Market Access News

China and Europe face a "slow motion train accident" as a rising tide of protectionism threatens to become a full trade war, the head of a European business lobby group warned on Wednesday, a day after Germany's chancellor conveyed European concerns to Beijing.Jens Eskelund, president of the European Chamber in China, said that while some worries about trade in both countries were legitimate, there was a risk of unproductive decoupling if European and Chinese leaders did not increase…

With only a few days to go until EU’s Emission Trading System (EU ETS) kicks in for the shipping industry from 2024. Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement (BSM) reportes it has developed a comprehensive range of carbon compliance and EU ETS management services designed to support owners and operators mastering the complex regulation requirements and to reduce their carbon footprint and related costs.“Our approach not only encompasses EU ETS management and compliance services but also seeks to optimise ship and fleet performance to reduce CO2 emissions and financial exposure…

Bureau Veritas Solutions Marine & Offshore (BVS) and ENGIE have established a partnership to provide advisory and hedging services to support shipowners, operators, and charterers with reducing GHG emissions.The partners will develop a suite of advisory and market access services to help shipping interests to understand upcoming regulatory requirements, manage their risk and identify the optimal low-carbon emissions roadmap for their operations.This partnership will combine the experience of ENGIE’s entity Global Energy Management & Sales (GEMS) in the analysis and trading of energy products…

Telenor Maritime has entered into a collaboration agreement with Globetech AS in a move intended to strengthen potential for business development and provide greater market access for both partners.Globetech is a provider of ICT technology and services for vessels and floating offshore installations worldwide. Its expertise in delivering safe and reliable infrastructure solutions and ICT services for the maritime and offshore industries complements Telenor Maritime’s portfolio of connectivity solutions.

Crowley announced it will launch an end-to-end, integrated ocean and rail service between Mexico and the U.S. Midwest region and into Canada. Featuring Crowley’s new Mexico-U.S. ocean route in the Gulf, the service will leverage the inland rail network of Canadian National Railway Company and its U.S. rail subsidiaries (CN). The companies’ combined network provides broad reach across the Midwest and into Canada to increase solutions for global customers in North American market…

Cargill has unveiled plans to build a new soybean processing facility located in Pemiscot County, Mo. near Hayti and Caruthersville to support growing domestic and global demand for oilseeds driven by food, feed and fuel markets. The facility will be the first of its kind for Southeast Missouri with an annual production capacity of 62 million bushels of soybeans. Cargill anticipates breaking ground on the project early next year with plans to be operational in 2026. The new facility will add approximately 45 full-time positions to the region when complete."Cargill's new facility…

Top U.S. trade negotiator Katherine Tai on Monday pledged to exclude some Chinese imports from tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump while pressing Beijing in "frank" talks over its failure to keep promises made in Trump's trade deal and end harmful industrial policies.Tai said the United States would keep all options open as it continues to push China to stop pouring billions of dollars of state subsidies into its semiconductor, steel and other industries that Washington says harm U.S.

As the maritime industry searches for technologies and energy sources that can deliver on upcoming decarbonization regulations from the IMO and EU and ultimately delivering zero-emissions shipping, the development and deployment of wind propulsion technologies have been making headlines that speak to a growing momentum. Today, sees the release of the report from a group of more than 40 experts and stakeholders that came together for a workshop to identify the strategy priorities for wind propulsion development in the near future…

Updated guidance from the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) outlines the techniques required for accurate hazard assessment of ores and concentratesAiming to help minimize the risk of accidents in maritime transportation, the Hazard Assessment of Ores and Concentrates for Marine Transport: Guidance 2021 brings the previous guidance issued in 2014 in line with recent regulatory updates from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and advancements in knowledge in assessing hazards.Through ICMM’s Mining Principles…

China has issued 28 million tonnes of refined fuel export quotas in the second allotment for this year, little changed from the first batch of 27.99 million tonnes issued last December, according to four sources with knowledge of the matter.The quotas were released last week to five state oil companies, PetroChina, Sinopec, China National Offshore Oil Corp, Sinochem Group and China National Aviation Fuel Corp, the sources said.The new quotas, of mostly gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel…

South African freight and logistics company Grindrod signed an agreement to sell its 20.3% stake in grain services provider NWK to NWK Holdings for R204-million (USD 14 million).According to the press release, the sale is subject to the fulfillment of conditions precedent which is expected to be concluded by the end of the last quarter of 2019.During August 2019, Grindrod announced as part of its strategic review process, its intention to dispose of certain non-core businesses which included its agricultural investments in NWK and Senwes.Said Andrew Waller, CEO Grindrod Limited: “As was communicated at the interim results announcement…

The German expert for lithium-ion battery systems AKASOL announced that,  its fast-charging battery systems power a range of prototype vessels including the brand new 31.2m Vanadis hybrid superyacht from Italian builder Cerri Cantieri Navali (CCN).The electric-vehicle battery supplier for commercial vehicles said in a press release that Vanadis, the first in CCN’s new ‘E-Prop’ line of hybrid propulsion motor yachts, is powered by traditional diesel engines and an electric engine, which are supported by generators and AKASOL’s AKASystem 15 OEM battery system.The vessel is capable of cruising short distances and anchoring under electric power, minimizing vibration, diesel exhaust pollution and noise during port calls or sleeping, all while cutting fuel costs.

