Supply Chain Research

Shipping operators face rising fuel costs in the latter part of the third quarter. The crude oil price in U.S. markets has risen 10% since the start of September to the highest since April, and in European markets by 11% to July 2015 levels. That’s the result of reduced demand from U.S. refineries, as well as a variety of technical factors globally. As a consequence bunker fuel costs have reached their highest on a weekly basis since July 2015, and are on average 6% higher in the third quarter than the second. That comes as container rates have declined – shippers either face lower profi...