Tag: journal of commerce

Trump’s Vietnam ‘transshipment’ tariff puzzles US trade community The uncertainty centers on what the White House considers transshipment and how US Customs and Border Protection officials would regulate goods moving from China to the US via Vietnam. Go to journal of commerce

Tariff deal with US lifts high-flying Vietnamese air cargo demand The tariff framework agreement between Washington and Hanoi, while still short on details, is expected to support Vietnam’s strong air cargo volume growth this year. Go to journal of commerce

North American intermodal notches solid first half despite trade turmoil Still, analyst Larry Gross suspects that the early strength seen in the first half of the year is substantially composed of volume that has been “borrowed” from a peak season that will be “late and tepid” as a result. Go to journal of commerce

Taiwan’s ‘Big Three’ carriers see falling Q2 revenues as demand slump begins Trans-Pacific carriers are facing rapidly declining demand and freight rates on the trade lane as the frontloading that occurred during the 90-day pause on new US tariffs – now extended to Aug. 1 – has largely lost steam. Go to journal of commerce

New Houthi attacks likely kill hopes of shipping returning to Red Sea this year With two attacks on commercial vessels in recent days, including one that killed three mariners, any thought that the risk in the Red Sea was easing to the point the Suez route might be restored in the near future has vanished.…

Container lines cutting trans-Pacific capacity overhang In the latest course correction in the US’ busiest trade lane, carriers are set to deploy less tonnage in August as spot rates fall and retail import forecasts weaken. Go to journal of commerce

India-US ‘Indamex’ string drops Charleston, adds more ships to bolster reliability The moves by CMA CGM were made to improve westbound transit times that remain a challenge due to ongoing vessel diversions around southern Africa. Go to journal of commerce

US retailers upgrade import forecast after tariff deadline extended to Aug. 1 But the mini-rush will be short-lived, with imports falling month-to-month between August and November, the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates said in their latest Global Port Tracker. Go to journal of commerce

Europe’s port congestion forcing Gemini to switch up Asia service Beginning in September, the joint service will make added stops at Aarhus in Denmark, Gothenburg in Sweden and Rotterdam in the Netherlands as the last three European calls. Go to journal of commerce

BNSF-UP dispute threatens Oakland-SLC service, triggers STB petition The routing impasse between the railroads threatens supply chain disruptions for ocean carrier CMA CGM, which has cargo booked on the service that is due to begin later this week. Go to journal of commerce

Fast fashion retailer forms recycling logistics venture to tackle textile waste Rhenus Logistics will manage the end-to-end supply chain via a 4PL control tower tailored to the circular textile logistics business. Go to journal of commerce

Two legends took divergent paths to supply chain success The recent death of FedEx founder Fred Smith presents an opportunity to compare his contributions to global supply chains with another visionary, Malcolm McLean, the father of containerization. Go to journal of commerce

Oregon earmarks funds for proposed Coos Bay terminal The just-concluded legislative session also puts aside emergency funding for the Port of Portland that is generated via lottery sales. Go to journal of commerce

USTR plan to tax ro/ro ships exceeds statutory authority: stakeholders A plan to tax vehicle carriers $14 per net ton for each US port call will raise consumer costs and reduce the number of ports served, shipping executives warned Monday. Go to journal of commerce

Hapag-Lloyd megaships serve West Africa via Tanger Med hub Instead of its 24,000 TEU ships making direct calls at West African ports, Hapag-Lloyd’s main Mediterranean hub is being used as a key transshipment point for Asia-Africa services. Go to journal of commerce

Container capacity from Asia to East Coast of South America loosens significantly Carriers are pulling back on their blanking campaigns on the Asia-ECSA lane in July after two months of blanking campaigns largely neutralized capacity additions to the lane. Go to journal of commerce

Trans-Pacific air cargo market flying into turbulent second half The long-term effects of US tariffs and the removal of the de minimis exemption has disrupted established air cargo flows and is clouding the industry outlook for the year. Go to journal of commerce

