ASIA China The Chinese State Council has announced new adjustments to its import-export tariffs for the year 2023 as part of the country’s agenda to boost economic growth. According to local media, the adjustments will be made progressively during the year, eventually reducing the overall tariff level from 7.4% to 7.3%. From 8 January, China will end its closed-loop management at ports. Frontline workers and stevedores will no longer be isolated during their shifts, and seafarers with no health issues will be allowed shore access without the need to quarantine. The container throughput of Chinese ports was 270.6 million TEU from January to November 2022, a year-on-year increase of 4.2%, according to Ningbo Zhoushan port figures. Shanghai>> The port of Shanghai retained its title as the world's busiest container port for the 13th straight year in 2022. The port's container throughput exceeded 47.3 million TEU in 2022, according to the Shanghai International Port (Group) Co Ltd. Tianjin>> The northern Chinese port has added three wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 15MW as part of phase II of the Green Intelligent Energy Demonstration Programme. The turbines are expected to provide 35 million KWh of clean electricity annually, saving about 14,000 tonnes of standard coal and reducing about 34,895 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. The port boasts a total of 5 wind turbines which are expected to provide 58,357,000 kWh of clean power to the Port of Tianjin every year. COSCO Shipping and the Tianjin Port Group jointly implemented the project. Hong Kong>> Ports in Hong Kong have begun preparing for normal operations as the border reopening between Hong Kong and mainland China is announced. Hong Kong is aiming to resume quarantine-free travel with mainland China by as early as 8 January. EUROPE Slovenia Koper>> The port of Koper will introduce the Environmental Ship Index (ESI) system, an incentive to reward cleaner and more environmentally friendly ships with reduced port dues. The system involves 56 ports and 6,840 ships. On December 22, Luka Koper Container Terminal surpassed the handling of 1 million containers in 2022, a new record for the port. In the last two years, the terminal invested in port development intensively. A new extension of the quayside and additional stacking areas were completed and two super post-Panamax STS cranes were installed. SPAIN Barcelona>> The Port of Barcelona Intermodal Logistics Terminal has received initial approval from La Comisión de Territorio de Cataluña for the railway development of the port’s southern area. The plan involves a 68-hectare hub with six terminals which will form part of the Mediterranean Corridor. United Kingdom The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT) will stage two 48-hour strikes on 3 and 6 January. Associated Society of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen (ASLEF) will join the strikes for 24 hours on 5 January. Rail operators expect parts of the network to remain closed throughout the day. Those lines that can open will operate at a restricted capacity and be limited to a 12-hour operation. Some disruption is also expected during shoulder periods as services wind down between strike days. MIDDLE EAST Egypt Suez Canal>> A bill was approved in principle by the government seeking to establish a sovereign wealth fund that would carry out all economic and investment activities for the Suez Canal Authority. The new fund aims to separate the management of the canal from ownership of the asset. The fund would be able to establish companies and manage assets entrusted to it. The chairman of the canal authority said the fund will not own Suez Canal assets and the authority is already in partnership with multiple foreign investors while continuing to maintain majority representation on the board of directors to ensure national control over the canal. The aim is to elevate operations to international standards. The Suez Canal expects revenue to reach a record-breaking $8 billion in its current fiscal year (from July 1 to June 30). The revenue for 2021 was $6.333 billion. More than 23,000 ships carrying 1.4 billion tonnes of cargo passed through the canal. Israel Haifa>> The Israeli government has approved the sale of the port of Haifa to winning bidders Indian Adani Ports and local chemicals and logistics group Gadot Mosofif Chemicals for NIS 3.9 billion (€1.04 billion). The new group will operate the port until 2054. Israel hopes the sale will lower import prices and improve efficiencies at the port. NORTH AMERICA USA Houston>> Software upgrades have been completed for the implementation of a long-dwell fee at the port of Houston. The fee meant to encourage importers to retrieve their containers from the port will take effect on 1 February. The charge of $45 per container would be raised on the eighth day following the expiration of free time for imports. The fee is in addition to demurrage charges raised by the port. Los Angeles>> Ocean Network Express (ONE) has acquired a 51% stake in each of TraPac LLC (TraPac) and Yusen Terminals LLC (YTI). TraPac is a container terminal operator and vessel stevedore that provides container terminal services in Los Angeles and Oakland. YTI is a box terminal operator and vessel stevedore that operates in Los Angeles. With these acquisitions, the company hopes to safeguard ONE’s access to terminal capacity at key gateways. New York/New Jersey>> The port of New York and New Jersey is the busiest port in the United States for the fourth consecutive month. The port, which surpassed the west coast port of Los Angeles in August, moved 723,069 TEU in November 2022, an increase of 20.6% compared to November 2019. Oakland>> Both export and import container volumes at the port have dropped in November compared to November 2021 and October 2022. Full imports decreased by 17.4% for November year-on-year. The port handled 68,646 TEU In November 2022 compared to 83,097 TEU in November 2021 and 79,459 TEU in October 2022. Exports decreased by 12.3% in November year-on-year, totalling 63,283 TEU compared to 72,155 TEU in November 2021 and 66,408 TEU in October 2022. The port attributes this to declining demand. It also noted that the reduction in volume allows the port to work on backlog and congestion, improving port efficiencies. In addition, as part of its large-scale emissions reduction initiative launched in 2009, the port of Oakland has taken delivery of two all-electric top picks. Top picks are heavy-duty vehicles with off-road capabilities. Their overhead boom is used for loading containers weighing up to 100,000 pounds onto trucks and trains and stacking the containers in terminal storage yards. SOUTH AMERICA Chile San Antonio>> San Anotioio International terminal has reported a good cherry season this year, shipping 35% more than last year in 8,300 containers on 15 ships to date. Shipments of cherries and other fruit are expected to continue during the summer. Columbia Puerto Pisisí>> A concession contract has been signed for the port of Pisisi in the Gulf of Urabá. The port is expected to handle more than 300,000 tonnes during the first year of operation, mainly general cargo products, containers, solid and liquid bulk, vehicles and hydrocarbons. The investment in the project amounts to US$155 million. OCEANIA Tasmania>> Spanish renewables energy company Iberdrola and the Australian government will invest €1.1bn ($1.2bn) in developing a green hydrogen and methanol plant in Tasmania to produce marine fuel. The new facility, one of the largest in the world, will initially produce 200,000 tonnes of green methanol in its first phase, rising to 30,000 tonnes in the second.