The Port of Portland, which for years has had a thriving business importing autos from Asia, is now preparing to send cars back the other way.
The port has confirmed that it’s expected to begin exporting American-made vehicles to South Korea later this month under a recently-signed deal.
Under the contract, Tacoma-based shipper Auto Warehousing Co. will send about 10,000 Ford vehicles to South Korea this year, with the amount possibly increasing in subsequent years. The port also has preliminary plans to upgrade its Terminal 6 vehicle handling facility, which Auto Warehousing manages, to accommodate the expected increase in traffic.
Portland is the fourth largest auto import gateway in the U.S., according to the port, and up to now, it has only imported autos, particularly ones from Asian countries. Through the first 11 months of 2011, it handled 208,900 imported autos, putting it on pace for a decline from the 264,400 it handled throughout all of 2010.
The port processes imports of Honda, Hyundai and Toyota vehicles from Japan and South Korea.
Showing posts with label exports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exports. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Port of LA Sees Record Growth in Export Volumes
For the second straight month, loaded exports have set a record at the Port of Los Angeles, according to figures released Dec. 15.
During November, 195,877 TEUs of loaded export containers moved through the port, an increase of 15 percent compared with the same month in 2010. During the first 11 months of 2011, exports have already surpassed 2010 volumes, which had been the previous record year for exports. The port says it’s on pace to export more than two million TEUs during the current calendar year.
Additionally, the number of loaded inbound containers moving through LA rose over six percent last month compared with the same period last year, to 354,313 from 333,710. Total container traffic during the month amounted to a 4.07 percent year-over-year rise, to 694,108 TEUs this November, from the 666,970 that were moved during the same month in 2010.
The news isn’t all great, however. During the first 11 months of the calendar year, TEU traffic rose at the Port of LA by just 71,791 containers from the year before – a total 0.99 percent, according to the port.
During November, 195,877 TEUs of loaded export containers moved through the port, an increase of 15 percent compared with the same month in 2010. During the first 11 months of 2011, exports have already surpassed 2010 volumes, which had been the previous record year for exports. The port says it’s on pace to export more than two million TEUs during the current calendar year.
Additionally, the number of loaded inbound containers moving through LA rose over six percent last month compared with the same period last year, to 354,313 from 333,710. Total container traffic during the month amounted to a 4.07 percent year-over-year rise, to 694,108 TEUs this November, from the 666,970 that were moved during the same month in 2010.
The news isn’t all great, however. During the first 11 months of the calendar year, TEU traffic rose at the Port of LA by just 71,791 containers from the year before – a total 0.99 percent, according to the port.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Analysis: Good News for California Exporters
Despite the inert and lackluster forward movement of the national economy, exporters in California turned in their 20th consecutive month of vigorous growth in June, according to an analysis by Beacon Economics of foreign trade data released last week by the United States Commerce Department.
California firms moved $13.83 billion in exports shipments during June, a gain of 13 percent over the $12.25 billion reported in June of last year.
"Adjusting for inflation, California’s export trade has firmly returned to its pre-recession peaks," Beacon Economics’ International Trade Adviser Jock O’Connell said.
"More importantly, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, California’s export trade remained on an upward trajectory through the second quarter of 2011, despite the economic and financial tribulations several of our leading trading partners have been enduring," O’Connell said.
According to Beacon's analysis, the importance of this positive news should not be under-estimated: Gearing up to meet export demand is one of the few incentives US corporations have for investing in the domestic economy.
"The primary source of growth for the US over the past year has been through the export sector," Beacon Economics’ Founding Partner Christopher Thornberg said.
"Export trade is key in re-balancing the domestic economy given the massive trade deficit that opened in the middle part of the last decade."
Trade in California traditionally picks up in the second half of the year and Beacon Economics expects continued growth in the state's export trade during this period.
"The upside of a battered dollar is that California products, from farm produce to pharmaceuticals, are at bargain prices in the world market," O’Connell said.
"The recent drop in oil prices doesn't hurt."
