Reading Time: 2 minutes The Baltic Dry Index (BDI), a major indicator of bulk shipping rates, has climbed sharply higher over the past few weeks to hit its highest level in 18 months.
Baltic Dry Index at 18-month high
Restrictions at the Panama Canal and congestion at Brazilian ports behind rate hike
Low water on Mississippi to persist despite improved drought outlook
Risk of getting stuck mean less grain per barge
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Low water levels on the lower Mississippi River are likely to persist through at least January despite expected above-normal precipitation across the southern U.S. this winter, forecasters with the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) said on Thursday. The severe to exceptional drought choking the lower Mississippi River valley is expected to […] Read more
UN working on guarantees for Russia to restore grain deal, Moscow skeptical
Bombing of Ukraine ports, grain facilities erodes other partners' goodwill, Guterres says
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — The United Nations is “actively engaged” in trying to improve Russia’s grain and fertilizer exports in a bid to convince Moscow to again allow the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday. “We believe that it’s necessary to create a system of mutual guarantee,” Guterres told reporters on […] Read more
Panama Canal water levels at historic lows, restrictions to remain
Lake feeding canal low on rainfall
Reading Time: 2 minutes Panama City | Reuters — The Panama Canal’s water levels have not recovered enough as the end of the rainy season approaches and limits on daily transit and vessel draft will stay in place for the rest of the year and throughout 2024, the waterway’s authority said on Tuesday. The restrictions, implemented earlier this year […] Read more
Panama Canal’s drought-induced bottleneck eases
Some vessels detour; transits per day still reduced
Reading Time: 2 minutes Panama City | Reuters — A backlog of vessels waiting to pass the Panama Canal due to drought-related restrictions has eased in recent days after the waterway’s authority authorized more non-booked ships to pass and as others are choosing alternate routes to avoid the delays. The Panama Canal Authority last week opened two additional slots […] Read more
Ukraine announces ‘humanitarian corridor’ for other stuck ships
Moscow not yet commenting on plan
Reading Time: 3 minutes Kyiv | Reuters — Ukraine announced a “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea on Thursday to release cargo ships trapped in its ports since the outbreak of war, a new test of Russia’s de facto blockade since Moscow abandoned a deal last month to let Kyiv export grain. At least initially, the corridor would apply […] Read more
B.C. port strike under cease-and-desist order, for now
Union serves, then withdraws, fresh 72 hours' notice to resume picketing
Reading Time: 3 minutes Updated, July 19 — Canada’s Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) has ordered British Columbia’s longshoremen back to work until their union serves three days’ notice before restarting strike action. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU Canada) — which represents about 7,400 workers at various Vancouver and Prince Rupert port terminals and facilities — said Tuesday […] Read more
Insurers seen reviewing Black Sea ship cover after Russia quits deal
Last ship covered under deal left Sunday
Reading Time: 2 minutes London | Reuters — Insurers are reviewing whether to freeze cover for any ships willing to sail to Ukraine after Russia on Monday quit a UN-backed deal that allows the export of grain through a wartime Black Sea safe corridor, industry sources said. The agreement, brokered by Turkey last July, aimed to alleviate a global […] Read more
Black Sea grain deal expires after Russia quits
United Nations says the move would "strike a blow to people in need everywhere"
Reading Time: 3 minutes United Nations/Moscow | Reuters – A deal allowing the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine’s grain for the past year expired on Monday after Russia quit and warned it could not guarantee the safety of ships in a move the United Nations said would “strike a blow to people in need everywhere.” Moscow suggested that […] Read more
Animal care council won’t update livestock transport code of practice
NFACC says 'no further action' pending
Reading Time: 3 minutes After over four years’ publicly funded work to develop an updated national code of practice for livestock transport for Canada, the National Farm Animal Care Council has called a halt. In an information update dated May 1, NFACC said its board has now decided “no further action will be taken” by the council to update […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
