DGX Shipping Blog

In the commercial shipping industry we’re often at the mercy of nature and humankind as a course of business. Starting well over a year ago, the COVID-19 pandemic is by far causing more unprecedented disruptions to the infrastructure of global transportation and logistics than experienced in contemporary times. The continuing spread of the virus and the mitigation strategies to prevent further spread have caused extraordinary delays in the global transportation supply chain including: Heavy port congestion Person power shortages Trucking shortages Warehouse delays Labor disruptions Cargo surges from big ships Infrastructure needs Marine terminal productivity Increased volumes Equipment shortages As an international asset-based provider, DGX-Dependable Global Express has access to more and accurate reporting from our global hubs than might be reported elsewhere. Some of our overseas directors report the following information which we encourage you to report out further across you...

Before considering ocean and air shipping internationally, it's crucial to understand Incoterms, the internationally recognized set of rules that define the responsibilities of sellers and buyers at each transportation touchpoint along the way. Created by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Incoterms are widely-used terms of sale covering all aspects of commercial shipping. They stipulate the parties responsible for paying for and managing specific shipments, related actions and undertakings for each leg of the shipment including who pays for insurance, customs clearance, documentation, ancillary transportation cost and other logistical activities. Familiarizing yourself with Incoterms will help to make your shipments go smoothly and avoid extra headaches and expense. The seven Incoterms 2020 rules for any mode of transport are:  EXW - Ex Works (named place of delivery): The seller makes the goods available at their premises, or at another named place. FCA - Free Carrier...

With the worst global pandemic in 100 years, many challenges face shipping and logistics to and from the Philippines. There have always been regional logistics challenges, isolated and unique to those regions. However, for the past 11 months, the pandemic has created a global set of challenges that almost every major port in the world is experiencing. The Philippines is no exception. Current challenges include: Very high rates Congestion Longer transit times Blank sailings Aircraft taken offline Lack of equipment Regarding Imports to the Philippines, since the quarantine period began, there have been delays such as: The unpredictable arrival of vessels Customs Delayed issuance of the invoices and/or delivery orders Internet connection problems/issues Limited labor force The customs clearance process which took no more than two days before the pandemic is now averaging four to five days. This time frame is affected by the limited workforce. Some positive news, there...

The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB) is a pest that potentially can have a severe impact on the Australian agricultural industry if not stopped from entering the country. The bug feeds on many different plants and can severely damage fruits, vegetables and crops. Currently the BMSB has expanded rapidly throughout Europe and North America and is causing serious damage to regional agriculture businesses. Due to the danger of this pest for our Australian farmers, the Australian government has implemented measures to stop the beetle from arriving on its shores.  During the BMSB season which usually runs from September to May, it is mandatory to treat certain commodities (target high-risk goods) that are manufactured in or originating from countries that are known to have the bug (target risk countries). The following countries below have been categorized as target risk: Albania Andorra ...

Due to the current pandemic and the closure of international borders, the majority of airlines have grounded their fleets. This has left the Australian airfreight market with an extremely limited number of flights, reducing the space available for cargo; and with exuberantly high freight rates. Some air cargo is being converted to sea freight to avoid the high airfreight costs. However for urgent orders, the transit time is often not timely or feasible. But not to lose hope, we've found an alternative for you to consider: International Courier Service. It's a great alternative we offer our DGX customers who need to move time sensitive orders to Australia . The costs compared to airfreight are competitive, goods face fewer delays than the remaining airfreight services, and they have a shorter transit time than sea freight. International Courier Service won't work for all shippers due to the strict limits on package sizes and weights. But for smaller orders that a...

The port of Sydney, Australia is currently experiencing severe congestion. The congestion has been caused by multiple factors including industrial actions and bad weather. As a result, the congestion has caused significant vessel delays, Sydney port omissions and change of vessel rotations. Due to an increase in costs, ocean carriers have introduced a Sydney Port Congestion surcharge of USD 280-350 per TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent) for any cargo to or from Sydney.  Unfortunately, this surcharge also means that LCL (Less Than Container) rates will increase by USD 13 w/m for cargo to or from Sydney. The ongoing issues have prompted shipping line Maersk to temporarily cease accepting any bookings to Sydney until at least Thursday, October 1, 2020. With this port congestion, Sydney is also currently facing a problem with their empty container depots which have reached their capacities. Some have closed their doors for dehiring or returning empty containers.   It’s ...

For shipping, the Covid-19 virus has changed the ways of doing business. It’s more complicated. There are many restrictions. And although some restrictions are being lifted slowly, almost everyone is faced with the problem of how to get orders from suppliers to consumers in a timely manner. Globally, airlines are in a difficult position with many international borders still closed for passengers. Much of the air freight cargo travels traditionally on commercial passenger flights and they carry products ranging from fresh fruit and vegetables, retail inventories, pharmaceuticals, clothing, spare parts, machinery and much more. While commercial passenger flights still remain grounded, many airlines today are providing “cargo only” flights or “freighter aircraft” services. These flights carry freight only and are able to move across international borders and provide a solution for time-critical supply chains. The shift made by airlines from traditional pas...