However, the analysis pointed out, the picture was not as positive on the import side of the ledger. The number of loaded inbound shipping containers arriving at the state's seaports in June was down by 5.5 percent from June, 2010, while import tonnage through California's airports declined by 11.7 percent.
California firms moved $13.83 billion in exports shipments during June, a gain of 13 percent over the $12.25 billion reported in June of last year.
"Adjusting for inflation, California’s export trade has firmly returned to its pre-recession peaks," Beacon Economics’ International Trade Adviser Jock O’Connell said.
"More importantly, on a seasonally-adjusted basis, California’s export trade remained on an upward trajectory through the second quarter of 2011, despite the economic and financial tribulations several of our leading trading partners have been enduring," O’Connell said.
According to Beacon's analysis, the importance of this positive news should not be under-estimated: Gearing up to meet export demand is one of the few incentives US corporations have for investing in the domestic economy.
"The primary source of growth for the US over the past year has been through the export sector," Beacon Economics’ Founding Partner Christopher Thornberg said.
"Export trade is key in re-balancing the domestic economy given the massive trade deficit that opened in the middle part of the last decade."
Trade in California traditionally picks up in the second half of the year and Beacon Economics expects continued growth in the state's export trade during this period.
"The upside of a battered dollar is that California products, from farm produce to pharmaceuticals, are at bargain prices in the world market," O’Connell said.
"The recent drop in oil prices doesn't hurt."
However, the analysis pointed out, the picture was not as positive on the import side of the ledger. The number of loaded inbound shipping containers arriving at the state's seaports in June was down by 5.5 percent from June, 2010, while import tonnage through California's airports declined by 11.7 percent.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Log Exporter Set to Move 100-Millionth Board-Foot of Timber Through Tacoma Port
The United States subsidiary of New Zealand-based log exporter TPT predicts it will ship its 100-millionth board-foot of timber through the Port of Tacoma sometime this week.
The TPC Longview, carrying more than 35,000 Washington-state logs, is scheduled to depart for China Friday from the port’s West Hylebos Log Facility with the milestone 100-millionth board-foot log on board.
According to TPT US Limited, 100 million board-feet (one board foot equals one foot wide by one foot long by one inch thick) would stretch about three-quarters of the way around the globe.
TPT US Limited began shipping logs through Tacoma's West Hylebos facility in June 2010. Washington-harvested logs are sorted and debarked at the facility, before being loaded aboard ships for transport to Pacific Rim countries.
Despite many predictions in past years of the demise of the Washington-state log export business, a 2010 tariff imposed by Russia on wood exports saw major log importers like China look again at US West Coast suppliers. Additional demand for wood is being generated by rebuilding efforts in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami earlier this year.
Log exports through Tacoma are up 195 percent in the first seven months of this year, compared to the same period last year.
TPT represents Boston-based Hancock Timber Resource Group, which develops and manages globally diversified timberland portfolios for public and corporate pension plans, high net-worth individuals, and foundations and endowments.
The TPC Longview, carrying more than 35,000 Washington-state logs, is scheduled to depart for China Friday from the port’s West Hylebos Log Facility with the milestone 100-millionth board-foot log on board.
According to TPT US Limited, 100 million board-feet (one board foot equals one foot wide by one foot long by one inch thick) would stretch about three-quarters of the way around the globe.
TPT US Limited began shipping logs through Tacoma's West Hylebos facility in June 2010. Washington-harvested logs are sorted and debarked at the facility, before being loaded aboard ships for transport to Pacific Rim countries.
Despite many predictions in past years of the demise of the Washington-state log export business, a 2010 tariff imposed by Russia on wood exports saw major log importers like China look again at US West Coast suppliers. Additional demand for wood is being generated by rebuilding efforts in Japan following the earthquake and tsunami earlier this year.
Log exports through Tacoma are up 195 percent in the first seven months of this year, compared to the same period last year.
