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Dockworker Strike at Santos in Brazil

Dockworkers at the largest port in South America have gone on strike just days after customs officers in the harbor decided to increase the frequency of slowdowns in their campaign for higher wages. The indefinite strike at Santos began on September 20 when hundreds of stevedores downed tools at three terminals in the port.

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Typhoon Hits Taiwan Port

Typhoon Meranti hit the Port of Kaohsiung in Taiwan on Wednesday, blowing over several containers stored at a yard in Kaohsiung’s Siaogang District, and causing 10 vessels in Kaohsiung Harbor to break loose from their moorings, Focus Taiwan reported. A vessel also destroyed two cranes at a terminal after ramming into them. The terminal could...

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French Port Workers to Join Strike Against Labour Reform

French CGT trade union port workers will join a nationwide strike against French labour reforms on Sept. 15, the union said on Monday, a move that could disrupt oil, grain and other commodity shipments at French ports. The hardline CGT union led rolling nationwide strikes against the labour reform between April and June against the...

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Amid shipping co. bankruptcy, Port of Houston tries to keep cargo moving

While cargo from South Korea’s Hanjin Shipping Co. finally is being unloaded in California, the Port of Houston Authority has been working out ways to get its shipments to local customers. Hanjin declared bankruptcy in late August, leaving cargo undelivered and suppliers unpaid. Last week, a New Jersey bankruptcy judge granted the company protection from...

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China’s Zika Disinsection Requirements for U.S. Exports Updated: Regionalization Implemented

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has released updated information about China’s Zika disinfection requirements for exports from the U.S. Note that this is not official USDA guidance; FAS recommends that exporters verify import requirements with their Chinese customers before shipping any goods. On Sept. 2, China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision,...

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Houston Ship Channel Closure

The Houston Ship Channel is closed from Cargill Facility outbound to Buoy 121A for a pollution incident. Presently, USCG cannot confirm how long channel will be closed as they are presently assessing the situation in regards to clean up. The channel could be closed up to midnight tonight or longer depending on final confirmation from...

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Tanker Fire, Oil Spill Shut Down Houston Ship Channel

DEER PARK, TEXAS – The U.S. Coast Guard says a mile of the Houston Ship Channel is closed after an early-morning tanker fire and fuel spill. The Coast Guard says the tanker, The Aframax River, may have hit a submerged sewer line. This caused a rupture in the hull, leading to a fire. There were no injuries. The...

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Indian Unions Reject Government’s Appeal To Drop Friday Strike

Indian trade unions are mobilizing against industrial reforms that would impact the country’s ports and railways, as well as other industries. Last-minute government concessions Tuesday were not enough to dissuade Indian trade unions from going ahead with a 24-hour nationwide general strike Friday, setting the stage for potential supply chain disruptions. “The strike may affect...

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China’s Zika Rules Not So Complicated

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of the People’s Republic of China (AQSIQ) announced earlier this year new requirements to prevent the spread of the ZIka virus for cargo coming from certain countries. The United States was recently added to the list. If the requirements cannot be met at origin and a...