PRESS ROOM

News

Box ships on a ‘go-slow’ to absorb surplus capacity

With a comprehensive network of international container shipping services, including LCL and FCL import and export operations, the U-Freight Group notes media reports, which indicate that market pressure and running costs are prompting ocean carriers to resort to one of the oldest tricks in the liner manual – slow steaming.

2023-05-30

News

FIATA launches latest edition of dangerous goods brochure

As a provider of international freight and logistics services, the U-Freight Group, notes that FIATA has released the highly anticipated ‘Introduction to the regulations for the safe handling and transport of dangerous goods (3rd Edition)’, designed to equip freight forwarders with essential knowledge and guidelines for the safe transportation of dangerous goods.

2023-05-28

News

Bright fourth quarter predicted for air cargo market

With an array of expedited import and export services serving the international airfreight market, the U-Freight Group is pleased to read that the air cargo industry should expect a strong fourth quarter peak season despite lower first quarter volumes as airlines respond to surging passenger demand, according to Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association(AfA).

2023-05-25

News

Containers lost at sea report issued

With a comprehensive network of international container shipping services, including LCL and FCL import and export operations, the U-Freight Group notes that the World Shipping Council (WSC) has released its annual report on containers lost at sea, revealing positive developments in container safety within the international liner shipping industry. The report covers the year 2022, showing that 661 containers were lost overboard during the year.

2023-05-24

News

China-Europe freight train services expand in first 4 months

According to China's State Council Information Office, China-Europe freight train services saw solid growth from January to April this year, with the transport capacity and efficiency continuously rising.

2023-05-23

News

Deploying extra containerships on a liner service does not automatically mean more slots for shippers

With a comprehensive network of international container shipping services, including LCL and FCL import and export operations, the U-Freight Group notes that Drewry has been vocal about the weight of the containership orderbook that is tipping the balance of the market out of carriers’ favour. But we have also been very clear that we expect carriers to take steps to mitigate this process.

2023-05-22

News

China retains crown as the world’s largest logistics market

With a strong presence and a network of offices and logistics hubs across China, delivering global freight services across all modes, the U-Freight Group notes that an article on the Logistics Middle East website that the country has maintained its position as the world’s largest logistics market for the seventh consecutive year, according to a report by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing.

2023-05-17

News

Sea-Intelligence says reliability rises close to pre-pandemic levels

With a comprehensive network of international container shipping services, including LCL and FCL import and export operations, the U-Freight Group notes a report by maritime consultancy Sea-Intelligence of noticeable improvements across all metrics of schedule reliability and average delay on a global, carrier, carrier alliance, and trade lane level in the first quarter of 2023.

2023-05-16

News

Container lines improve schedule reliability, again

The U-Freight Group has a comprehensive portfolio of LCL and FCL container shipping services around the world and was pleased to hear the news from maritime consultancy Sea-Intelligence that March 2023 saw a further month-to-month gain in global schedule reliability, this time by 2.4 percentage points, reaching 62.6% and bringing it close to the 2020 result for the same month, while schedule reliability increased by a startling 26.8% points year-over-year.

2023-05-10

News

Air cargo demand falls back below pre-Covid levels in March

With a strong presence in the airfreight market, the U-Freight Group notes that air cargo demand slipped back below pre-Covid levels in March after a volatile first quarter, according to the latest market data from IATA.

2023-05-08

News

Container shipping optimism may be misplaced

The leading container shipping consultancy, Drewry, stated that it thinks that demand is not going to be sufficient to offset the capacity surge in the container shipping industry, and leaves it unconvinced that freight rates have bottomed out.

2023-05-03

News

Evergreen lines up multi-billion dollar containership orders

With a comprehensive network of international container shipping services, including LCL and FCL import and export operations, the U-Freight Group (UFL) notes that significant containership orders show no signs of easing, despite the recent slide in earnings for global liner companies.

2023-05-02

News

Shanghai moves 10,000 teu of goods by China-Europe freight trains

With increasing volumes of cargo being experienced on our LCL and FCL rail freight services between China and Europe, the U-Freight Group notes a report in the Hong Kong Shipping Gazette, which states that a milestone was reached recently when a China-Europe freight train departed from Shanghai loaded with 55 containers of cargo - making it the 100th train to depart on the route since the Chinese metropolis launched its China-Europe freight train service in September 2021.

2023-04-27

News

Calls for stronger data governance in supply chains

As an international freight forwarding and logistics service provider for over 50 years, the U-Freight Group notes that organisations representing shippers and forwarders are calling for improved standards of data protection and confidentiality in digital trading and booking systems.

2023-04-24

News

Cuts in shipping costs in 2023 show the way ahead

The U-Freight Group has a comprehensive portfolio of LCL and FCL container shipping services around the world and notes a prediction by Dreary Maritime Research that shippers in the transpacific and Asia-Europe trades can look forward to 55 to 85 percent reductions in shipping costs in 2023 compared to last year.

