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Supply Management News

18 May 2023

US West Coast Ports Regain Lost Volume as Competitive Pressure Mounts

© Andy Dean / Adobe Stock

Some U.S. importers who shifted cargo away from West Coast ports to rival gateways over fears that labor contract talks could disrupt shipments have begun bringing some of that volume back, even as those negotiations stretch into their 13th month, company supply chain executives said.But anxiety over labor negotiations only explains part of the market share losses at West Coast container ports, including the nation's busiest at Los Angeles/Long Beach, eight importers said at the…

06 Jan 2023

Diesel Consumption to Fall with US Manufacturing Downturn

Copyright JEGAS RA/AdobeStock

U.S. manufacturers reported business activity declined for the second month running in December and the sector appears to be on the leading edge of a recession. The slowdown in manufacturing and freight has already dampened consumption of diesel and other distillate fuel oils, and consumption is likely to fall if the manufacturing downturn deepens.The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing activity index fell to 48.4 in December (19th percentile for all months since 1980)…

16 Nov 2022

US Container Freight is Shrinking

© BKP / Adobe Stock

Container freight volumes at the largest U.S. ports were down 3.8% in September compared with the same month a year earlier, confirming the slackening of merchandise trade and downturn in the business cycle.The ports of New York-New Jersey, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Savannah, Houston, Norfolk, Charleston, Seattle and Oakland account for the overwhelming majority of container ocean freight into and out of the United States.The total volume of loaded containers handled by these nine ports amounted to 2.67 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in September 2022…

07 Jan 2022

Insights: How Indonesia, the World's Top Thermal Coal Exporter, Hit a Supply Crunch

Copyright Katarzyna M. Wächter/AdobeStock

Indonesia, the world's biggest thermal coal exporter, sent shockwaves through global energy markets this week by suspending exports of the fuel in January due to critically low coal supplies at domestic power plants.WHY DID INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES DECIDE TO ACT?Coal makes up around 60% of Indonesia's energy mix and its energy ministry said by the start of 2022 only 35,000 tonnes of coal had been delivered to state power firm PLN.PLN had secured 13.9 million tonnes by Wednesday but needs another six million tonnes to ensure a 20-day stock level of 20 million tonnes.

05 Jan 2022

Global Supply Pressures May Be Nearing Peak

© Kirk Wester / Adobe Stock

The historically high pressures on global supply chain networks that have contributed to shortages of key goods and materials and a surge in inflation may have peaked, according to a new index released by the New York Federal Reserve on Tuesday.The Global Supply Chain Pressure Index (GSCPI) surged early in the pandemic when China imposed lockdown measures. Pressures eased as production resumed but picked back up during the winter of 2020 as COVID-19 infections jumped."More recently…

17 Mar 2020

COVID-19 and Supply Chain Implications for Ocean Shipping

© hanohiki / Adobe Stock

Only 10 days ago, reports indicated that China cargoes were returning to pre-coronavirus levels, and there appeared to be light at the end of the tunnel. Today, however, a barrage of new headlines has underscored the impact on the rapidly changing global supply chain, including in the United States. In addition to the aggressive spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), new economic developments indicate a decreased trend in global manufacturing. Changes in local economies negatively impacting employees reflect corresponding changes in consumer buying patterns.

06 Feb 2020

US Trade Deficit Narrows for First Time in Six Years

©  Mariakray / Adobe Stock

The U.S. trade deficit fell for the first time in six years in 2019 as the White House’s trade war with China curbed the import bill, keeping the economy on a moderate growth path despite a slowdown in consumer spending and weak business investment.The report from the Commerce Department on Wednesday also showed the Trump administration’s “America First” agenda decreased the flow of goods last year, with exports posting their first decline since 2016. President Donald Trump, who has dubbed himself “the tariff man…

20 Apr 2018

Trump Rails Against Oil Prices, OPEC Pushes Back

© Igor Groshev / Adobe Stock

U.S. President Donald Trump accused OPEC on Friday of "artificially" boosting oil prices, drawing rebukes from some of the world's top energy exporters."Looks like OPEC is at it again. With record amounts of Oil all over the place, including the fully loaded ships at sea. Oil prices are artificially Very High! No good and will not be accepted!" Trump wrote on Twitter.It was unclear what triggered the tweet, Trump's first mention of OPEC on social media during his term.U.S. oil prices are near a three-year high…

07 Mar 2017

CSSC, Wärtsilä Form Electrical & Automation Joint Venture

The new joint venture company agreement is signed by Yang Guobing, Chairman of CSSC Electronics Technology Co., Ltd, Ma Yunxiang, Vice chief Economist, Director of Planning and Development Department, CSSC and Stephan Kuhn, Vice President, Electrical & Automation, Wärtsilä Marine Solutions. (Photo: Wärtsilä)

Technology group Wärtsilä and China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) have signed a new joint venture company agreement. The new joint venture, to be known as CSSC Wärtsilä Electrical & Automation Co Ltd (CWE&A), will focus on the growing Chinese electrical and automation (E&A) market, especially for high-tech ship applications. The joint venture company is expected to be fully operational before the middle of 2017. China is a growing market within the high-tech ships segment, and Chinese yards are increasingly active in newbuild projects for high-tech and high-added value ships.