Mixed US policy on carbon capture clouds project cargo demand The push and pull of US support for decarbonization efforts puts a question mark over potential project cargo demand. Go to journal of commerce

Ocean carriers adjust calls as congestion chokes European hubs Longer transits around southern Africa, restructured alliance networks and bottlenecks in Asia continue to cause ships to arrive outside their scheduled European arrival windows. Go to journal of commerce

US shipbuilding incentives need more oversight: GAO The federal watchdog agency said the US Maritime Administration has financial levers to help the domestic shipbuilding industry but doesn’t know their effectiveness. Go to journal of commerce

Excess capacity sinks planned July 1 rate increase in eastbound trans-Pacific The fresh capacity carriers rushed into the US’ busiest trade lane in April and May is no longer needed, sending rates on a downward spiral and forcing carriers to shelve proposed price hikes. Go to journal of commerce

Container lines pull back on India-US pricing push While vessels on the lead West India-US East Coast networks have continued to sail full, forwarders have linked the “sold-out” experience to capacity cutbacks and consequent cargo rollovers. Go to journal of commerce

Growth in West African ports opens new transshipment options for MSC The deployment of 24,000-TEU ships on its Africa Express service allows the carrier to better leverage billions of dollars invested in West Africa in recent years, reducing exposure to congested North European ports. Go to journal of commerce

Yang Ming hit with new FMC complaint over service contracts The complaint from Dollar General alleges the carrier sold more of its capacity in the high-flying spot market of 2021, leaving shippers under fixed-price contracts in the lurch. Go to journal of commerce

HMM, CMA CGM to expand key Mediterranean transshipment hub The $177 million plan to enlarge Spain’s TTI Algeciras is in line with the strategy of ocean carriers to diversify revenue and exert greater control over their supply chains. Go to journal of commerce

Strong China demand buoys intra-Asia rates despite capacity surge The uptick in rates comes despite a 9% surge in deployed capacity on regional services since February, according to figures from British transport consultant MDS Transmodal. Go to journal of commerce

Trans-Atlantic ocean trade readies for end to 90-day pause on US tariffs Easing freight rates and demand suggest a “wait-and-see” approach by US importers as the July 9 end of the temporary reprieve on so-called “reciprocal” tariffs nears. Go to journal of commerce

Union Pacific subsidiary jumps into transloading with ‘port-to-door’ service Loup Logistics provides direct access to nearly 80,000 rail-owned containers across North America, significantly expanding UP’s transloading options. Go to journal of commerce

Hede Shipping to launch third expedited service from China to Los Angeles Although spot rates from Asia to the US are dropping due to waning demand and overcapacity, the carrier is zeroing in on the e-commerce sector with its expedited transit times and the quick delivery of containers upon discharge from vessels. Go to journal…

Congress seeks reauthorization of FMC through 2029 The procedural reauthorization bill would provide funding for the agency for the next three fiscal years and add more outside expertise on ports and ocean carriers. Go to journal of commerce

Cold chain industry calls for greater support from European lawmakers The Global Cold Chain Alliance urged European leaders to recognize the importance of investment in logistics for the resilience of Europe’s food supply chain. Go to journal of commerce

Shipper groups urge CBP to clarify tariff transshipment confusion The groups want the US customs agency to rule that tariffs should be assessed according to a good’s origin port, not a secondary port through which it might have been transshipped. Go to journal of commerce

CPKC disruptions in Gulf states now impacting carload, intermodal traffic New bottlenecks in Louisiana and Mississippi are now affecting freight flows between Mexico and the Southeast US. Go to journal of commerce

FMC probes legal standing of World Shipping Council agreement The trade group of ocean carriers is exempt from US antitrust scrutiny under an agreement it filed with the FMC five years ago, but the agency is now questioning that arrangement. Go to journal of commerce

Crowley launches first service linking Central America to US Northeast Coast The carrier said vessels on the five-day transit to Philadelphia will carry food, apparel, industrial products and consumer goods. Go to journal of commerce

