Thursday, January 21, 2010

Shippers see worst Great Lakes year in seven decades
Breakbulk Industry News

With the lowest cargo valume in 71 years for iron ore and the worst in 77 years for coal, the two chief backbones of U. S. Great Lakes shipping, fleet leaders are expecting better shipping in 2010. But only mildly better.

The third biggest item for Great Lakes shipping, limestone, was down to it's lowest level in 25 years, since the recession year of 1984, to 23.5 million net tons.

link to balance of of article

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Exports Increasing from our Almeda Geona Facility

Since opening our Almeda Genoa facility we have seen a major increase not only the number of containers/flat racks and items going break bulk that are being prepared for export at our facility but also a wide variety products.

Steel Coils, Tires, steel bar, construction equipment, mobile cranes even a few motor vehicles, machine tools and an assortment of project cargo.


Included in the services that we offer our export clients is the planning and laying out the loads, blocking with ISPM 15 Certificed blocking and dunnage. Preparing packing lists and photo journaling the project for our customers. But also making sure that fuel certificates and dock receipts are in hand to go with the shipment to avoid delays. Scheduling with freight forwarders and trucking companies are all in a days work for us. This saves time and worry for our customers.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Decline of 2009 has bottomed out

Energy Information Administration predicts rising oil demand, prices
January 15, 2010 Break Bulk Connection

Global oil demand fell in 2009 and 2008, the first time since 1983 that oil demand has fallen for two consecutive years, according to a short-term energy outlook released this week by the US Energy Information Administration. However, the decline bottomed out in mid-2009 and the EIA expects recovery to continue with oil demand growth of 1.1 million barrels per day in 2010 and 1.5 million bbl/d in 2011.

Countries outside of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development will lead 2010 demand recovery while OECD countries should see some demand growth in 2011, the EIA said. Overall, China is expected to lead world consumption demand growth with estimated increases of more than 0.4 million bbl/d both years.

The EIA expects the benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude oil price per barrel, which averaged $62/bbl in 2009, to average $80 in 2010 and $84 in 2011. EIA’s forecast assumes U.S. GDP growth of 2 percent in 2010 and 2.7 percent in 2011 and world oil-consumption-weighted growth of 2.5 percent in 2011 and 3.7 percent in 2011.

The EIA also expects annual average natural gas spot prices in the U.S. to increase from $4.06 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) in 2009 to $5.36 Mcf in 2010 and $6.12 Mcf in 2011.
Global investments in oil and gas exploration and development, and related heavy-lift and project cargo movement, can be expected to increase as oil and gas prices rise.