Int’l container shipping issues, future on agenda at 2020 GTE

By Bruce Abbe, strategic adviser for trade & transportation

The 2020 U.S. Soy Global Trade Exchange & Specialty Grains Conference (GTE) is less than one month away. The big international buyer and supplier event is a virtual conference and trade show this year for the first time and is expected to attract its largest international audience ever.

International transportation and container shipping developments will be one of the spotlight event at the GTE once again. A high-powered panel featuring four of the most respected U.S.-based leaders in intermodal container shipping will be on the agenda to provide an update and interactive presentation on global container shipping now and looking forward.

“Global Container Shipping – Shaping the Future” is the theme for this key session, which is sponsored by the Illinois Soybean Association.

U.S. agricultural exporters and their international customers have experienced a strong sense of urgency in 2020 as it relates to timely and reliable shipments. Unpredictable trade interruptions have created concerns and U.S. exporters are working hard with their transportation partners to create a more dependable and consistent environment for moving their shipments.

Looking ahead
While the first half of 2020 was marked by unprecedented disruptions for international shipping due to the economic effects from COVID-19, the second half of the year is now looking considerably improved with most businesses now operating again. In the longer-term, global shipping’s future will be shaped by what all strategic supply chain partners can do together to be more proactive with solutions than reactive to shipping problems.

Change is in the air
With the right cooperation among all supply chain partners, change can be good and yield the reliability of service shippers and international customers need.

This GTE panel session at the will feature five transportation segment leaders with unquestionable experience in the international container shipping industry. The panelists will discuss not only the current outlook for shipping service and costs but also where they see the need and opportunity to expand and improve service from the inland U.S. to worldwide destinations. We anticipate a lively interactive discussion for those taking part in this session.

Confirmed speakers include:

Peter Friedmann, Executive Director, Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC). AgTC represents all agricultural export sectors, and Friedmann is one of the most-recognized and influential advocates for improving container shipping in Washington, D.C.

Uffe Ostergaard, President, Hapag-Lloyd North America. Hapag-Lloyd is the fifth-largest container shipping line in the world. Hapag is also well respected for its efforts to provide expanded container service to more rural U.S. locations.

Gene Seroka, Executive Director, Port of Los Angeles (POLA). The Port of Los Angeles is the largest container port in the U.S. in terms of volume and value. POLA handles around 20% of all cargo coming into the U.S. Seroka is one of the most-recognized and respected leaders of U.S. ports.

Roger Mortenson, Vice President, Grains Millers Specialty Products. Mortenson heads Grain Millers’ food grade soybean division, which supplies specialty soybeans to food manufacturers in many countries. Grain Millers is also the largest oat milling company in the U.S., and has specialty grains and food ingredient operations in nine North American locations.

The panel will be moderated by Bob Sinner, President, SB&B Foods and chair of the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance Competitive Shipping action team.

Visit here for more information or to register, if you haven’t already.