October
Learn from Spain on gas pricing
Readers’ letters on gas pricing distortions, renewable and nuclear energy, Abbott’s lack of vision, Ley’s T-shirt tantrum and the need for a letter writers’ cabinet.
Philippines, China trade blame over South China Sea clash
Manila alleged Chinese maritime forces used water cannons and rammed a Philippine boat near Thitu Island in the latest of a string of clashes.
September
Four suitors appraise Allegro’s Strait Link
The Bass Strait shipping specialist is a challenging asset, which may turn potential buyers away, or result in underwhelming bids.
Forestry deal boosts green fuel start-up’s $1.8b project
HAMR Energy plans to develop a $1.8 billion facility at Portland on Victoria’s west coast to power aviation and shipping.
August
Countries are halting postal deliveries to the US. Here’s why
Previously, most goods with a value of $1200 or less sent to the US were exempt from tariffs – but Donald Trump says that rule will end this week.
Allegro hires advisers to sell $500m Tasmania sea freight business
The mooted auction comes three months after Allegro Funds signed a new 30-year agreement with TasPorts.
July
Team Global Express eyes bigger slice of online shopping deliveries
The logistics group, owned by Allegro Funds, hasn’t given up on its fight against Australia Post to deliver packages of goods bought online after slashing costs and rebranding.
Glencore ordered to pay $3m to Newcastle port after court loss
The NSW port, which mostly exports coal, had claimed that it was owed $3 million in unpaid invoices in a dispute over wharfage fees.
Port fees are ‘out of control’, say shipping lines
The shipping industry has joined importers and exporters in calling for regulation of Australia’s ports as fees continue to soar.
Global freight prices tumble, except for goods shipped to Australia
Tariffs announced by the Trump administration have caused havoc with freight companies, but costs into the country are defying global trends, cargo groups say.
New projects revive hopes for east coast hydrogen exports
Two projects at Newcastle, worth about $2 billion, are out to prove that Australia’s clean hydrogen vision isn’t dead – it will just require a more pragmatic approach.
June
Family-run shipping container biz Tradecorp launches beauty parade
The company has issued a confidential fact sheet that talks up an ambitious growth strategy, 20 per cent market share and $93 million in revenues recorded last year.
Two oil tankers collide and catch fire near Strait of Hormuz
The incident adds to anxiety around the crucial shipping route as Iran and Israel hit each other with missiles.
Turnbull says he could have halted Port of Darwin lease
The former prime minister said that when he approved the lease with a Chinese company a decade ago, security agencies had no concerns about the deal.
Ship carrying thousands of cars adrift in Pacific after catching fire
The ship carrying EVs and other cars was abandoned after catching fire, with the 22-member crew evacuated.
May
Richard White looks for WiseTech reset with $3.2b e2open acquisition
But brokers aren’t sure it can turn things around for the target, which has struggled to retain clients and suffered a long slide in share price.
Sanjeev Gupta’s Whyalla port row gives contractor a $113m headache
ASX-listed mining services provider NRW Holdings faces a big hit as the fallout from the February collapse of the South Australian steelworks continues.
America is just weeks away from a mighty economic shock
Unlike backward-looking economic data, global shipping is tracked in real time and trade between China and America is already sinking.
April
America is panicking about empty shelves. That’s bad news for markets
The pain of a trade war between the US and China has already started, but Wall Street is all-in on a deal arriving soon. Here’s why that’s optimistic.
Missile fuel blamed for huge explosion at Iran’s largest port
The blast that killed at least 25 people and injured hundreds has been attributed to sodium perchlorate, a major ingredient in solid fuel for missiles.