Fallout from Hanjin’s bankruptcy has potential to impact ocean rates and capacity in the short-term

With Korean ocean carrier Hanjin Shipping, the seventh largest ocean liner in the world that handles roughly 7% of U.S.-Asia cargo, filing for bankruptcy earlier this week, what happens next in regards to what happens to the cargo that was moving on Hanjin vessels at that time, as well as its subsequent short-term impact on the global supply chain remains far from clear.

US housing starts total 1.21M in July vs. 1.18M starts expected

U.S. housing starts unexpectedly rose in July as building activity increased across the board, supporting the view that investment in residential construction will rebound after slumping in the second quarter.

Manufacturing in U.S. Expands for First Time in Seven Months

Manufacturing expanded in March for the first time in seven months, fueled by a surge in orders that signals American factories are emerging from their worst slump since the last recession.

Beyond the Oil-Industry Bloodbath

Forced to reckon with a prolonged period of low energy prices, oil chiefs at the annual IHS CERAWeek energy gathering sought to portray themselves as steely survivors in an industry grappling with spending cuts and asset sales.
(This article requires a subscription to the Wall Street Journal. To access, please click on the above link.)

US West Coast congestion cost Washington $770 million, study says

Washington state suffered an economic impact of $769.5 million due to labor disruptions at West Coast ports this past year, according to one of the most detailed analyses of the impact of a labor disruption on U.S. business and industry.
(This article requires registration at the Journal of Commerce. To access, please click on the above link.)

For intermodal, another double-digit gain

Intermodal continues to carry the day for the North American freight railroad industry, registering a gain of nearly 20% for the week ending Feb. 20, 2016, the third consecutive week of double-digit growth, compared to the prior-year period, and offsetting weak carload traffic—which includes a sharp drop in crude oil.

AAR debuts latest version of ‘Freight Rail Works’ campaign

The Association of American Railroads (AAR) yesterday unveiled a new installment of its “Freight Rail Works” campaign, which highlights the role freight railroads play in the national economy. The 2016 campaign explains the amount of freight — from cars to consumer goods to large-scale industrial materials — moved every year for each American, according to an AAR press release.

Economic Watch: New Reports Raise Concerns About a Recession

A glimmer of hope that U.S. manufacturing was starting to rebound at the start of the year may have been quickly been dashed, leading to increasing concerns about the state of the overall economy, while separate reports show consumers don’t feel as good as they did last year, but they are still in the mood for home buying.

The sights at Secure Rail 2016

The second annual Secure Rail conference drew more than 100 people to Orlando, Fla., last week. Held Feb. 9-10 and organized by Progressive Railroading, the event addressed physical and cyber security in the North American rail industry.
For a look inside the event, follow this link to view a slideshow of conference highlights.

Carload and intermodal volumes are mixed for week ending February 13

United States rail carload and intermodal volumes were again mixed for the week ending February 13, according to the Association of American Railroads (AAR).