Hapag-Lloyd achieved outstanding financial results in the first half of 2021, benefiting from strong demand for container shipping and record freight rates.

The Ningbo Meidong Container Terminal was halted on Wednesday due to a Covid case that raised greater concerns for the supply chain as the Delta variant outbreak in China continued to spread wide.

Long-term contract container freight rates jumped 28.1 percent in July, the biggest monthly increase ever, according to Xeneta.

Maersk's freight rates in the second quarter increased by 63% compared to pre-COVID, while global shipping demand increased by only 3%.

Update on the international logistics and container shipping market on Asia, Europe and North America routes in the week of 31/2021.

The booming rail transport from China to Europe has extended connections to Vietnam. For the first time, the railway has a container train running directly from Vietnam to Europe since the end of July.

The US Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has launched an “Expedited Inquiry” into the operations of eight container shipping lines in relation to “congestion or related surcharges”.

Shipping line ONE (Ocean Network Express) recorded a profit of $2.56 billion for the first quarter and forecast an after-tax profit of $6 billion for the first six months of the year.

AP Moller Maersk reported unaudited revenue of $14.2 billion, earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization (EBITDA) of $5.1 billion and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of $4.1 billion in the second quarter of 2021, due to increased demand for shipping containers.