TPT represents Boston-based Hancock Timber Resource Group, which develops and manages globally diversified timberland portfolios for public and corporate pension plans, high net-worth individuals, and foundations and endowments.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Record Scrap Metal Exports Recorded at Port of Redwood City
Port of Redwood City Executive Director Mike Giari announced last week that cargo tonnage for the fiscal year 2010-2011 at the Port of Redwood City was 871,940 metric tons, up 3.5 percent over the prior year, due to record exports of scrap metal.
Sims Metals exported nearly 445,000 metric tons from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, mostly to the Far East. Giari credited Sims’ record to strong demand abroad for scrap metal, the company’s expanded staging area at the Port, and the fact that scrap now arrives by both truck and rail. This broadens the area from which the company can receive scrap metal from many sources, including old vehicles.
Sims Metal ahs been operating at the Port of Redwood City for 35 years, and the company’s recycling facility is one of the largest exporters of recycled materials in the Bay Area. Over the past four years the company has invested $14 million in its Redwood City operation by improving “downstream” recovery of non-ferrous metals, adding concrete paving, and installing advanced storm water controls, and modern processing equipment. The new equipment allows the Port facility to increase efficiency and capture additional metals that were not possible just a few years ago – particularly in the area of separation of non-ferrous metals such as copper and aluminum.
The Sims facility employs 60 workers who shred, shear, screen, sort, bale and ship metallic materials of all kinds, to serve as raw material for the production of steel and other recycled materials. State-of-the-art equipment shreds and separates hundreds of tons of steel per day.
“The Redwood City facility isn’t your grandfather’s recycling facility or just some junk yard,” says Steve Shinn, west regional president for Sims. “This is an advanced facility with multi-million dollar technology. Gone are the days of just crushing cars into blocks and shipping them to steel mills. Today, Sims is utilizing magnets, eddy currents, and optical sorting to reduce the need for landfilling as much as we can.”
The Port in Fiscal Year 2011 that ended June 30 also imported 49,628 metric tons of bauxite, a 19 percent increase; 31,755 tons of domestic sand, up 2 percent; 160,378 tons of building material aggregates, down 7 percent; and 185,566 tons of imported sand, down 7 percent. Thirty-six vessels called on the Port during the FY 2011.
-PMM Staff
Sims Metals exported nearly 445,000 metric tons from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, mostly to the Far East. Giari credited Sims’ record to strong demand abroad for scrap metal, the company’s expanded staging area at the Port, and the fact that scrap now arrives by both truck and rail. This broadens the area from which the company can receive scrap metal from many sources, including old vehicles.
Sims Metal ahs been operating at the Port of Redwood City for 35 years, and the company’s recycling facility is one of the largest exporters of recycled materials in the Bay Area. Over the past four years the company has invested $14 million in its Redwood City operation by improving “downstream” recovery of non-ferrous metals, adding concrete paving, and installing advanced storm water controls, and modern processing equipment. The new equipment allows the Port facility to increase efficiency and capture additional metals that were not possible just a few years ago – particularly in the area of separation of non-ferrous metals such as copper and aluminum.
The Sims facility employs 60 workers who shred, shear, screen, sort, bale and ship metallic materials of all kinds, to serve as raw material for the production of steel and other recycled materials. State-of-the-art equipment shreds and separates hundreds of tons of steel per day.
“The Redwood City facility isn’t your grandfather’s recycling facility or just some junk yard,” says Steve Shinn, west regional president for Sims. “This is an advanced facility with multi-million dollar technology. Gone are the days of just crushing cars into blocks and shipping them to steel mills. Today, Sims is utilizing magnets, eddy currents, and optical sorting to reduce the need for landfilling as much as we can.”
The Port in Fiscal Year 2011 that ended June 30 also imported 49,628 metric tons of bauxite, a 19 percent increase; 31,755 tons of domestic sand, up 2 percent; 160,378 tons of building material aggregates, down 7 percent; and 185,566 tons of imported sand, down 7 percent. Thirty-six vessels called on the Port during the FY 2011.
