The concept of freeports has been in the news in the UK recently, as the government has proposed the creation of 10 such entities around the country, promising the creation of thousands of new jobs and the “turbo-charging” of local economies. Laudable aims in theory but the reality is somewhat more challenging.

Shippers, forwarders and carriers are getting a better idea of costs and data sources as Drewry launches a low-sulphur bunker price tracker.

A spate of containership fires has forced carriers to take action with fines for misdeclared cargoes. It is unlikely to change the behaviour of the criminally minded.

Resumption of US-China trade hostilities could give the Transpacific peak season a fillip.