Container shipping demand stays strong in Week 50 as we head into late December and January, especially on the PSW and PNW routes. There are three main reasons behind this: volumes are shifting away from USEC routes, seasonal surges ahead of Chinese New Year, and front-loading activity due to [...]
The Week 49 freight market continues to navigate a challenging climate. Equipment shortages continue to pose challenges for U.S. ports, particularly on the West Coast. Canadian ports also remain congested as teams work through backlogs caused by the extended labor strike. Meanwhile, U.S. analysts project that the incoming administration's [...]
The European Union’s (EU) efforts to reduce transport carbon emissions are entering a new phase in 2025. An upcoming expansion of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) launches in 2025, and carriers are reporting that shippers will face hefty increases in their ETS surcharges. These increases come at a time [...]
The Week 48 freight market continues to be influenced by labor challenges and congestion in North America. Dwell times at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have improved, reducing delays and easing rail transport to inland U.S. destinations. The shift in U.S. trade policy under the incoming [...]
In 2023, Mexico emerged as the United States’ largest trading partner, surpassing China for the first time. Trade between the two nations surged to nearly $800 billion, signaling a dramatic shift in global supply chain dynamics. This realignment is largely attributed to several recent disruptors, including U.S.-China trade tensions, [...]
The Week 47 freight market finds labor challenges and congestion continuing to dominate North American shipping. Following the near two-week shutdown at Canadian ports, operations have resumed, but a significant backlog of containers and vessels remains. Clearing this congestion is expected to take several weeks, with some vessels still [...]
De minimis shipments, valued at $800 or less, have surged in recent years, largely due to the rapid expansion of e-commerce. These shipments now account for 92% of U.S. imports, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processing approximately 4 million daily—up from 2.8 million the previous year. While this [...]
As the new administration takes office, one of the most closely watched areas of economic policy is the potential shift in trade strategies—particularly when it comes to tariffs and free trade agreements. With the global economy still navigating the after-effects of the pandemic, supply chain challenges, and evolving geopolitical [...]
Labor negotiations across North American ports are facing critical challenges, with disputes over automation on the U.S. East Coast and government-mandated arbitration in Canada sparking intense resistance among longshore unions. Both the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) in the U.S. and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 in [...]
In Week 46, the Canada labor action continues to disrupt operations at British Columbia’s major ports, halting vessel, rail, and truck activities at Vancouver, Prince Rupert, and Fraser-Surrey. Meanwhile, transpacific trade sees notable market shifts, with the U.S. West Coast saw ample space availability and reductions, while the East [...]