-PMM Staff
Friday, November 12, 2010
California Exports Up for 11th Straight Month
Despite California's high unemployment, rising foreclosures and a massive projected state budget deficit for next year, the Golden State's exporters in September reported the eleventh straight month of year-over-year trade growth, according to a Beacon Economics analysis of international trade data released Wednesday by the U.S. Commerce Department.
Exporters shipped $12.32 billion in goods to foreign markets during September, a sizable 19 percent increase over the $10.352 billion sent abroad in September 2009.
“To be sure, September 2009 did not set a very high bar for comparison purposes, but the year-to-year increase was still remarkably robust,” said Jock O’Connell, Beacon Economics’ International Trade Adviser.
California exporters also outpaced the nation as a whole in merchandise export growth in September, 19.0 percent to 17.9 percent.
In inflation-adjusted terms, said the Beacon analysis, California’s export trade in September almost exactly matched the value of its merchandise exports in September 2008, when international trade began to plummet as the global economic meltdown took hold.
In addition, California exporters reported manufactured goods sent abroad climbed 19 percent in September compared to the year-ago period, while exports of agriculture and non-manufactured goods climbed 10.7 percent compared to September 2009. Re-exports – goods sent out of the state that were previously imported – jumped 24.3 percent in September compared to the same period last year.
California accounted for 11.4 percent of the nation's total merchandise exports for September.
“All indications are that the sustained growth in September’s exports was led by airborne shipments of high-value items such as electronics components, medical and scientific instruments, and pharmaceuticals,” said Beacon's O’Connell. "Most Californians don't appreciate that, in terms of dollar value, about half of this state's export trade moves by air."
Exports moving through the state's airports in September climbed 26.5 percent from September 2009, while by comparison, the value of exports moving through the state's ports in September rose a more modest 13.7 percent.
Despite almost a solid year of export growth, O'Connell warned that the outlook for the winter is mixed.
“While the Federal Reserve Bank’s efforts at quantitative easing should push the dollar’s value down to the benefit of California exporters, the current level of acrimony among the G-20 nations is shocking,” he said. “As the G-20 leaders huddle in Korea this week, there appears little room for a consensus to emerge over how the global economy’s chief players will address some extremely vexing economic and trade policy issues.”
Exporters shipped $12.32 billion in goods to foreign markets during September, a sizable 19 percent increase over the $10.352 billion sent abroad in September 2009.
“To be sure, September 2009 did not set a very high bar for comparison purposes, but the year-to-year increase was still remarkably robust,” said Jock O’Connell, Beacon Economics’ International Trade Adviser.
California exporters also outpaced the nation as a whole in merchandise export growth in September, 19.0 percent to 17.9 percent.
In inflation-adjusted terms, said the Beacon analysis, California’s export trade in September almost exactly matched the value of its merchandise exports in September 2008, when international trade began to plummet as the global economic meltdown took hold.
In addition, California exporters reported manufactured goods sent abroad climbed 19 percent in September compared to the year-ago period, while exports of agriculture and non-manufactured goods climbed 10.7 percent compared to September 2009. Re-exports – goods sent out of the state that were previously imported – jumped 24.3 percent in September compared to the same period last year.
California accounted for 11.4 percent of the nation's total merchandise exports for September.
“All indications are that the sustained growth in September’s exports was led by airborne shipments of high-value items such as electronics components, medical and scientific instruments, and pharmaceuticals,” said Beacon's O’Connell. "Most Californians don't appreciate that, in terms of dollar value, about half of this state's export trade moves by air."
Exports moving through the state's airports in September climbed 26.5 percent from September 2009, while by comparison, the value of exports moving through the state's ports in September rose a more modest 13.7 percent.
Despite almost a solid year of export growth, O'Connell warned that the outlook for the winter is mixed.
“While the Federal Reserve Bank’s efforts at quantitative easing should push the dollar’s value down to the benefit of California exporters, the current level of acrimony among the G-20 nations is shocking,” he said. “As the G-20 leaders huddle in Korea this week, there appears little room for a consensus to emerge over how the global economy’s chief players will address some extremely vexing economic and trade policy issues.”