05 Dec 2016

GNH to Expand Oerations in Northern UAE

Gulf Navigation Holding (GNH) announces the initiation of studies for large expansion of its operations in the northern region of the United Arab Emirates consisting of a set of comprehensive maritime activities, (the GNH Northern Project), including ship building, ship repair and offshore platforms, equipment and services, logistics, marine specialized operations and global mobile ship repair and services including a float and during voyage. The eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates is considered one of the most important trade route in the world and berthing areas and it is the world’s second leader in the supply and ship refueling/ bunkering, per studies at least over 200 work boats are employed for offshore support and supply in the eastern coast.

04 Oct 2016

Canada Stands to Gain if NAFTA Reopened, Negotiators Say

Canada, fearful of talk by the U.S. presidential candidates to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement, could use the opportunity to push for a better deal on worker mobility, dispute resolutions and other issues, Canadian negotiators of the original pact said. Republican Donald Trump calls NAFTA the worst trade deal signed by the United States and Democrat Hillary Clinton has signaled a change of position on the 1994 pact she supported when it became law under her husband, former president Bill Clinton. The agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico is often used for political grist in U.S. election campaigns but altering it is a major concern for export-oriented Canada.

11 Apr 2016

Kongsberg Upgrades Software for Norden

Demo screen of the fleet & vessel management system dashboard. (Photo: Kongsberg)

Kongsberg Maritime has delivered new fleet and vessel management functionality through a recent customized software update across Dampskibsselskabet NORDEN A/S’ fleet and shore offices. The software roll-out took place during January 2016 and included updates to vessel and shore based modules covering maintenance, spare parts, information sharing, procurement and budgeting. The updated software was developed in close co-operation with NORDEN, an independent Danish shipping company operating a large global fleet of dry cargo vessels and product tankers.

10 Mar 2016

Sluggish Freight Movements Have Downside Risks

Global distillate markets remain heavily oversupplied but the glut will not clear unless the world economy avoids recession and there is a renewed acceleration in freight demand. Recent data have been mixed. The consumer side of the U.S. economy appears to be strong but the industrial side is still struggling, and in the rest of the world growth appears to be slowing. U.S. freight movements picked up at the start of the year but demand for moving manufactured products and raw materials across the country remains sluggish. Combined freight movements by road, rail, barge, pipeline and aircraft increased in December and January, the first time freight has increased for two consecutive months since November 2014 (http://tmsnrt.rs/1pa8DbM).

28 Jan 2016

Wärtsilä, Ensco Ink Maintenance Deal

Wärtsilä, the leading global supplier of flexible and efficient power plant solutions and services, has signed a maintenance agreement with Ensco, a global provider of offshore drilling services to the petroleum industry. The agreement, signed in September 2015, will create both short- and long-term savings by optimising Ensco's assets and improving predictability through extensive condition monitoring services and parts supply management for Ensco's four drillships equipped with six Wärtsilä 32 engines. In the offshore markets, Wärtsilä's customers are continuously seeking increased reliability, maximum uptime and optimal operational efficiency as well as ensuring safe and sustainable environmental performance in harsh environments.

27 Apr 2015

E-Procurement Streamlined via the Cloud

Joseph E. Royce, CEO of MPS, aims to enhance the purchasing cycle via its cloud-based Direct Connect  e-procurement trading platform.

Marine Procurement Solutions (MPS) has built an electronic platform that aims to enhance the purchasing cycle for the maritime industry. MPS provides software, consultancy services and other customized solutions through its Direct Connect e-procurement trading platform that is designed to unite buyers, vendors and other members of the supply chain via a cloud-based interface that allows users to electronically process requests for quotations, purchase orders, confirmations and documents associated with supply management transactions.

