AgTC: Congressional Hearing and One Constructive Step

AgTC: Congressional Hearing and One Constructive Step

The House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing on "Capacity of Vessels to Meet U.S. Import and Export Requirements" next Wednesday, March 17.

The Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) has been asked to identify two exporters to testify. On Monday, a number of AgTC member freight forwarders will meet with the Federal Maritime Commission to provide further details on how the ocean shipping environment is impacting export trade. More information is in the AgTC section of www.USMEF.org: Congressional Hearing on Import/Export Shipping Capacity.

In addressing the capacity situation, the AgTC says there is an immediate and constructive action all ag shippers can take now: provide the carriers with more realistic export volume forecasts upon which to base their equipment allocations. Carrier forecasts for U.S. export volumes are significantly lower than the AgTC’s. With better forecasts of export volume, carriers might allocate sufficient, or at least more, ships and equipment to handle export volumes. AgTC members are asked to review their own foreign sales forecasts, compile them by sector and provide a rough estimate of expected sales growth for the next two quarters. In other words, compare 2nd quarter 2010 with 2nd quarter 2009 and 3rd quarter 2010 with 3rd quarter 2009.

Please send your forecasts to mail@agtrans.org. Responses will be kept confidential. More information is online at Capacity Crisis -- One Constructive Step.

AgTC: Congressional Hearing and One Constructive Step

The House of Representatives Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing on "Capacity of Vessels to Meet U.S. Import and Export Requirements" next Wednesday, March 17.

The Agriculture Transportation Coalition (AgTC) has been asked to identify two exporters to testify. On Monday, a number of AgTC member freight forwarders will meet with the Federal Maritime Commission to provide further details on how the ocean shipping environment is impacting export trade. More information is in the AgTC section of www.USMEF.org: Congressional Hearing on Import/Export Shipping Capacity.

In addressing the capacity situation, the AgTC says there is an immediate and constructive action all ag shippers can take now: provide the carriers with more realistic export volume forecasts upon which to base their equipment allocations. Carrier forecasts for U.S. export volumes are significantly lower than the AgTC’s. With better forecasts of export volume, carriers might allocate sufficient, or at least more, ships and equipment to handle export volumes. AgTC members are asked to review their own foreign sales forecasts, compile them by sector and provide a rough estimate of expected sales growth for the next two quarters. In other words, compare 2nd quarter 2010 with 2nd quarter 2009 and 3rd quarter 2010 with 3rd quarter 2009.

Please send your forecasts to mail@agtrans.org. Responses will be kept confidential. More information is online at Capacity Crisis -- One Constructive Step.