on Sunday launched an anti-dumping investigation on polyformaldehyde copolymer imported from the European Union, the United States, China's Taiwan region and Japan.

The decision was made in accordance with the PRC's Anti-Dumping Provisions after reviewing materials provided by six Chinese companies that formally applied for the anti-dumping investigation last month as representatives of the relevant industry in mainland China.

The subject of the anti-dumping investigation will be polyformaldehyde copolymer, or POM copolymer for short, imported from the EU, the US, Taiwan region and Japan from January 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023.

It will also investigate whether there is any damage to China's POM copolymer industry from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023.

The ministry has called on interested parties to register with the ministry within 20 days to participate in the anti-dumping investigation starting Sunday.

The investigation is expected to conclude by May 19, 2025, but could be extended by six months under special circumstances.

POM copolymer is used in a wide range of industries, including auto parts, electronic devices, medical devices and construction materials.

COSCO SHIPPING officially launched its self-operated fulfillment warehouse in the United States.

The Chinese company said this expansion of its global warehousing network represents a crucial step towards enhancing its ability to meet the increasing logistics needs of cross-border business and establishing a comprehensive logistics solution tailored for cross-border e-commerce customers.

Spanning around 16,500m², this new facility is located in the Greater Los Angeles area, just 60 minutes from the Port of Los Angeles and Los Angeles Airport. The warehouse features high-efficiency capabilities, achieving unloading and shelving within 48 hours, with 95% of goods dispatched within the first 24 hours and 98% within 48 hours.

The warehouse offers a variety of services, including dropshipping, transit for medium and large-sized goods, end-to-end truck dispatching, and comprehensive in-warehouse operations.

The implementation of modern OMS/WMS systems enhances the EDI process, supported by comprehensive I.T. operation and maintenance that ensures stable operations and full visual management. This enables customers to access real-time cargo dynamics and efficiently manage various operational challenges.

Maersk's first-quarter performance aligned with the company's expectations, reflecting a notable earnings rebound from Q4 2023.

The positive results were propelled by Terminals' solid performance and a confluence of factors including increased demand and the ongoing Red Sea crisis, according to the statement.

With these conditions anticipated to persist through the latter half of the year, Maersk has adjusted its guidance range, now anticipating underlying EBIT in the range of US$ -2 to 0 billion.

The Ocean segment experienced the impact of the Red Sea situation, facing elevated market rates and increased costs due to disruptions in the supply chain. Despite this, robust volumes, optimal capacity utilization, and ongoing cost control measures led to improved results compared to the previous quarter, noted the Danish ocean carrier.

Furthermore, Logistics & Services witnessed substantial volume growth, although margins were deemed unsatisfactory due to underutilization in certain warehouses and short-term challenges in implementing new customer contracts in the ground freight business in North America.

Four crewmen of a Chinese domestic cargo ship are missing after the vessel hit Jiujiang Bridge in Foshan in China's Guangdong province on 22 April.

The ship, whose name was not released, was carrying 4,900 tonnes of rolled steel along the Yangtze River from Fuzhou in Fujian province to Heshan in Guangdong province, when at 9.20 pm local time, it hit the base of one of the bridge pillars.

Built in 1988, Jiujiang Bridge forms part of the G240 National Highway connecting Foshan and Heshan.

Water started entering the cargo hold of the vessel, causing it to capsize. Seven of the 11 crew members were rescued, while the other four are missing.

After the incident, Foshan Municipal Party Committee Secretary Zheng Ke, Foshan Mayor Bai Tao, Guangdong Maritime Safety Administration Deputy Director Guo Weibin, among others, went to the scene to direct the rescue work.

At 6 am local time on 23 April, more than 300 police officers and maritime rescue personnel were deployed to search for the missing seafarers, without success. The search and rescue operations are still ongoing, and to facilitate the search, other ships are prohibited from entering the waters 3km upstream and downstream from Jiujiang Bridge.

Civil engineering experts examined the bridge and found no serious damage to its main structure but the base of the pillar, designed to withstand allisions, had scratches, and further appraisal of the bridge's structural safety was required.

In June 2007, a sand carrier hit Jiujiang Bridge, causing a 200m stretch of the bridge to collapse. Four cars on the highway, along with two construction workers, fell into the river below, killing eight persons.

Days of bitterly unusual weather across the Persian Gulf region have sparked serious concerns for ocean and air freight stakeholders, dealing another blow to supply chains already caught up in worsening geopolitical setbacks after the Iran-Israel faceoff.

Cargo agents and other shipping industry sources in Dubai have reported significant cargo delays and backlogs, which they believe could take up to a week to clear up and return to normalcy.

Sources have also told Container News that many ports in the region, including Jebel Ali, have had to deal with berthing delays because of extreme weather conditions.

“Over-the-road freight movements continue to remain disrupted at many places,” said a freight forwarder.

The forwarder source further noted: “Authorities are working at a swift pace to clear up the affected road networks,”

At the same time, container line sources have noted that leading port terminals in the region are now operating at near normal activity.

An executive at a major European container line said: “Most of the port operations are up and running, but the flooding is leading to cargo delays.”

Air freight verticals are said to have borne the brunt of the disruptions from torrential rains and storms, reportedly the most severe the UAE has experienced in 75 years.

Dubai Airport, the world's busiest hub, has seen widespread flight cancellations and diversions for the last two days, after the storm alarmingly flooded the runway.