01 May 2013

U.S. 2013 Economic Growth to Continue Say Logisticians

The Business Survey Committee of the Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM) forecast is bullish for the rest of 2013. Economic growth is expected to continue in the United States throughout the remainder of 2013, say the nation's purchasing and supply executives in their spring 2013 Semiannual Economic Forecast. Expectations for the remainder of 2013 continue to be positive in both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors. These projections are part of the forecast issued by the Business Survey Committee of the Institute for Supply Management™ (ISM). The forecast was presented by Bradley J. Holcomb, CPSM, CPSD, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee; and by Anthony S. Nieves, C.P.M., CFPM, chair of the ISM Non-Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

26 Feb 2013

Wärtsilä Publish New Global Supplier Handbook

Supplier's Handbook: Image credit Wärtsilä

The new handbook explains the standards required of all existing and potential suppliers. This is the first time that all of Wärtsilä’s requirements and standards have been gathered into a single, easy-to-read overview. The handbook is also testimony to the many years of dedicated work performed at Wärtsilä to achieve a sustainable, world class supply chain. We strive for world-class performance in quality and on-time delivery. For this purpose, we have put much effort into managing our supply chain so as to offer the best possible service to our customers while being a responsible contractor…

13 Feb 2012

SIS Sets up Home in Brazil

SIS sent Hans-Kristian Fjaerem to set up its permanent office in Brazil.

Star Information Systems (SIS) has established a new base in Rio de Janeiro to serve Brazil’s thriving offshore sector. To support the manuever, SIS sent Hans-Kristian Fjaerem, one of the firm’s most experienced consultants, to lead the operation, recruit a local team, and service SIS’ growing portfolio of customers in the region. The pace of economic change in Brazil – now the sixth largest global economy – has been accelerated by the discovery of huge oil and gas reserves in the country’s pre-salt basin, opening up an array of opportunities for national and international offshore operators.

01 Feb 2012

Synergy Produces Superior Boat Lift

Patented Hi-Tide boat lifts can handle many styles and sizes of watercraft.

Synergy Between Boat Lift Manufacturer, Electrical Products Distributor and Fiberglass Enclosure Manufacturer Results In Superior Product Offering. Synergy --- different elements working together to produce results not obtainable by any of the elements alone --- is what happens when three companies work together to achieve high-quality results. Fifteen years ago Hi-Tide, Graybar and Stahlin Non-Metallic Enclosures began working together to provide boat lift customers with controls that can survive in very harsh environments including exposure to water, salt, corrosives and ultraviolet rays.

24 May 2011

New Software for Maritime Purchasing

Oslo, Norway: Star Information Systems (SIS) is pleased to introduce the new Star Fleet Supply Management system (Star FSM), representing the next generation of software for managing procurement and logistics in the shipping and offshore industries. She continues: “By speaking to purchasing personnel in shipping and offshore companies, we learned that with the systems available on the market today purchasers spend too much time “moving paper” and hence lack time to negotiate good framework agreements and build strategic partnerships with suppliers and freight forwarders.

01 Feb 2011

Report: Ship Delivery Underperformance in 2010

Industry concerns over the glut of newbuilding deliveries last year may have been overplayed as the three major shipping market segments - dry bulk, container and tanker - avoided significant oversupply, according to figures released by Braemar Seascope. The London-listed shipbroker compared the orderbook at the end of 2009 with the full-year delivery statistics for 2010. The gap between what was anticipated to deliver and what actually delivered offers an insight into the development of the shipbuilding and freight markets. The difference between the orderbook schedule and actuality in 2010 was a function of technical underperformance at certain shipyards and the fall-out of the credit crunch. Some orders were cancelled while, in many cases, ship owners renegotiated delivery dates.

14 Apr 2010

Edison Chouest Offshore Deploys Mojix STAR

Mojix Inc. announced Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO), C Logistics Division, is deploying the Mojix STAR system in a large scale RFID initiative to bring a new level of visibility, precision and operational efficiency to the oil and gas industry at their Port Fourchon, La. facility, a large scale shorebase operation which services the majority of offshore logistics for offshore operations in the Gulf of Mexico. Following a successful pilot of the Mojix system, the deployment to fully equip Port Fourchon’s C-Port and C-Port 2, an 18-slip operation, is underway, and will light up the entire port providing RTLS visibility utilizing passive RFID.

25 Jul 2009

Lifecycle Strategies Important for Navy

Steve Carmel, Senior Vice President, Maritime Services at Maersk Line, Limited (MLL) was a keynote speaker at the Naval Logistics Symposium on July 22. The symposium, organized by the American Society of Naval Engineers (ASNE), an organization comprising of civilian and military naval engineers, focused on the challenges of implementing effective lifecycle management of naval assets. As a member of the Chief of Naval Operations Executive Panel, Carmel is in a unique position to bridge government and commercial perspectives. Notably, Admiral Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations, also spoke at the symposium. Carmel, responsible for MLL’s technical and operating activities…