European box builders suffer new reversal

Rail Cargo Group (RCG), which is a subsidiary of Austria-based ÖBB, is to lease 600 container flats cars from Switzerland-based MFD Rail.

Mawani (Saudi Ports Authority) and Saudi Global Ports (SGP), which is a joint venture between the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), Singapore’s PSA International, and the Al Balagaa Group, are to invest US$266M in a new logistics park at King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.

The global pool of dry freight containers is expected to fall in 2023 as ocean carriers and lessors dispose of surplus units that have built up in the fleet since the end of 2020.

Hapag-Lloyd, which is leading the liner shipping industry when it comes to fitting smart devices to its dry freight containers, is pressing ahead with its installation programme. It expects the whole of its 1.6M TEU owned fleet to be smart early in 2024. Already more than 80% of its reefer containers are fitted with devices that in addition to tracking the container’s position, monitor temperature and humidity levels inside the equipment.

The intermodal logistics services company has acquired all the shares in CCFC, a leading Italian manufacturer of swap bodies, cranable trailers and special containers

A sharp fall in orders for new containers has taken its toll on container manufacturers with H1 2023 revenues and profits at China International Marine Containers (CIMC), Dong Fang International Containers (DFIC) and Singamas well down on the corresponding period of 2022.