Korean transhipment port Busan introduces box tracking
Busan Port Authority (BPA) has begun test operations of a new box-tracking system. Labelled the “Busan Port Logistics Information System” (BPA-NET), the new service integrates port logistics information from container terminals and related organisations.
The new system is said to enable shipping companies, consignors and transport companies to trace container locations in real time via the mobile internet.
Benefits of the system are said to be the ability to save time and costs, through discovery of vessel entry and departure, the avoidance of road congestion, the ability of truck operators to increase vehicle turnover ratios and, for stevedores, the more efficient operation of outbound cargo. BPA plans to implement a continuous information service, focusing on Busan Port operation code standardisation and mobile personal services, and are expecting to achieve fruitful results in raising the competitiveness of Busan Port through rapid port administrative processes and logistics control. Founded in 2004, Busan has, at least since 2007 (according to Containerisation International data), been ranked as fifth largest port in the world by throughput volume. Its throughput has grown every year on average by 14% each year – even taking into account the year 2009, during the height of the global financial crisis (GFC), when throughput fell to 11.9m teu from 13.4m, a fall of just over 11%.
Value of Australian imports fell 2% in November
Australia imported $21,784m worth of international trade goods in November 2013, a fall of $426m (-2%) on the revised October 2013 merchandise imports of $22,210m, according to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
“In seasonally-adjusted terms, goods debits fell $103m between October and November 2013 to $22,065m,” said the ABS. Consumption goods fell $131m (2%) while intermediate and other merchandise goods remained steady at $9632m.
The value of imports of household electrical equipment rose 13.3% to $264m from $233 in October.
Furniture (including bedding), which happens to be one of Australia’s important containerised finished goods imports, rose 8.7% in November to $324m from $298m in October and counts as the highest import month in 2013 for this sector to date.
Imports of cutlery fell 9.5% to $19m from $21m in October.
Pulp and waste paper imports rose 6.25% to $17m in November from $16m in October, and a 54% jump from $11m in Septembers.
The import value of metal containers for storage or transport fell in November by 7.4% to $25m, down from $27m in October.
China accounts for 22% of the value of Australia’s 2013 imports
Australia’s top three import sources accounted for 38.8% of the $21,784m worth of international trade goods received in November 2013, with China
sending almost a quarter followed by the US at 9.5% and Japan at 7.3%, according to recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Specific trends in the value from countries of origin to Australian states and territories were revealed in the latest bulletin of International Merchandise Imports, Australia from the ABS.
Australia imported $4785m worth of goods from China in November 2013, a 2.7% increase from $4660m in October. NSW claimed the lions share with nearly half followed by Victoria at just over a quarter and Queensland at 12% as the top three destinations.
The value of US trade goods fell 11.5% in November at $2071m, from $2340m in October and NSW claimed 39.5%, followed by Victoria at 29% and Queensland at 17.7%.
Japan accounted for $1590m worth of trade goods in November, dropping 4.7% from $1668m in October – NSW snagged 32.6%, Queensland took 29% and Victoria claimed 21%
The import value of trade goods from Singapore increased 1.5% in November at $1148m, from $1131m in October. Western Australia led the charge receiving 38%, NSW took a quarter of the goods, then Victoria at 14.6%.
Australia imported $1030m worth of trade from Germany in November, a 3.4% fall from $1066m in October. NSW claimed 42.6%, followed by Victoria at 31% and Queensland at 17.7%.
Value of Australian-produced exports slumped last year
The value of Australian-produced merchandise exports fell last year, as did exports of primary products and manufactured products, says the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Although noting trade value figures are not a perfect proxy for volume figures, the latest official statistical data makes grim reading for carriers hoping to pick up some back-haul north-bound boxes as the overall value of Australian-produced trade fell last year. Australian produced merchandise exports accounted for 96.9% of total merchandise exports.
However, the value of Australian-produced merchandise exports fell 6.5% to $239.3bn in 2012/13, although export values have increased by an average of 6.5% per annum over the past five years.
Primary products accounted for 77.2% of Australian produced merchandise exports. Exports of primary products decreased 6.7% to $184.6bn in 2012/13 although, since 2007/08, exports have increased by an average of 9.9% per annum.
The decrease in 2012/13 was mainly driven by a fall in the value of fuels and minerals exports. These were down 11.4% and 7.2% respectively on 2011/12.
Unprocessed primary products exports fell 9.9% to $144.9bn in 2012/13, although, unprocessed primary products exports have increased by an average of 12% per annum over the past five years.
However, in the unprocessed primary products category in 2012/13, food rose 9.9% to $15.2bn but minerals decreased 7.8% to $74bn.
Fuels fell 18.2% to $48.4bn while other primary products decreased 4.5% to $7.4bn.
Manufactured product exports accounted for 13.5% of Australian-produced merchandise exports. Exports of manufactured products fell 6.6% to $32.3bn in 2012/13 and have decreased by an average of 3.4% per annum over the past five years.
Carrier reliability slips to two-year low
Shipping line performance suffered a higher than expected decline in December to reach its lowest level in two years.
SeaIntel Maritime Analysis’ Global Schedule Reliability report showed that on-time performance slipped from 81.4% in November to 73.7% in December, based on a two-month rolling window, the lowest level recorded in two years.
SeaIntel said the level of decline between the November and December reports was higher than in the past and added that it was a “worrying” development. “It is not unusual that schedule reliability declines at this time of year,” said SeaIntel Maritime Analysis chief commercial officer and partner Alan Murphy.
“We saw a similar pattern last year, but it is definitely unusual that schedule reliability decreases by more than 7%. “The drop in performance is across all top 20 carriers, with all having worse performance in December 2013 than they did in both November 2013 and December 2012.
“The decline in performance is not just a regional pattern, as 21 of 32 trade lanes saw performance decline vis--vis November, including all major east-west trades.
“This is surely a worrying development for both shippers and carriers, as neither can be satisfied with such a significant drop in performance.”
SeaIntel said it assumed the performance decline was caused by heavier than normal storms in the north Atlantic and the implementation of (northern) winter/slack season programs.