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Washington State Names 10 Finalists in Export-Boosting Fund Competition
The Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board, or CERB, has selected 10 finalist projects that will compete for $3 million in loans and grants as part of Gov. Christine Gregoire's state export initiative.
Each of the finalists will receive a formal Request for Proposal from the new Export Assistance Program, a key component of the state export-boosting plan that seeks to meet President Barack Obama's call to double national export levels in five years.
All 10 finalists were selected from a field of 31 applicants by a review panel of CERB members and experts in the promotion of state exports. CERB is looking to boost programs that can achieve substantial, profitable results.
Completed RFP's are due by Aug. 23, 2010 and CERB is expected to make a final determination by September 2010.
The 10 projects selected to submit a full proposal for further consideration are:
City of Bellevue – $157,000 – Asia Target Markets Trade Development: Trade Promotion Strategy for China, Korea, and Japan using Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Platforms;
City of Bellevue – $70,000 – Insights on India: Educational Materials and Case Studies on Culture, Communications, Management and Negotiations related to Doing Business from Washington State with Companies in India;
Clark College/Association of Washington Business Institute – $840,750 – Exports Zone Resource Center/Green Building Material Manufacturing Pilot Program;
Highline Community College – $413,360 – T.R.A.D.E. Training-Ready to Advance Development of Exports: A Business Export Readiness Model;
Port of Clarkston – $100,000 – Snake River Boat Builders Export Program;
Tacoma Community College – $298,857 – Technical Assistance with Global Exporting: Creation of a Professional-Level Instructional Certificate Program in Global Exporting;
University of Washington – $1,560,000 – Building Export Competence in Washington State Businesses;
Washington State University/Small Business Development Centers – $1,291,097 – SBDC New-to-Export Initiative;
Western Washington University – $585,726 – Jump Start Washington Exports (JustWaEx);
World Trade Center Tacoma/Tacoma Community College – $248,000 – Export China Initiative.
tags: Washington state, exports
Each of the finalists will receive a formal Request for Proposal from the new Export Assistance Program, a key component of the state export-boosting plan that seeks to meet President Barack Obama's call to double national export levels in five years.
All 10 finalists were selected from a field of 31 applicants by a review panel of CERB members and experts in the promotion of state exports. CERB is looking to boost programs that can achieve substantial, profitable results.
Completed RFP's are due by Aug. 23, 2010 and CERB is expected to make a final determination by September 2010.
The 10 projects selected to submit a full proposal for further consideration are:
City of Bellevue – $157,000 – Asia Target Markets Trade Development: Trade Promotion Strategy for China, Korea, and Japan using Search Engine Optimization and Social Media Platforms;
City of Bellevue – $70,000 – Insights on India: Educational Materials and Case Studies on Culture, Communications, Management and Negotiations related to Doing Business from Washington State with Companies in India;
Clark College/Association of Washington Business Institute – $840,750 – Exports Zone Resource Center/Green Building Material Manufacturing Pilot Program;
Highline Community College – $413,360 – T.R.A.D.E. Training-Ready to Advance Development of Exports: A Business Export Readiness Model;
Port of Clarkston – $100,000 – Snake River Boat Builders Export Program;
Tacoma Community College – $298,857 – Technical Assistance with Global Exporting: Creation of a Professional-Level Instructional Certificate Program in Global Exporting;
University of Washington – $1,560,000 – Building Export Competence in Washington State Businesses;
Washington State University/Small Business Development Centers – $1,291,097 – SBDC New-to-Export Initiative;
Western Washington University – $585,726 – Jump Start Washington Exports (JustWaEx);
World Trade Center Tacoma/Tacoma Community College – $248,000 – Export China Initiative.
tags: Washington state, exports
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Gregoire Kicks Off Washington State Export Initiative
Washington state Gov. Christine Gregoire visited the Port of Seattle Tuesday to introduced her plans for a new state export initiative aimed at complimenting the Obama Administration's National Export Initiative intended to double domestic exports within five years.