Tech giants shift production out of China as trade tariffs raise supply risk: analysis Diversifying suppliers out of China has been a long-term trend among tech companies, but a recent acceleration of that shift is driven by fresh trade tensions rather than a desire to divest entirely, says Everstream Analytics. Go to journal of commerce

UWL locks in new vessel partner for trans-Pacific Vietnam service Swire, UWL’s original partner for the express service to Seattle, will phase out its vessels during July while new partner Emirate Shipping Line rotates into the loop. Go to journal of commerce

Ocean carriers face three-year decline in profitability: HSBC Tariff uncertainty, weakening demand and an abundance of capacity are hanging over the container shipping industry, the global bank said in a report Thursday. Go to journal of commerce

DHL, union workers reach tentative deal to end Canadian work stoppage Unifor, the union representing more than 2,100 truck drivers, couriers, and warehouse and clerical workers in seven Canadian provinces, will vote on the agreement on Friday and Saturday. Go to journal of commerce

Mexico-US ocean market expands amid growing nearshoring interest A new service from Green Tide Logistics will connect Veracruz to Philadelphia in five to six days via truck and multi-purpose vessels capable of handling 1,200 to 1,700 TEUs. Go to journal of commerce

Trans-Pacific sailing into slowdown; Asia-Europe outlook brightens: analysts Peak shipping season began early on both trade lanes, but the advancing of US orders from China will hit trans-Pacific demand in the second half of the year. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk launches AI customs tool to tackle rising regulatory chaos The digital solution will be available for US imports this week and is set to roll out globally in August. Go to journal of commerce

Quick-hit, tariff-driven import surge on tap for US West Coast ports The surge, however brief, will nonetheless be a welcome boost in business for the ports after a lackluster May and early June. Go to journal of commerce

FMC’s Sola to leave agency months after being elevated to chairman’s slot In a statement posted on the FMC’s website, Sola said his last day at the agency would be June 30 and did not give a reason for his departure. Go to journal of commerce

Rate dumping fears emerge as Chinese ro/ro operators eye European expansion Global vehicle carriers are set to feel the sting of a growing Chinese-operated ro/ro fleet amid a fight for international car cargoes. Go to journal of commerce

Indian exporters face overweight box surcharges as carriers push scalability CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC and Cosco are among mainliners charging add-ons on overweight containers. Go to journal of commerce

CPKC acknowledges service woes to US regulators, vows remediation The railroad said the disruptions were the result of the switchover to a new operating system in early May, with the technology integration intended to unify old KCS systems into the CP network. Go to journal of commerce

Port Houston implementing reefer dwell fees to encourage container flow The fees come as dwell times for refrigerated containers in Houston exceed a week and reefer volumes topped 10,000 TEUs for the first time in three years. Go to journal of commerce

Carriers ‘stand ready’ to cut Persian Gulf calls as security threat escalates Iran has yet to make good on its threat to close the Strait of Hormuz, but nervous carriers are preparing contingency plans as the region moves onto a war footing. Go to journal of commerce

Ocean carriers flex tonnage control, but overcapacity is mounting Internal and external forces in the first half of 2025 mitigated container vessel overcapacity, but steep challenges lie ahead, writes Journal of Commerce Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi. Go to journal of commerce

Fred Smith, FedEx founder and visionary, dead at 80 From his hometown hub of Memphis, Fred Smith built FedEx from a $4 million inheritance to an $88 billion behemoth. Go to journal of commerce

Cosco boosts feeder reach under pair of deals with X-Press Consultancy MDS Transmodal said the two companies will have just under half of the almost 176,700 TEU in feeder ship capacity deployed in Europe and the Mediterranean. Go to journal of commerce

India-US liners attempt hefty peak season rate hikes despite trade volatility But sources do not think carriers will have an opportunity to net full recovery of the proposed amounts in the current market environment unless strategic capacity cuts occur. Go to journal of commerce

Poor ocean reliability presents major challenge for US ag exporters With little relief forthcoming, cargo owners need to build delays into their shipping plans as port and ship capacity remain tight, speakers at the Agriculture Transportation Coalition’s annual meeting said. Go to journal of commerce

