News

The ABF has rejected claims that there are large numbers of officers sitting idle at our ports and airports, clarifying there has been a redistribution of staff away from passengers to cargo.

Shipping delays and port congestion are continuing to impact cargo moving through the port of Sydney, and now shipping lines are starting to impose hefty surcharges on import and export containers.

Lengthy delays are being experienced on import shipping containers due to several typhoons in Asia, plus industrial action here in Australia. This will impact space availability and rates in the short-term future.

Changes are underway in the global shipping industry as South Korea develops smart ship technology while Japan installs ‘scrubbers’ and the UK experiments with autonomous vessels.

The BMSB (Stink Bug) season has now commenced for 2020/2021 and the Department of Agriculture has issued an update on measures, including the addition of four new countries.

The world's largest container vessel operator, Danish line Maersk, has announced its investment in an Australian tech startup to connect small and medium-size carriers with shippers.

This month DAWE will implement urgent actions to address the risk of khapra beetle on high-risk plant products that are hosts of this pest, including rice, chickpeas and lentils.

The Victorian Government has imposed new restrictions on certain freight & logistics activities including warehousing and distribution, and introduced special provisions for truck drivers.

Despite severe global economic challenges from COVID-19, Australia has recorded its largest financial year trade surplus in 2019-20 off the back of booming goods exports.

Quarantine measures taken due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and a lack of flights, have left many shipping crew members stranded in isolation and unable to return home.