“As one of the nation’s leading exporting states, Washington State has the ability to act as a testing ground as the United States Department of Commerce develops new programs to move the National Export Initiative forward,” Gregoire said. “Washington is the gateway to Asia, and those trading partners have not been hit as hard as other areas around the world. We need to continue to increase our efforts to reach out to those trading partners. When our companies have more opportunities to do business, they can expand and create more good jobs for our communities.”
The governor's five-year six-point plan includes:
- Working as partners with the U.S. Department of Commerce to identify new opportunities for Washington businesses, serving as a pilot state for “field testing” new programs and tools the federal government develops as a part of the National Export Initiative;
- Directing the Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) to dedicate $3 million in funding toward export counseling assistance to companies seeking to export for the first time;
- Implementing a “Farm-to-Market Initiative” to reward ambitious and achievable proposals to enhance the competitiveness of the state's agricultural enterprises in the global marketplace.
- Enhancing the state's standing as a destination for foreign students who invest in the Washington economy through tuition, lodging and entertainment and encourage Washington students to study abroad; and
- Strengthening and expanding relationships with overseas trading partners;
- Engaging with the federal government to ensure a fully-funded federal transportation re-authorization act that includes a national freight program aimed at infrastructure investments that enhance the state's ability to efficiently move goods.
Gov. Gregoire said she expects the state export initiative to increase the number of Washington state companies exporting by 30 percent over the next five years and help 5,000 Washington businesses achieve $600 million in new export sales.
“Increasing the export of American products and services to global markets can help revive the fortunes of U.S. companies, spur future economic growth and support jobs in the U.S.,” said U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke. "I applaud Governor Gregoire and Washington State for partnering with us on the National Export Initiative, and look forward to working with the state."
With 8,000 Washington companies currently exporting, the state is the largest U.S. exporter on a per capita basis. Approximately four percent of Washington companies export, compared to a national average of one percent. One in three jobs in Washington state are tied to trade, either directly or indirectly.
“Taking the lead among all states with this early commitment to the National Export Initiative is good for Washington because it builds on our core strengths,” said Washington State Commerce Director Rogers Weed. “Expanding opportunities for our state’s current exporters will generate growth in the near term, while future sales and jobs will come from a new focus by the Small Business Development Centers and other key partners to find and help some of the 96 percent of other Washington companies reach international markets with their products and services.”
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Senators Raise Export Service Concerns With FMC
Congressional members of an agriculture committee are raising concerns with the Federal Maritime Commission that United States agriculture exporters are suffering severe service issues with foreign-flagged ocean carriers.
The concerns were raised in a June 16 letter to FMC chair Richard Lidinsky, Jr., from Sen. Blanche Lincoln, chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, and ranking minority committee member Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.
The senators noted that while the administration in their opinions has outlined admirable goals to increase U.S. exports, the chain of trade must function fairly and efficiently for American shippers to get agricultural products to key overseas markets.
"According to constituent reports and recent media stories, U.S. exporters may be forced to wait as long as a month to secure space on an ocean carrier compared to earlier wait times of about a week," the senators said in the letter.
"These service interruptions, along with frequent rate hikes, are occurring despite the fact that most U.S. shippers enter into 12-month service contracts with the ocean carriers for fixed rates during the period. These contracts are supposed to ensure that the carriers will provide the necessary weekly equipment and vessel space consistent with each individual agreement. Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that carriers are now routinely failing to honor these contracts. Such breaches lead to increased costs for U.S. agricultural exporters and, in some cases, lost export opportunities."
The senators went on to state that the U.S. agriculture industry's ability to expand overseas seas and boost incomes is being threatened by the service problems.
"The ability of our agricultural exporters to expand markets abroad is dependent on adequate oceangoing vessel capacity and container availability at inland locations," said the letter. "If this critical link in the export chain does not function fairly or efficiently, our shippers will be unable to get agricultural products to key overseas markets. This will not only cost U.S. farmers and ranchers new export opportunities, but could cost them existing overseas customers."