Trans-Pacific spot rates falling as tariff-linked demand surge loses steam A more than 30% one-week drop in rates from Asia to the US West Coast is showing that the import rush sparked by the temporary pause in higher US tariffs will apparently be short-lived. Go to journal of commerce

Months of congestion ahead for North Europe ports: Antwerp-Bruges Strong demand for much of the year has kept North European ports under pressure, slowing attempts to ease the bottlenecks. Go to journal of commerce

Cargo bottlenecks persist at Mexico’s Manzanillo port one month after strike Despite ongoing efforts to clear out logjams triggered by the brief work stoppage, berth waiting times for vessels arriving at the country’s busiest port have risen to their highest this year. Go to journal of commerce

Former partner reaches settlement with DAT over recent acquisition OTR Solutions had alleged in a lawsuit that load board provider DAT violated a non-compete agreement by acquiring a rival factoring company. Go to journal of commerce

Changing US tariffs force structural shift in global supply chains: ASCM The inability to predict the next move on tariffs is unsettling for cargo owners and their service providers, the CEO of the Association for Supply Chain Management tells the Journal of Commerce. Go to journal of commerce

DHL Express to suspend Canadian parcel business amid labor dispute The shutdown, due to begin Tuesday evening, will disrupt a broad range of businesses that use DHL, from apparel brands such as Lululemon to industrial companies including Siemens Canada. Go to journal of commerce

Shipper need for agility fuels growth of US shared-terminal trucking network Outpost is broadening its business from truck parking to a national shared-terminal network that offers multiple carriers access to “full-service” facilities. Go to journal of commerce

BC ports, longshore unions need new bargaining process: report A wide-ranging report commissioned by Canada’s Labor Ministry says British Columbia’s ports are vulnerable to strikes in part because of disparate longshore unions involved in contract talks. Go to journal of commerce

Multiplying supply chain risks drive growth for global, US-based logistics firms Researcher Armstrong & Associates says in an annual report it expects global 3PL revenue to hit $1.25 trillion this year as shippers try to build more flexible supply chains and mitigate risks. Go to journal of commerce

Cosco/OOCL saw big gains in US imports from Asia in early 2025 The China-based liners carried a combined 1.09 million TEUs in imports to the US through April, up 23% over the same period in 2024, according to Journal of Commerce rankings. Go to journal of commerce

Market seeks to navigate medium-term cuts to heavy-lift air cargo capacity The loss of An-124 heavy-lift air capacity will force a modal shift to ocean or a reduction in cargo sizes to fit into smaller craft, experts say. Go to journal of commerce

Closure of Strait of Hormuz would further stretch global container capacity While just 2% to 3% of global container traffic transits the key chokepoint, any restrictions would further tie up global vessel capacity and cut off the ports of Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi. Go to journal of commerce

Are we entering a ‘golden age’ for major ocean carriers? It’s reasonable to assume the larger container carriers are now going to earn above historical returns, but they will not be immune from significant dips when supply significantly exceeds demand, writes Jeremy Masters. Go to journal of commerce

Court orders DAT to temporarily halt trucking factoring service OTR Capital argues DAT, the largest load board for truckload freight in North America, violated a non-compete clause when it acquired factoring company Outgo in May. Go to journal of commerce

US trucking rate momentum stalls amid volume decline: Cass, PPIs Instead of rising in May as would typically be expected, US freight volumes dropped, and that is having an impact on pricing, freight indicators reveal. Go to journal of commerce

June expected to be peak for niche carriers in the trans-Pacific: analyst Sea-Intelligence said elevated freight rates are drawing small carriers to the eastbound trade lane, but the additional capacity should dwindle by mid-August. Go to journal of commerce

India-Europe ocean rates rebound on space, equipment pressures Forwarders moving cargo on monthly contracts have pegged average week-to-week gains at $200 to $300 per FEU for bookings from West India to Felixstowe/London Gateway or Rotterdam. Go to journal of commerce

