MSC UPGRADES TO WEEKLY SERVICE AT PORT SAINT JOHN
Earlier this month Mediterranean Shipping Company's (MSC) announced that its current service calling at Port Saint John, New Brunswick, will become a fixed weekly service, starting October 2012, due to the growing development of its business partners in Atlantic Canada. In May 2012, MSC launched a bi-weekly service at Port Saint John.
The decision to go with a weekly service was to accommodate growing demands and provide long-term stability to customers. For further information contact your local representative.
HAPAG-LLOYD MED CANADA SERVICE (MCA) SERVICE UPDATE
By the end of November 2012 Hapag-Lloyd will supply all five vessels and continue to offer this fixed day weekly service on a standalone basis after the Hanjin withdrawal from this trade.
The present port coverage will be extended through an additional eastbound call at Lisbon. On October 21, 2012 the Milan Express will be the first vessel to call at the Portuguese capital on its eastbound voyage. This step will improve the transit time from Montreal to Portugal to 9 days and will provide new opportunities for exports from Lisbon.
CMA CGM ADVISORY USED MOTOR VEHICLES TO LIBYA
CMA CGM Canada would like to remind customers that local regulations in Libya do not permit the import of automobiles over 5 years old. In order to comply with this regulation with cargo arriving in Libya as of January 1, shippers are advised to load only cars made in 2008 or newer on vessels leaving Montreal or Halifax on or after November 01, 2012.
CMA CGM as carrier does not assume responsibility for cargo rejected or seized at destination due to non-compliance with local import regulations by merchants.
CANADA AND US ANNOUNCE PHASE I PILOT PROJECT TO ENHANCE BORDER SECURITY AT LAND PORTS OF ENTRY
On September 28, 2012 the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that, effective September 30, 2012, both agencies would begin the Phase I pilot of the Entry/Exit initiative as outlined in the Beyond the Border Action Plan.
The Phase I pilot project will allow Canada and the U.S. to test the IT capacity to exchange and reconcile biographic information on the entry of travellers that are not Canadian citizens or U.S. citizens, such that a record of entry into one country could be considered as a record of exit from the other
CP AND UNITED STEELWORKERS REACH AGREEMENT
Canadian Pacific and the United Steelworkers (USW), Local 1976, late last week announced a tentative contract agreement. The USW represents 800 clerical and intermodal employees at CP. The current contract was due to expire December 31, 2012. The ratification process will take place over the next few weeks. Details of the contract will be disclosed following ratification.
LUFTHANSA CARGO LAUNCHES NEW SERVICE TO TEL AVIV
As of October 28, 2012 Lufthansa Cargo will launch its first all-freighter service between Tel Aviv, Israel second largest city and its Frankfurt hub.
The MD-11 freighter service from Frankfurt will depart in the evening on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays and in the late morning on Fridays. The return flight will be operated on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays via Istanbul.
Friday is the only day on which a non-stop service from Tel Aviv to Frankfurt will be operated. Lufthansa said pharmaceutical products were a key driver of Israels export industry with much of the cargo transported onward to the U.S.
ZIM ANNOUNCES UPGRADE OF THE NORTH-SOUTH AMERICA SERVICE (XNS)
ZIM announced last week the upgrade of the North-South America service (XNS). The new weekly service, a joint venture with MSC, will deploy larger vessels of 6000 TEU's, and was due commence September 22nd in the following rotation:
Norfolk/ New York / Baltimore / Savannah - Freeport / Caucedo / Rio De Janeiro / Santos / Buenos Aires / Montevideo / Rio Grande / Navegantes / Santos / Rio De Janeiro / Salvador / Suape / Caucedo / Kingston / Freeport / Norfolk.
The new realignment is part of ZIM's strategy to further invest in the South American trade.
PRINCE RUPERT CONTAINER TERMINAL WELCOMES LARGEST VESSEL TO CALL SINCE OPENING
Canadian Sailings reports that the Port of Prince Rupert recently celebrated the arrival of the 350-metre COSCO Guangzhou container ship, the largest vessel yet to call on Fairview Terminal since operations began there nearly five years ago.
With a total capacity of 9,500 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) and a deadweight tonnage of 107,000 tonnes, the ship is significantly larger than previous large ships. The Guangzhou arrived from Shanghai at 89-per-cent capacity. During the visit, Maher Terminals and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 505 handled approximately 4,100 on-and-off container moves.
CANADIAN GOVERNMENT CREATES EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LIVESTOCK PRODUCERS TO QATAR
Beginning this week, Canadian livestock producers will benefit from more export opportunities in the Middle East.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and International Trade Minister Ed Fast announced on Tuesday that Qatar has approved imports of sheep and goats from Canada. Effective immediately, Canadian livestock producers can export sheep and goats to Qatar.
Earlier this year, the Government also secured access for Canadian cattle to Qatar. Canada can now compete for its share of Qatar's market for high-quality breeding stock. Qatar is a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which also includes Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman and which constitutes one of the world's wealthiest associations of countries.