British ship insurer UK P&I Club has received approval from the Dutch regulator for a new subsidiary in Rotterdam to ensure continued access to trade in the European Union in case Britain loses single market access, it said on Tuesday.UK Club is the second specialist Protection and Indemnity (P&I) club to announce regulatory approval for Brexit trading arrangements in the EU. Rival club North said in January it got the green light for its Dublin subsidiary from Ireland's central bank.P&I clubs - mutually owned by their members which are shipping companies - have been an integral part of the City of London for nearly two centuries, insuring ocean going ships against pollution and injury claims…

Chairman & CEO, Campbell Transportation Company.Peter H. Stephaich is Chairman and CEO of Blue Danube Incorporated and Campbell Transportation Company. Currently, he is also Chairman of the Board of the Waterways Council, Inc. (WCI). Peter also serves on the Board of Directors of Blue Danube, a position that he has held since 1982. Serving the barge industry for over 30 years in a number of key roles, he also counts among his many qualifications his tenure(s) as Past Chairman and Past Treasurer of the American Waterways Operators (AWO)…

The government of India has revised guidelines for chartering of ships by providing the right-of-first-refusal (RoFR) to ships built within the country, a move to promote the Make in India initiative and incentivise shipbuilding activity.Henceforth, whenever a tendering process is undertaken to charter a vessel, a bidder offering a ship built in India will be given the first priority to match the L1 quote. It is expected that this priority given to ships built in India will raise the demand for such vessels, providing them with additional market access and business support.Prior to the revision of the guidelines, the RoFR was reserved for Indian flag vessels as per the relevant provisions of Merchant Shipping Act, 1958.

British ship insurer North has received regulatory approval from Ireland's central bank for a new subsidiary in Dublin to ensure continued access to trade in the European Union in case Britain loses single market access, the firm said on Friday.North, which has its headquarters in the northern England city of Newcastle, is the first specialist Protection and Indemnity (P&I) club to announce regulatory approval for Brexit trading arrangements in the EU. It said a team of senior…

The European Union and Singapore signed three agreements to take their political, trade, and investment relations to a new level as the landmark trade deal aims to remove import duties and taxes and improve market access for services providers, investors and firms.“European shipowners welcome the fact that the EU and Singapore show their commitment to free, fair and rules-based trade at a time that protectionism is on the rise”, said European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA)’s Secretary General Martin Dorsman, “The EU-Singapore FTA text contains the liberalisation principles of international maritime transport services.”“Shipping needs global trade to exist and global trade cannot exist without an efficient shipping industry.

New calculations indicate that last year's trade agreement between the EU and Canada, the CETA agreement, has had a positive impact on trade between the continents and significantly increased exports from the EU to Canada. Shipping companies feel the effect of this.Last year's abolition of virtually all tariffs has improved the business climate between Canada and the EU and led to significantly increased EU-Atlantic exports to Canada. Canada is Denmark's 13th largest trading partner, and Denmark’s total export to Canada amounts to 7.5 billion DKK.Last week, European Commissioner for Trade, Cecilia Malmström met Canadian Minister of International Trade Diversification, James Gordon Carr in Montreal.

Nearly $5 million in grant funding awarded this week will help enhance existing marine highways serving ports in Louisiana, Virginia, New York and Connecticut, and support the development of new container-on-barge services in Kentucky and Rhode Island.On Wednesday, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao announced $4,872,000 in grants for six projects through the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) Marine Highway program, works with public and private stakeholders to support the expanded use of navigable waterways to relieve landside congestion…

British ship insurer London P&I Club is setting up a new subsidiary in Cyprus to ensure continued access to trade in the European Union in case Britain loses single market access, the group told Reuters on Friday.Britain dominates the global marine insurance market and losing access to specialist Protection and Indemnity (P&I) clubs could weaken its multi-billion pound shipping services sector."We have … chosen Cyprus to establish our new post-Brexit EU subsidiary, and we are currently going through the process of setting it up and obtaining the necessary license," London Club said in a statement.London Club is one of 13 major global P&I insurers and Europe accounts for over 60 percent of the group's activities.The six P&I clubs regulated in Britain are estimated to account for over half t

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) has signed agreements with Total of France, awarding them stakes in two of Abu Dhabi’s new offshore concessions. Under the terms of the agreements, Total has been awarded a 20% interest in the Umm Shaif and Nasr concession and a 5% interest in the Lower Zakum concession. Total is ADNOC’s largest and one of its longest international partners, active in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas sector since 1939. Today, the French super-major collaborates with ADNOC across the value chain, from offshore and onshore exploration, development and production, to processing, products and shipping. Total contributed…

Africa needs to take advantage of the economic potential of its ports and shipping sector if it is to realise its growth ambitions. Globally, ports are gateways for 80% of merchandise trade by volume and 70% by value. Investment in ports and their related transport infrastructure to advance trade and promote overall economic development and growth is therefore vital – particularly in emerging economies that are currently under-served by modern transportation facilities. However, port investment must be channelled appropriately to ensure financial sustainability and economic growth. Investment is not always about building new ports or…

Japan and China agree that a trade war will have serious consequences for the world economy, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono said on Monday after a high-level economic dialogue between the world's third- and second-largest economies. Concern is growing about a trade row between China and the United States in which the two nations have threatened each other with tariffs. Japan has been criticised by U.S. President Donald Trump on trade and been hit with tariffs on steel and aluminum, but it has not yet threatened counter-tariffs.