In order to provide our customers with the most current information available, the Phoenix News Summary is emailing industry news updates. Our summaries can also be read via our web site, www.phoenixintl.com, on the Industry News page.

Hurricane Wilma heads north – JOC - Hurricane Wilma moved into the Atlantic Monday, where it is expected to bring nor-easter-type rain and wind to the upper eastern seaboard this week. The storm made land at 6:30 a.m. near Cape Romano, Fla., and raced across the peninsula as a downgraded Category 2 storm with top winds around 100 mph. By 12:30 p.m. ET, its center was over the Atlantic. The storm regained strength to Category 3 status, with 115-mph winds, the National Hurricane Center said. The Port of Miami shut down cargo operations Sunday ahead of the early arrival of tropical storm winds from the hurricane. There was no immediate word on when the port would be cleared to reopen.

Australian Port Congestion - The terminal ports in Australia are currently being brought to a stand still because of a massive container back log over flawed implementation of the new Custom computer system for clearing inbound cargo. Terminal yard areas are at critical levels and terminal storage space is rapidly diminishing; truck congestion is not uncommon. The stevedoring companies are examining all avenues in order to keep yard volumes to workable levels. Import customers are facing heavy storage charges thorough no fault of their own as the stevedores are not prepared to waive the charges on account of their additional deployment of staff and machinery, including off wharf contingency plans. The intervention of the Federal Custom Minister has generated some hope that meetings with the industry will ease the situation.

Major air export service providers – and subsequently Phoenix - announced another increase to .60/kg for the air fuel surcharge. The increases will take effect on October 25, 2005. Air carriers to Latin America are charging an additional .25/kg for cargo destined for that region. This means the fuel surcharge is approaching the .80/kg or higher level to Latin America.

U.S. Customs implemented new rules for Textiles & Apparel Products on October 5, 2005, including but not limited to: 1) Textile Country Declaration, Single- or Multiple-, is no longer required to be filed with entry documentation. 2) The Manufacturer's Identification Code to be provided with the entry data is to be constructed from the name and address of the entity performing the origin-conferring operations, the actual manufacturer of the textile or apparel product. Please contact your local Phoenix office for further information.

Indian port mandates box seals – JOC - India's Port of Jawaharlal Nehru will require mandatory single-use seals on all laden containers, as of Nov. 1. The measure is being introduced for security reasons and to minimize pilferage of cargo. Containers arriving at Nehru by any mode must have this single-use lock, and not a strip seal. The port will not handle containers without the single-use lock. The advance manifest of import containers provided by shipping lines must indicate the lock seal number and must be given to the port before berthing of the vessel for discharge of cargo. For export cargo, the container number, seal number and other relevant details must be provided in advance to the port. Executives with shipping companies said the customs notification for such a seal has been in existence for more than a decade, but was not strictly enforced. Major carriers are already using single-use locks on containers, and are unperturbed by the latest Nehru notification.

Our summary articles are compiled from a number of public sources that, to the best of Phoenix’s knowledge, are true and correct. In the event any information provided is erroneous, Phoenix International Freight Services, Ltd. accepts no liability or responsibility.