The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) conference had 542 attendees this year, up from 522 last year, according to the NCBFAA. This year's conference was at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, Fla., April 22-26.
Zepol Corp. released its latest trade data tool, ComplianceIQ, which is intended to help U.S. importers adhere to U.S. government import regulations. It combines multiple import-compliance data sets within one online interface, which allows users to find the exact information they need, for specific HTS Codes, Zepol said. The company said users can view product classifications, search by binding rulings, tariffs, quotas, antidumping duties, and more, reducing the risk of import penalties.
Increased furniture and auto parts shipments to the U.S. meant containerized imports in March rose 7.3 percent over 2011, according to data in the Journal of Commerce Container Shipping Outlook. The increase to 1,373,301 20-foot equivalent units followed a 5.9 percent decline in February, the report said. Imports were 15.2 percent in March, compared to February. For the full first quarter, imports grew 2 percent year-over-year to 4,032,857 TEUs, it said. Imports from Asia for the first quarter barely rose 0.5 percent. China showed the most gains, up 13 percent, or 66,681 TEUs, to a total of 579,181 TEUs.
The U.S. has replaced Brazil as the world leader in the export of ethanol, and it's likely to retain that title in 2012 and beyond, according to a study released by Hart Energy. Despite the so-called "blend wall" of requirements that ethanol be used in fuel domestically, the study predicts continued growth in U.S. ethanol exports. "The good news is the U.S. ethanol industry has been able to move forward despite the 'blend wall' and open new export markets around the world," said Maelle Soares Pinto, director of Hart Energy's Global Biofuels Center (GBC).
The American Trucking Associations’ For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index rose 0.2% in March, on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.5% in February, it said. Compared with March 2011, the index was up 2.7%, which was the smallest year-over-year increase since December 2009. ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said “the pace of freight definitely slowed from the torrid pace in late 2011.”
The Morrow Pacific project is seeking bids to build 20 enclosed barges to be used in the export of low-sulfur coal from the Powder River Basin to the Asia-Pacific market. The project is valued at about $70 million over the next two years. Due to the size of the project, Morrow Pacific anticipates hiring multiple companies to complete various aspects of the work, it said. The Morrow project is still subject to regulatory review and faces opposition (See ITT Online Archives [Ref.12042016]).
The European Union’s announcement that it will suspend sanctions against Myanmar got support from the U.S. business community, in a joint statement by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Foreign Trade Council, and the US-ASEAN Business Council. The statement said the "U.S. government can support continued reform by easing and suspending the web of sanctions, particularly on financial services and investment." They said U.S. companies can be "powerful contributors to economic growth, development, and higher living standards" of Myanmar, and "failure by the United States to take similar steps will do more than put American companies at a commercial disadvantage vis-a-vis their competitors; it will harm the reform process itself by undermining those in Myanmar who have supported reform.”
The Manatee County, Fla., Port Authority approved a $13 million contract with American Bridge Company for a 584-foot extension of Berth 12 and a 10-acre container yard, finishing a port expansion project that originated in 1997, in an action April 19. The project is expected to be complete by mid-2013, well in advance of the on-going expansion of the Panama Canal --- now expected to be operational in 2015. When finished, Berth 12 will be 1,584 feet long with a 40-foot draft and be capable of handling Panamax-sized ships arriving at Port Manatee’s first dedicated container facility. American Bridge was selected from 11 contractors, ranging from the winning low bid of $13,075,487 to a high bid of $15,510,000. After receiving authorization to proceed, American Bridge expects to complete construction in June 2013.
A representative of Lockheed Martin expressed its interest in building plants in Mexico, at a bilateral meeting with Mexican Secretary of Economy Bruno Ferrari. The Lockheed Martin representative said Mexico’s recent admission as a member of the Wassenaar Arrangement makes it an attractive option to Lockheed Martin for such activities.
United Maritime Group said it agreed to sell U.S. United Barge Line, a wholly owned barge transportation subsidiary of UMG, to Ingram Barge Company. The company does dry bulk transportation and logistics and operates U.S. United Bulk Terminal, the largest coal and petroleum coke handling facility in the Gulf of Mexico, and U.S. United Ocean Services, which operates the largest Jones Act dry bulk ocean fleet by capacity. It provides barging for the domestic and export markets for coal, petroleum coke, grain and other dry bulk commodities, it said. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2012, subject to regulatory approvals and satisfaction of customary closing conditions.