InterManager Daily News 19.03.2024.

1. China-Mexico tradelane in the spotlight on the US campaign trail Last year, Mexico overtook China as America’s top trade partner, according to data from the US Commerce Department. Just how much of Mexican exports to the world’s largest economy is backed by Chinese companies has become a source of great debate in this year of US presidential elections. https://splash247.com/china-mexico-tradelane-in-the-spotlight-on-the-us-campaign-trail/
2. Bulk carrier freed from Somali pirates after three-month hijacking A Navibulgar bulk carrier and all 17 crew, hijacked by Somali pirates three months ago, was seized by the Indian naval forces over the weekend.The navy said Saturday the special commandos on its warship INS Kolkata had forced the surrender of 35 Somali pirates and that the crew of the abducted Maltese-flagged Ruen were rescued without injury. https://splash247.com/bulk-carrier-freed-from-somali-pirates-after-three-month-hijacking/
3. Geneva Dry Dialogues: Bahri Dry Bulk In the 2020s to date, the dry bulk fleet at Bahri, the national shipping company of Saudi Arabia, has more than doubled in size, and plans are afoot to significantly scale up the fleet further.In an exclusive interview ahead of the company’s participation at Geneva Dry in 45 days’ time, Mohammed Bin Battal, president of Bahri Dry Bulk, discusses the future of the dry bulk market worldwide and at home, while outlining his company’s own expansion plans. https://splash247.com/geneva-dry-dialogues-bahri-dry-bulk/
4. CMA CGM bids to take over France’s top rolling news channel Rodolphe Saadé has moved to buy France’s top rolling news channel as the cash-rich liner executive bolsters his media empire.CMA CGM announced on Friday a EUR1.55bn ($1.69bn) deal to acquire Altice Media, France’s third largest private sector media group, which runs BFM TV as well as the radio station RMC. https://splash247.com/cma-cgm-bids-to-take-over-frances-top-rolling-news-channel/
5. Venture Global LNG seals deal for nine resales in South Korea American gas supplier Venture Global LNG has moved into shipowning, announcing over the weekend a total of nine resales. The Mike Sabel-led company has bought nine ships under construction in South Korea, that will be delivered starting later this year. Six vessels will have a cargo capacity of 174,000 cu m and three a cargo capacity of 200,000 cu m. The identity of the seller and prices have not been revealed. https://splash247.com/venture-global-lng-seals-deal-for-nine-resales-in-south-korea/
6. UNICEF Says Essential Aid Container Looted At Haiti Port The U.N. children’s agency said on Saturday one of its aid containers at Haiti’s main port, stocked with “essential items for maternal, neonatal and child survival,” was looted, as gangs increasingly control the capital.Haiti is struggling to resolve a long-running political and humanitarian crisis that the children’s agency, UNICEF, has warned is causing record hunger and life-threatening malnutrition in parts of the capital Port-au-Prince. https://gcaptain.com/unicef-says-essential-aid-container-looted-at-haiti-port/
7. Reliance on oil imports rises in April-February, likely to hit fresh full-year high in FY24 Growing demand for fuel and other petroleum products amid stagnant domestic crude oil output resulted in India’s reliance on imported crude increasing to nearly 88 per cent in April-February, indicating that oil import dependency for the full financial year 2023-24 (FY24) could breach the all-time-high FY23 levels. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Reliance+on+oil+imports+rises+in+April-February%2C+likely+to+hit+fresh+full-year+high+in+FY24
8. Mundra, Gautam Adani’s flagship Port, hits 7 million TEU’s mark Mundra Port, the flagship port of tycoon Gautam Adani-controlled Adani Ports and Special Economic Port Ltd (APSEZ), has crossed the 7 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU’s) mark for the first time since starting operations some 25 years ago and just days before the fiscal year ends on 31 March, the port operator said on Friday.https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Mundra%2C+Gautam+Adani%E2%80%99s+flagship+Port%2C+hits+7+million+TEU%E2%80%99s+mark
9. ClassNK awards first-ever notation for improvements in living and working environment to Fuyo Kaiun’s bulk carrier “ELETTRA” ClassNK has granted its “ELW” (Excellent Living and Working Environment) notation to “ELETTRA”, a bulk carrier owned by Fuyo Kaiun Co.,Ltd. The vessel becomes the first in ClassNK registry to have the “ELW”. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/ClassNK+awards+first-ever+notation+for+improvements+in+living+and+working+environment+to+Fuyo+Kaiun%27s+bulk+carrier+%22ELETTRA%22
10. Oil prices rise on tighter supply, geopolitical risks Brent Crude Oil Futures For May Delivery Inched Up 3 Cents To $85.37 A Barrel By 0045 GMT. The April Contract For U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude Was Up 10 Cents To $81.14.Oil prices ticked up in early Asian trading on Monday, firming up gains from last week when prices rose nearly 4% on the view that supply was tightening. https://www.shippingtribune.com/news/shipping/Oil+prices+rise+on+tighter+supply%2C+geopolitical+risks