insight into freight..

[ozpont]

b]Just sharing informaton...[/b]

 .. this note below is sorta typical of freight alerts we get in the import service - and especially at this time of year as freight space becomes harder to get thru on any normal time, delays are constant and bloody frustrating....
     
      Currently Qantas, who is one of the major  air freighters into Oz ... has a backlog of close on 3 weeks for non contracted bulk freight customers from the USA alone.... and with Christmas only 10 weeks away.. movements of goods around the world are heating up putting the Supply & Demand of freighting services at a premium.
   The US$ may help us all in some ways but the oil increases and other factors  like increase freight charges as demonstrated here.. do not help really give us the full benefit.
   
    On a side note.. earlier this week we shelved plans for another order of 20 3rd gen Strut tower brace kits we have had tooled up for .. first done around 3 years back.. tooled off the Edelbrock STB.. but adding things like Stainless bolts & retainers etc..
       
     Due to both increased wages & overhead costs of the fabricators, the major increase in metal cost & devalued US$.... its cheaper to import these in bulk then it is to make them locally.. by quite a bit.. unfortunately... not good for the local workers.


   ANYWAY.. this below is a copy of an alert from a major international freight broker today...    

October Newsletter
                             12th October 2007



Space Capacity U.S.A. to Australia.
Space  continues  to  be  extremely  tight  from  all  ports in the U.S. to
Australia.
With  the  withdrawal  by  Qantas of this weeks mid week freighter services
from New York, Chicago and Los Angeles into both
Sydney and Melbourne, we expect  this situation to continue for a number of weeks to come, whilst the carriers try to
clear the backlogs that in part, these withdrawals have caused.

It  is  extremely  important that if you have any urgent shipments that you
discuss this with either your Expeditors
Account Manager or Customer Service representative prior to the shipment



Imports
Carriers  operating  from  South East Asia to Australia have announced that there will be a General Rate Increase of
USD 300.00 / 20' and USD 600.00 / 40' effective 01/11/2007.

Carriers  operating  from  Europe to Australia & New Zealand have announced that BAF will increase to USD 479.00 / 20' and
USD 958.00 / 40' effective 01/11/2007.


[size=18]Exports[/size]
Carriers  operating  from Australia to Tahiti have announced a General Rate Increase of AUD 250.00 / 20'  AUD 500.00 / 40'
effective 20/10/2007.

Carriers  operating directly from Australia to the USA have announced that, effective 01/11/2007, US Inland Fuel Surcharge
will  be  USD  67.00 / container for Truck moves and USD 232.00 / container for Rail or combined Rail/Truck moves.