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To: Mandalou who wrote (19360)	6/2/1999 2:23:00 PM
From: Warren A. Wilbur, Jr.	Respond to of 40688

Site is up & running just fine, I had new & updated trade leads, here is an article from the Journal of Commerce from today's issue on the PNLK site: PACIFIC SHIPPING Tight space: last year's news?? Importers say carriers have space to fill BY BILL MONGELLUZZO Journal of Commerce Staff LOS ANGELES -- As the peak shipping season approaches in the eastbound Pacific trade, importers are finding vessel space is not as tight as they feared. While some established carriers are booked solid, other former conference and independent carriers are approaching importers with offers of space. Also, six new lines have entered the Asia/North America trade and appear to have space available. "It's a very mixed bag out there," said Allen Clifford, vice president of Mediterranean Shipping Co. in New York. "There's a wide range to choose from," said Tom Craig, president of LTD Shippers Association in Exton, Pa. "I would say that generally, the premier service guys are doing well. But our members are also getting calls from carriers they never thought they'd hear from," he said. U.S. imports from Asia increased almost 20% in 1998, and many carriers predicted confidently that the 1999 peak shipping season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, would once again see double-digit growth. Imports at West Coast ports surged in January and February, convincing many shippers to sign shipping contracts calling for a $900-a-container rate increase. However, the growth in imports from Asia tapered off in March and April, and carriers are telling shippers they have space available for the holiday shipping season. K-Swiss, a footwear importer in Westlake Village, Calif., has had no problem booking cargo. Shipping executives are not pushing the tight-space issue as much as they were earlier in the year. "The rhetoric is a little better than it was," said Mike Gray, manager of corporate logistics. By contrast, some importers worry about availability of equipment for intermodal shipments from the West Coast to destinations in the eastern half of the country. Severe shortage in 1998 During the 1998 peak shipping season, importers encountered a severe shortage of containers, chassis and railcars. This year, importers who booked early won guarantees of equipment and space. Importers are therefore concerned that some carriers, especially the new lines that are entering the trans-Pacific this summer, may not be able to guarantee them containers, chassis and space on intermodal trains heading East. "How are you going to move the cargo off the pier if you don't have chassis?" said Timothy J. Gartner, manager of international logistics at Evenflo Corp., Piqua, Ohio. "These new guys who are coming in will have a tougher time," said Tony Micena, vice president of import sales at Solar International Shipping Agency, agent for Yangming Marine Transport Corp. Carriers that went through equipment shortages last year learned from the experience, and addressed it early this year, Micena said. Yang Ming, for example, has opened an on-dock railyard at its terminal in Los Angeles. Taking a chance can pay off Importers are finding, though, if they ship only to the West Coast, or they're willing to take a chance on equipment and intermodal rail availability, they don't have to pay top dollar for ocean transportation. Negotiators for shippers associations said some carriers were quoting rates this spring of $2,000 to $2,200 for a 40-foot container, which is $800 to $1,000 below the market rates. Some bigger importers signed service contracts for about $2,600 per 40-footer. Shipper association representatives said the rate reductions were available from new lines trying to build market share, but now rates are creeping back up. Carrier executives do not take seriously the talk of major rate reductions. "That's typical shipper/NVO speak. It's shipper-carrier positioning," said Clifford of Mediterranean Shipping. No rate pressure "I'm not seeing any rate pressure," said Howard Finkel, director of pricing at China Ocean Shipping Co. in Secaucus, N.J. "People are willing to sign at the levels carriers are asking," he said. Shipping executives say that despite lower-than-anticipated import volumes in March and April, the numbers are starting to pick up, and they expect a strong peak season. Maersk Inc. on the weekend of May 22 did a record 5,000 container moves from one vessel in Long Beach, said Thomas Eskesen, strategic director of Pacific services. "We don't see any slowing down. The former Anera (conference) lines seem to be very full," he said. Importers say carriers can enjoy their day in the sun, but when the peak is over in November, shippers expect to go back and negotiate better rates. "Carriers were hard-nosed on their rate increases, but when the slack season rolls around, and it will, we're going to be equally hard-nosed about the reductions we want," Gartner said. ***BTW as for your questons about the number of trade leads :1. there is a suggestion box on the home page 2. Go to chat site and ask PNL support live 3. Email them & ask 4. call and ask I am certain they'll be happy to answer any question you have. Regards