2023-04-19

News

Global air cargo demand stabilises with rates holding firm

With a strong presence in the global airfreight market, and an array of expedited import and export services, the U-Freight Group notes that preliminary WorldACD figures for March indicate air cargo demand and pricing may be stabilising, with rates holding firm and year-on-year tonnages down just eight per cent, reports Bahrain's TradeArabia.

2023-04-18

News

China’s logistics sector sees steady growth in March

With a strong presence and a network of offices and logistics hubs across China, the U-Freight Group notes that the logistics market index, which measures the performance of the country’s logistics market, rose by 5.4% from February, reaching 55.5% in March 2023, according to the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, continuing the market’s steady growth.

2023-04-14

News

Container Shipping Outlook: The Asia-Europe Trade

We note that the Journal of Commerce reports that uncertainty over space on the Asia-Europe trade in 2022 has given way to uncertainty about demand in 2023, with those involved in the European import markets divided over when an expected inventory recovery will occur.

2023-04-13

News

Hong Kong retains top cargo airport spot amid declining global volumes

ACI World’s latest report used preliminary data to name the 10 busiest cargo airports for 2022, which welcomes back some of the world’s largest airport hubs as international traffic returns, marking an important milestone in air travel’s full recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

2023-04-12

News

February demand for air cargo surpasses pre-pandemic levels, says IATA

With a strong presence in the airfreight market, the U-Freight Group notes that IATA's latest report indicates that the global demand for air cargo in February surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time in eight months.

2023-04-11

News

February demand for air cargo surpasses pre-pandemic levels, says IATA

With a strong presence in the airfreight market, the U-Freight Group notes that IATA's latest report indicates that the global demand for air cargo in February surpassed pre-pandemic levels for the first time in eight months.

2023-04-06

News

Container lines improve schedule reliability

The U-Freight Group has a comprehensive portfolio of LCL and FCL container shipping services around the world and is heartened by the news from maritime consultancy Sea-Intelligence that global schedule reliability in February 2023 reached 60.2% - an increase by 7.7 percentage points month-on-month.

2023-04-06

News

Container shipping predicted to remain profitable despite downturn

As a provider of international container shipping services, the U-Freight Group, notes an article on the G-Captain website that predicts that the container shipping industry will remain profitable.

2023-04-05

News

China’s first cargo-focused airport launches international flights

With a strong presence With a strong presence in the airfreight market, as well as a network of offices and logistics hubs across China, the U-Freight Group notes the international and trade media have reported that China’s first cargo-focused airport has launched its inaugural international route with a Belgium-bound flight.

2023-04-04

News

New FMC rule expands shippers’ eligibility for carrier refunds

With our comprehensive portfolio of international container shipping services, and strong presence in the US market

2023-03-31

News

Container line profits beat all records

The U-Freight Group has offered LCL and FCL container shipping services

2023-03-29

News

Bearish demand hits container prices and leasing rates

With our comprehensive portfolio of international container shipping services, the U-Freight Group notes that excess containers stranded across Europe are causing congestion bottlenecks and space shortages at ports, warehouses, and storage yards, according to the March edition of the Europe Container Market Forecaster, published by Container xChange.

2023-03-28

News

Era of big box ships begins

As a provider of international container shipping services, the U-Freight Group, notes an article on the Maritime Executive website that provides a good summary of the current container shipping market.

2023-03-27

News

Container ship calls are falling in the USA

The number of container ships in US coastal waters has fallen to less than half of the count a year earlier, in the latest ominous sign of slowing global trade, says Bloomberg.

2023-03-16

News

MSC takes delivery of world’s largest container ship

As a provider of international container shipping services, the U-Freight Group, notes that Shanghai-based Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) has built and delivered the largest container ship in the world to Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC).

2023-03-14

News

Ocean carriers will use multiple tools to cut slot supply

With a comprehensive portfolio of ocean freight forwarding services around the globe, the U-Freight Group notes that according to the former chairman of two of the world’s leading carriers, container lines will counter excess capacity and slow demand growth by deploying multi-faceted strategies to reduce slot supply.

2023-03-10

News

Air cargo capacity rose above pre-pandemic level in February

With a strong presence in the airfreight market, the U-Freight Group notes that according to the latest weekly market analysis from CLIVE Data Services, part of Xeneta, global air cargo volumes fell -4% year-on-year in February as available cargo capacity rose above the pre-pandemic level for the first time in four years.

2023-03-07

News

Global e-commerce logistics expected to grow by 7.9% in 2023

As an international freight services provider with a significant commitment to e-commerce logistics, U-Freight notes that the global e-commerce logistics market shrank by 5% in 2022 but is expected to moderate and grow by 7.9% in 2023, according to market research consultancy Ti Insight.

2023-03-06

News

FIATA calls for reasonable free time for container use

This week saw the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations (FIATA) urging shipping lines to review and reinstate the current free time periods back to no less than feasible, pre-pandemic levels.

2023-03-02

News

Major container lines commit to 100% electronic Bills of Lading by 2030

As a company that has always been focused on capitalising on technological innovation, U-Freight notes that the Digital Container Shipping Association (DCSA) has announced that its nine ocean carrier members have committed to the adoption of an electronic bill of lading (eBL).