The senators also praised the ongoing FMC investigation into ship capacity and how it impacts U.S. importers and exporters. The FMC is set to discuss the preliminary findings of that investigation in a closed session on June 23.
"It is our hope that the global economic recovery and improvements in fleet capacity will mitigate future problems," said the senators.
"We would also appreciate your perspective concerning the specific authorities that the commission has available to ensure the ocean carriers' honor their service contracts with U.S. shippers, including the ability to penalize carriers for egregious practices. If you lack such tools, we would welcome a discussion of ways to potentially strengthen the Commission's authority with the carriers," the senators wrote.
The concerns were raised in a June 16 letter to FMC chair Richard Lidinsky, Jr., from Sen. Blanche Lincoln, chair of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, and ranking minority committee member Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga.
The senators noted that while the administration in their opinions has outlined admirable goals to increase U.S. exports, the chain of trade must function fairly and efficiently for American shippers to get agricultural products to key overseas markets.
"According to constituent reports and recent media stories, U.S. exporters may be forced to wait as long as a month to secure space on an ocean carrier compared to earlier wait times of about a week," the senators said in the letter.
"These service interruptions, along with frequent rate hikes, are occurring despite the fact that most U.S. shippers enter into 12-month service contracts with the ocean carriers for fixed rates during the period. These contracts are supposed to ensure that the carriers will provide the necessary weekly equipment and vessel space consistent with each individual agreement. Unfortunately, it has come to our attention that carriers are now routinely failing to honor these contracts. Such breaches lead to increased costs for U.S. agricultural exporters and, in some cases, lost export opportunities."
The senators went on to state that the U.S. agriculture industry's ability to expand overseas seas and boost incomes is being threatened by the service problems.
"The ability of our agricultural exporters to expand markets abroad is dependent on adequate oceangoing vessel capacity and container availability at inland locations," said the letter. "If this critical link in the export chain does not function fairly or efficiently, our shippers will be unable to get agricultural products to key overseas markets. This will not only cost U.S. farmers and ranchers new export opportunities, but could cost them existing overseas customers."
The senators also praised the ongoing FMC investigation into ship capacity and how it impacts U.S. importers and exporters. The FMC is set to discuss the preliminary findings of that investigation in a closed session on June 23.
"It is our hope that the global economic recovery and improvements in fleet capacity will mitigate future problems," said the senators.
"We would also appreciate your perspective concerning the specific authorities that the commission has available to ensure the ocean carriers' honor their service contracts with U.S. shippers, including the ability to penalize carriers for egregious practices. If you lack such tools, we would welcome a discussion of ways to potentially strengthen the Commission's authority with the carriers," the senators wrote.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Obama Signs Exec Order to Begin Reform of Export Controls
President Barack Obama signed an executive order on Thursday creating an export cabinet, relaunching an export advisory council and calling for the federal government to “use every available federal resource in support” of his National Export Initiative.
“Ninety-five percent of the world’s customers and the world’s fastest-growing markets are outside our borders,” said Obama. “We need to compete for those customers because other nations are competing for them.”
The NEI's two-pronged approach to increase exports calls for increased access to trade financing – with a focus on small to mid-sized businesses – and an expansion of federal promotion of American exports.
Part of the initiative calls for the creation of federal offices nationwide and in 250 US embassies and consulate that will provide US firms with export assistance covering everything from " financing to counseling to promotion" according to the President.
Under the NEI the administration also plans to conduct more than 40 trade missions this year, with the President himself set to depart this week on his second Asia-Pacific trip.
“We can’t be on the sidelines," said Obama. "We have to lead and our engagement has to extend to governments and businesses and peoples across the Pacific."
In addition to setting goals, the President's executive order also created the Export Promotion Cabinet. This new cabinet, set to meet for the first time next month, will comprise of the secretaries of the Agriculture, Commerce, Labor, State and Treasury departments, as well as the US Trade Representative, Small Business Administrator and president of the Export-Import Bank.
