN
- The Southbound market from Asia (North and South-East) remains tight with rising FAK (General) rate levels and continued pressure caused by a lack of capacity, which will likely continue throughout the rest of August and September. The impacts of MSC’s service changes will take a few weeks to be fully felt though the removal of capacity from the South-East Asian market will likely exacerbate the issues from that region.
- Empty container availability remains a challenge with so much of everyone’s fleets tied up with the extra time taken to route containers via the Cape of Good Hope. We are seeing more sub-par quality containers released as shipping line stock levels are tested; we encourage all of our customers to engage with suppliers to ensure their staff are properly inspecting containers prior to loading.
- Golden Week (first week of October) is approaching rapidly, with pressure to get things moving prior to most of the factories closing for the National Holiday likely to build throughout September. The J Star/JKN/NZJ service (one of the direct services from China to NZ) will also have a blank sailing on Week 36 (first week of September) that will increase pressure for the remaining 3 weeks.
- MSC will be altering their export service to Asia from August. The Capricorn and Kiwi Express service will be 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 tranship via Melbourne. The schedule is not yet available so we are unable to book at this stage. Please contact the trade manager for further details.
- Port congestion remains an issue in the major transhipment ports and second-leg transits will be affected by this.
- ANL have announced a General Rate increase for shipments from NZ to Southeast Asia, the Indian Subcontinent, the 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 services from NZ 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 – Singapore Airlines continue to change their schedule regularly with the midweek Melbourne now coming in later in the week, impacting consols from both Sydney and Melbourne. Sydney on Air NZ is moving well.
- Exports – Consols are moving as booked with capacity available on most carriers, particularly to Sydney.
OCEAN
- MSC will temporarily suspend the Capricorn and Kiwi Express service from August and the Wallaby service will be enhanced. There will now be direct calls to Melbourne as well as Brisbane. Nelson will be serviced by the Noumea service and will contact in Tauranga to the Wallaby. Port Chalmers will continue to be services by the OC1/OC2 service and also connect in Tauranga to the Wallaby. The schedule is not yet available so we are unable to book at this stage. Please contact the trade manager for further details.
- The ANL Kiwi Trader will phase 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 announced a General Rate increase to Brisbane effective from 1st September. The increase will be USD 150/20 & USD 300/40.
Europe
AIR
- Imports – Consols from Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Milan are all moving well. However, there have been a couple of delays in transit from London due to congestion at transshipment points.
- Exports – Bookings to Europe have been accepted quicker than normal. However, this is likely to increase again now that Delta Airlines are suspending their service until October.
OCEAN
- BMSB season will re-start on September 1st with the same policies and procedures as last year.
- European holidays have started and some factories close for a period of weeks in August, particularly in Spain, Italy and France. Truckers can also be on skeleton crews across all of Europe at this time.
- On-going attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea has made all container carriers to NZ continue to avoid the Suez canal until further notice. There will be delays of approximately 2-3 weeks and extra costs as shipping lines go re-route 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
- Rates from Europe have increased in line with extra demand and longer routings absorbing capacity.
- 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.
- General rate increases and peak season surcharges are being applied to NZ export services to Europe and The Middle East.
North America
AIR
- Imports – Consols are still moving okay, even with the reduced capacity. There are some delays of 24 to 48 hours but nothing longer at this time.
- Exports – Delta Airlines are able to offer services from Auckland and Christchurch via Sydney. Rates are higher and transits are longer, but this is an option if required.
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 4-5 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 options are now available for Charleston, SC.
- West Coast North America:
- There are only 3 WSN departures in September for the US West Coast, with most vessels fully booked.
- Los Angeles terminal change; With immediate effect, all vessels departing Tauranga after the Mate 429N (ETD Tauranga August 16) will call Long Beach, and not Los Angeles.
- Canadian Wild Fires; Wild fires in Alberta are having an adverse impact on rail services from Vancouver. Please expect delays in onward transport to inland Canada and the USA.
- There is heavy congestion at the Terminal in Philadelphia. Some truckers are implementing a congestion surcharge of USD 150 per container.
- Imports from the USA will attract a US 35 per B/L BMSB admin fee due to neccesary documentation and extra
admin.
