Ag Shippers Workshop to zero in on latest developments in export container shipping

By Bruce Abbe, SSGA strategic advisor for trade and transportation

There are two big event days coming up early next month that Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) members and prospective members should take notice of and plan to attend.

The first is SSGA’s 2019 Annual Meeting on Dec. 3. It will feature two highly informative optional tours in the morning, followed by member planning meetings of SSGA’s three action teams, industry expert presentations plus the official member meeting and elections. Register here to attend SSGA’s 2019 Annual Meeting.

But don’t overlook the next day’s Ag Shippers Workshop. This year’s Minneapolis Ag Shippers Workshop, chiefly organized by the national Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) and co-sponsored by SSGA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will indeed be an information-packed, free flowing meeting featuring the latest updates on what is happening in global export container shipping from the inland U.S. It will also feature valuable discussion among shippers about the issues and strategies SSGA and AgTC should focus on.

The Dec. 4 Ag Shippers Workshop, one of seven AgTC is holding around the country, will be held at the same venue as the SSGA annual meeting – the Minneapolis Airport Marriott at 2020 American Blvd. East, in Bloomington, Minn.

Latest developments for the workshop include:

• The ocean carriers session will feature senior executives for the Ocean Network Express (ONE) – the recently merged, large global service carrier made up of Japan’s three major container lines. ONE remains one of the most important carriers serving the Japan market and is important for many SSGA soybean and grain exporters.
• Canadian Pacific (CP) Railroad will be sending at least one senior executive to share news about their North American rail system developments, including plans for expanding and improving service from CP’s Minneapolis container rail yard.
• Informed discussion and information about the full range of other issues for shippers will also be held: the International Maritime Organization (IMO) low sulfur fuel mandate surcharges coming Jan. 1, the China/U.S. tariff war, new EU tariffs and other trade developments; free time penalties at the ports, rail, trucking and chassis issues and more.

If you or your business are involved in intermodal container shipping to reach and serve markets, this is a session you won’t want to miss this workshop. AgTC and SSGA members can register at a discount. Register here.