As showcased in last week's Australian Financial Review, The Guardian and ABC News, Freight & Trade Alliance (FTA) and the Australian Peak Shippers Association (APSA) continue to lead our industry's media coverage with no end in sight of the ongoing Protected Industrial Action (PIA) affecting national operations at DP World container terminals.
STOCK AND LAND
Picking up our recent media release (and also referencing the Southern Grains Storage, Dairy Australia Economics and Victorian Farmers Federation), The Stock and Land yesterday produced a feature article referencing the ongoing PIA and the attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea
Article titled 'Red Sea freight blockage has potential to disrupt all supply chains' is available HERE (paywall protected)
AUSTRALIAN FINANCIAL REVIEW
In a similar theme to the above, the Australian Financial Review also released an article overnight titled Freight, oil climb as Red Sea attacks shut down shipping available HERE (paywall protected)
Extract below:Paul Zalai, director of the Freight and Trade Alliance, which represents importers and exporters, said shipping lines were expected to pass on the cost of using more fuel if they went around the Cape of Good Hope as well as war surcharges.
"There will be extra costs," Mr Zalai said, adding that any price increases would ultimately be passed onto consumers.
Deliveries of container goods to Australian ports are already being delayed by strikes at stevedore DP World. Maersk will impose an "emergency risk surcharge" of $US50 per 20-foot container for vessels travelling to Israel from January 8 to cover higher insurance costs.
The disruptions in the Red Sea could encourage companies to order goods well ahead of time, and store them in warehouses, which also pushes up costs, rather than relying on "just in time" deliveries, Mr Zalai said.
MEMBER FEEDBACK
We again wish to remind members that while we have an excellent relationship with a wide cross-section of trade, agriculture and mainstream media, we need of "real life" experiences highlighting the impacts to business and the wider economy - this is essential to maintain the momentum and interest for what appears will be a long, drawn out campaign.
Should any member or industry participant be prepared to go on the public record, please contact me at pzalai@FTAlliance.com.au on 0408 280123.
Paul Zalai - Director FTA | Secretariat APSA | Director GSF