Import/Export News

More Than 40 Crew Members Missing After Ship with 6,000 Cattle Capsizes Off Japan

More than 40 crew members were missing after a ship carrying cattle from New Zealand to China capsized in stormy weather in the East China Sea, the Japanese coastguard said on Thursday. A lone crew member from the Gulf Livestock …

Australia Flood Damage Seen as Long-term; Rail, Road Links Destroyed

Australia’s flood-stricken coal industry may be disrupted for months after key rail and road links were washed away, while some infrastructure could take years to repair, authorities said on Friday. The floods have swamped mines in Queensland State, paralyzing operations …

Australia Floods Cause ‘Catastrophic Damage’

Australia’s record floods are causing catastrophic damage to infrastructure in the state of Queensland and have forced 75 percent of its coal mines, which fuel Asia’s steel mills, to grind to a halt, Queensland’s premier said on Wednesday. The worst …

U.S. Analyst: China May Be ‘Likely Bright Spot’ in Asia Climate Action

The outcome of U.N. climate talks in Mexico this month should boost steps in Asia to curb greenhouse gas emissions, with China a likely bright spot in 2011, a senior analyst at a leading U.S. think tank said. The talks …

Heavy Rains, Floods Disrupt Australia Coal Mining, Port, Freight Operations

Heavy rains and flooding in Australia’s key coal-producing Queensland state have impacted mining operations and brought parts of the coal infrastructure, including rail and ports, to a standstill, operators said on Wednesday. Dalrymple Bay Coal terminal and Gladstone Ports, two …

Insurers’ Recent Success a Milestone in a Year of Chinese Drywall Litigation

A federal judge in Louisiana recently let 10 insurance companies being sued by Louisiana homeowners over property damage resulting from the installation of defective drywall from China off the hook for coverage from those claims. The early Christmas gift to …

Honda Civics Top List of Canada’s 10 Most Stolen Cars

The Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) recently released its annual list of the most frequently stolen vehicles, as follows: 1. 2000 Honda Civic SiR 2-door 2. 1999 Honda Civic SiR 2-door 3. 2002 Cadillac Escalade 4-door 4WD 4. 2004 Cadillac …

RT Specialty New Administrator for Gen Star Diet Supplement Program

R-T Specialty has been appointed as the exclusive administrator for General Star’s NutraAdvantage program. NutraAdvantage offers specialty liability coverage for natural and organic supplements manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors, multi-level marketers, importers and exporters of both raw and finished products. The program …

Chubb Receives Final Approval for China Branch in Nanjing

The Chubb Corporation announced that the China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC) has granted final approval to Chubb Insurance (China) Company Limited, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary, to establish a branch in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Chubb said it “expects to open …

Droughts, Floods, Snow and Cold Hit Global Commodities

Droughts and deluges in Australia, snow in Europe and cold snaps in the United States are pushing up prices of a range of commodities from sugar to heating oil and soybeans. Australia typically ranks as second in the league of …