2023-02-18

News

Container shipping schedule reliability improves at slower rate

With our comprehensive portfolio of ocean freight forwarding services around the globe, the U-Freight Group (UFL) notes that in its latest update, Sea-Intelligence reports that schedule reliability in December 2022 improved slightly by 0.1 percentage points to 56.6 per cent compared to the previous month.

2023-02-17

News

Drewry’s World Container Index sinks below USD2,000

With our comprehensive portfolio of ocean freight forwarding services around the globe, the U-Freight Group (UFL) notes that Drewry’s World Container Index has fallen below USD2,000 for first time since July 2020, post the first set of quotes reported in the aftermath of the Chinese New Year.

2023-02-15

News

Inactive container ship numbers on the rise

With our comprehensive portfolio of ocean freight forwarding services around the globe, the U-Freight Group (UFL) notes that almost 6% of the global container ship fleet is now idle, up from just under 5% a week ago, according to Alphaliner.

2023-02-13

Press

U-Freight gains recognition for e-commerce logistics product

e+ Solutions (ePlus), a comprehensive logistics package designed specifically for owners of small start-up e-commerce businesses, has gained official recognition from the Hong Kong Brand Development Council.

2023-02-10

News

Air cargo closes 2022 at near pre-pandemic levels

With our strong portfolio of expedited airfreight logistics services, we note that IATA has released data for global air freight markets showing that 2022 full-year demand for air cargo took a significant step back from 2021 levels, but was close to 2019 performance.

2023-02-06

News

Boeing hands over the last 747

With a strong presence in the airfreight market, the U-Freight Group must have loaded thousands of tonnes of freight onto Boeing 747 freighters since we were formed in 1968, and notes news that the aircraft manufacturer has handed over the final 747 freighter to be manufactured at the company’s wide body factory to Atlas Air.

2023-02-02

News

Boxport congestion back to pre-covid levels

Boxport congestion is now back to pre-covid levels according to one UK index. A key lever in the last couple of years of record earnings for liner shipping has disappeared, according to the latest data from Clarksons Research, and reported on the Splash247 website.

2023-01-31

News

Maersk to move to a single brand

Having noted last week the decision by Maersk and MSC to end the 2M Alliance from 2025, the U-Freight Group now reports that Maersk has declared that having multiple brands operating in the same market no longer fits its objectives for an integrated logistics offering, and it will move to a single, unified Maersk brand; retiring all acquired brands, including Hamburg Süd, Sealand and a host of others.

2023-01-30

News

Maersk, MSC to end 2M alliance

As a provider of international container shipping services, the U-Freight Group notes that Maersk and MSC will discontinue their 2M alliance in 2025 as the two companies pursue different strategies, after 10 years of operating in concert.

2023-01-26

News

Quiet Chinese New Year

With our array of international freight and logistics services to and from the country, the U-Freight group notes the underlying trend for air cargo is downward.

2023-01-24

News

Shipping lines cut 27% of Asia - Europe sailings

As a provider of international container shipping services, the U-Freight Group, notes that it has been predicted that the first seven weeks of 2023 will see 27% of Asia-Europe sailings axed as carriers respond to collapsed demand, according to a report by Alphaliner.

2023-01-23

News

TT Club outlines the threat of fraud on supply chains

The U-Freight Group (UFL), with our broad range of multimodal freight forwarding and logistics services notes a recent TT Club analysis that says that the predominance of online facilities to process business transactions "allows a myriad of fraudulent pursuits to find opportunities within the complexities of the global supply chain”.

2023-01-17

News

Container shipping market outlook for 2023

With our comprehensive portfolio of ocean freight forwarding services on the transpacific, the U-Freight Group notes was interested to read a very interesting item about the outlook for the container shipping sector in 2023, published on the Seatrade Maritime News website.

2023-01-12

News

IATA statistics send mixed signals for cargo as demand drops in November

The statistics show that airfreight demand in cargo tonne km terms (CTK) declined by 13.7% year on year in November.

2023-01-10

News

64 percent of global container capacity in hands of five shipping lines

The U-Freight Group, with our comprehensive portfolio of international container shipping services, notes that according to the latest available data from analyst Alphaliner, at the start of 2023, MSC is by far the largest container shipping line by teu capacity, followed by Maersk, then CMA CGM, COSCO and Hapag Lloyd.

2023-01-06

News

Tiaca positive for air cargo in 2023 despite tough outlook

With a strong presence in the airfreight market, the U-Freight Group welcomes the news that whilst air cargo association Tiaca is predicting another tough 12 months for air cargo demand, it also outlines positives for the industry.

2023-01-05

News

Shanghai continues as world's busiest container port

With a comprehensive portfolio of international ocean freight forwarding services through most of China’s main container shipping gateways, the U-Freight Group notes that according to media reports, Shanghai retained its position as the world’s busiest container port for the thirteenth consecutive year in 2022 despite emerging challenges from other ports including in China and Singapore’s new Tuas facility which began operations in 2022.

2023-01-05