Canadian exports of agriculture and food products to Qatar in 2011 were worth more than $4.5 million. In 2011, Canada's total worldwide exports of sheep and goats were worth $1.2 million.
PORTS OF AUCKLAND DISPUTE NOT OVER
Maritime Union members working at the Ports of Auckland are staging the first in a series of demonstrations later Friday "to remind Aucklanders the port dispute is not over".
The union said the events would provide "a visible reminder to Aucklanders that the dispute between the watersiders and the port company is still continuing", despite 12 months of negotiations. The industrial dispute began in September last year and has involved rolling strikes, lock-outs, mass protests and bitter public debate between the parties over a port plan to contract out the work.
The dispute is currently in court-ordered mediation and the port and union are engaged in confidential facilitation which prevents either side commenting on the content of those talks. A Ports of Auckland senior communications advisor said port operations would be unaffected by the union show of unity.
AIR CANADA UPDATE - BRAZIL (GRU) CUSTOMS REGULATION AFFECT SHIPPER-BUILT PALETTES
Air Canada advised customers on Friday that effective immediately, all plastic sheets covering pallets destined to GRU (Sao Paulo, Brazil - Guarulhos Intl) must be transparent. This is a requirement from Brazilian Customs. Shipper-built pallets being shipped to GRU must comply with this requirement.
LE HAVRE PARALYSED AS DOCKERS STRIKE
France's second-largest port Le Havre, was paralysed on Tuesday as all 2,400 dock workers went on strike to demand job security.
Union sources said that passenger services to Britain were unaffected, but that as well as the dock workers a majority of the estimated 1,200 shipping agents had also stopped work at the country's second biggest terminal container port after Marseille.
The influential CGT union also called for protest marches in Paris and seven other French cities over lack of job security.
CANADA FORMALLY JOINS TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP
The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, regional minister for British Columbia, on behalf of the Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, on Tuesday announced that Canada has formally joined the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade negotiations.
The TPP is a trade agreement, under negotiation by 11 countries, which now includes Canada and Mexico. The other members are Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the United States and Vietnam.
Canada's formal entry into the negotiations follows the completion of domestic consultations, which all TPP members are required to undertake before approving new members. With Canada and Mexico, the TPP market represents more than 658 million people and a combined GDP of $20.5 trillion.
DUBAI AIRPORTS' STATEMENT ON FLIGHT DIVERSIONS AT DXB
Dubai Airports confirmed that the closure of both runways at Dubai International Wednesday morning at 0645 resulted in the diversion of 50 flights to a number of airports in the region including Dubai World Central, Al Ain, Doha Abu Dhabi, Dammam, Muscat and Bahrain among others.
The closures were caused by the loss of power to a critical runway backup system required during foggy conditions. Runway operations were restored at 0830. Dubai Airports worked with airlines, air traffic and ground services staff to restore operations, clear the backlog and limit customer inconvenience.
Further flight delays were anticipated as a result of the disruption, customers were advised to check with their airline or airline websites for further information on flights.
CMA CGM SWITCH OPERATIONS TO NEW KHALIFA PORT OF ABU DHABI
Effective October 18th, 2012, CMA CGM will shift its vessels' operation from the old Mina Zayed terminal, scheduled to be closed in the future, to the new Khalifa terminal in Abu Dhabi (UAE).
Khalifa Port is the new state of the art gateway to Abu Dhabi and will handle all of Abu Dhabi's container traffic. Khalifa Port has the first semi-automated container terminal in the region, equipped with an automated Gate Control System, which will reduce the truck turnaround time as well as track every container move.
Khalifa Port also offers a better access to the hinterland which includes Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad). Khalifa Port offers port facilities and direct port access for all companies setting up in Kizad. The port will be operated by Abu Dhabi Terminals (ADT). For more information, please contact your local CMA CGM office.
CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL MERCHANDISE TRADE, AUGUST 2012
Canada's merchandise imports fell 3.1% and exports edged down 0.1% in August. As a result, Canada's trade deficit with the world narrowed from $2.5 billion in July to $1.3 billion in August. Imports fell to $38.8 billion as declines occurred in every sector, except energy products. Volumes, which fell in every sector, were down 2.2% in August.
Exports amounted to $37.5 billion as a decrease in prices offset an increase in volumes. The largest decline occurred in exports of industrial goods and materials, while exports of energy products increased after six consecutive monthly declines.
Imports from the United States fell 4.3% to $24.2 billion, while exports rose 1.4% to $27.6 billion. Consequently, Canada's trade surplus with the United States increased from $2.0 billion in July to $3.5 billion in August.
Exports to countries other than the United States fell 3.9% to $9.8 billion, mainly the result of a 19.5% decline in exports to Japan. Imports from countries other than the United States declined 1.0% to $14.6 billion. Consequently, Canada's trade deficit with countries other than the United States increased from $4.5 billion in July to $4.8 billion in August.
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