Obama's executive order also relaunched the President's Export Council as the national advisory committee on international trade, naming Boeing CEO and president Jim McNerney as council chair. Ursula Burns, CEO of Xerox, was named by the President as the committee's vice chair.
The President also reiterated his belief that reform of the nation's export control system is a critical component of any export growth program, including NEI.
“What we want to do is concentrate our efforts on enforcing controls on the export of our most critical technologies," said Obama, "making America safer while enhancing the competitiveness of key American industries."
The President said that his administration has already conducted a "broad review of the export control system" and expects Defense Secretary Gates to outline reform proposals within the next couple of weeks.
Primary points of focus for these proposals, according to the President, are streamlining of export controls on certain highly regulated products and the elimination of unnecessary obstacles for exporting products to firms with dual-national and third-country employees.
Obama said he plans to consult with Congress on his reform proposals, as well as "broader export control reform efforts.”
Thursday, January 28, 2010
President Sets Goal to Double Exports by 2015
President Barack Obama has set a national goal of doubling United States exports within the next five years in an effort to shore up the economy and create two million jobs.
"To help meet this goal," the President said Wednesday during his first State of the Union speech, "we're launching a national export initiative that will help farmers and small businesses increase their exports, and reform export controls consistent with national security. "
The value of US exports totaled $1.4 trillion in the first 11 months of 2009, according to the latest federal government numbers.
The President also said that the US needs to seek out new markets aggressively, just as our international competitors do.
"If America sits on the sidelines while other nations sign trade deals, we will lose the chance to create jobs on our shores," Obama said. "But realizing those benefits also means enforcing those agreements so our trading partners play by the rules. And that's why we'll continue to shape a Doha trade agreement that opens global markets, and why we will strengthen our trade relations in Asia and with key partners like South Korea and Panama and Colombia."
Monday, October 26, 2009
Containerized Home Builder Eyes Tacoma Port as Asian Gateway
A Fife, Washington-based manufacturer of 'containerized' homes is looking to the Port of Tacoma as an Asian export gateway for its products.
American Container Homes, which manufactures homes that are pre-assembled in sections that can fit into standard shipping containers, also hopes to develop a South American gateway through Beaumont, Texas and a Canadian export facility north of Spokane.
The firm announced last week that it is preparing to export its first order of the 1,200-square-foot 3-bedroom homes, which come with electric appliances and are pre-wired and pre-plumbed, to Israel.
The collapsible units may be configured as a single-family residence or when paired with additional units as a duplex, a two-section single-family residence or an apartment building. The entire building unit and garage can be fit into a single shipping container if applicable.
ACH's parent firm, Spokane, Washington-based All American Corp., has been developing the collapsible homes for some time and currently has five offices throughout Washington state offering various alternative housing options.
According to AAC officials, subsidiary American Container Homes is in talks with mobile home builder Clayton Homes– owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire-Hathaway– to handle manufacturing of as many as 500 of the collapsible homes a day at Clayton facilities across the nation.
American Container Homes, which manufactures homes that are pre-assembled in sections that can fit into standard shipping containers, also hopes to develop a South American gateway through Beaumont, Texas and a Canadian export facility north of Spokane.
The firm announced last week that it is preparing to export its first order of the 1,200-square-foot 3-bedroom homes, which come with electric appliances and are pre-wired and pre-plumbed, to Israel.
The collapsible units may be configured as a single-family residence or when paired with additional units as a duplex, a two-section single-family residence or an apartment building. The entire building unit and garage can be fit into a single shipping container if applicable.
ACH's parent firm, Spokane, Washington-based All American Corp., has been developing the collapsible homes for some time and currently has five offices throughout Washington state offering various alternative housing options.
According to AAC officials, subsidiary American Container Homes is in talks with mobile home builder Clayton Homes– owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire-Hathaway– to handle manufacturing of as many as 500 of the collapsible homes a day at Clayton facilities across the nation.