Heavier power cargoes challenge transport, infrastructure limitations Economies of scale are prompting shippers to superscale project cargoes, putting pressure on carriers and forwarders. Go to journal of commerce

Union Pacific will offer shippers enhanced liability coverage for cargo theft UP’s new protection program for high-value freight comes amid heightened concerns over cargo theft in the US, and will cost users $100 per container. Go to journal of commerce

Car carriers shift gears to cope with east-west trade imbalances Rising Asian vehicle exports have surpassed falling volumes from the west, forcing trade reshuffling and a rise in ballast trips. Go to journal of commerce

Canadian National to move forward on new Chicago-area logistics hub The intermodal yard and attached warehouse park would be developed about 50 miles outside the city and are part of a $170 million investment plan unveiled by the railroad. Go to journal of commerce

Industrial cargo demand challenged by regional variation, economic uncertainty While some markets grapple with the lingering effects of trade disputes and fluctuating demand, others are experiencing unprecedented growth driven by green initiatives, robust domestic infrastructure development and the necessities of defense. Go to journal of commerce

Schneider, J.B. Hunt see US truck capacity shrinking in H2 Truckload carriers told the Wells Fargo industrial conference their market is tightening slowly, but enforcement of cabotage and language rules may speed the process. Go to journal of commerce

Norfolk Southern will raise container storage fees ahead of expected surge The railroad said the higher fees, which are temporary, are meant to keep terminals fluid amid the higher volume of imports expected to land in the US over the coming weeks. Go to journal of commerce

Asia-USWC spot rates weakening as vessel overcapacity takes hold A widening spread between the West and East coasts comes as carriers have added fresh capacity, especially to Southern California, to take advantage of what had been a sharp jump in demand and rates following the US pause on higher tariffs against China. Go to journal…

Targeted takeovers drive M&A activity among smaller global forwarders Organic growth in the logistics business is hard to find with the global economy slowing and trade heavily disrupted by US tariffs, so forwarders have moved into acquisition mode. Go to journal of commerce

Carriers ride wave of ‘disruptive’ operating model, but for how long? Liners have enjoyed the higher rates and profits that come from external market shocks, but it’s fair to wonder how sustainable that is, writes Peter Tirschwell. Go to journal of commerce

Panama Canal mulls developing Corozal to allay neutrality fears over Hutchison deal ACP Administrator Ricaurte Vásquez Morales says developing the terminal would help ease the concerns of ocean carriers that the canal’s existing container terminals are concentrated among a handful of operators. Go to journal of commerce

Car carrier operators face changes to USTR voyage fee plans In a 10-page notice published Friday, the USTR said it was now proposing a fee of $14 per net ton on foreign-built vehicle carriers, including roll-on/roll-off (ro/ro) vessels, arriving in US waters. Go to journal of commerce

Pause on tariffs prompts US retailers to upgrade summer import forecast Cargo landing at the country’s ports in July will be 20% higher than the forecast made just last month by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. Go to journal of commerce

US shippers ride ebb and flow of Mexican cross-border freight demand Data shows the up and down movement of goods in recent months tied to changing US tariff policy. Go to journal of commerce

Robust demand emerges on Asia-Europe ocean trade as peak season begins But all eyes are on the July 9 end to the 90-day pause on US tariffs that forwarders believe will determine the level of demand through the rest of the year. Go to journal of commerce

Cargo sensors present benefits, challenges for regulatory agencies: WCO The lack of interoperability between a wide-ranging set of tracking hardware products presents an obstacle for customs authorities to overcome, a new report has found. Go to journal of commerce

Cargo origin will determine trade war winners and losers among US coasts Because the West Coast’s share is higher for China-originating freight than any other region, any move away from China by importers can be expected to negatively affect the USWC’s share of inbound cargo, writes Larry Gross. Go to journal of commerce

Cross-border truckload marketplace expands into Canada Demand from Cargado’s freight broker customers to add US-Canada carriers to its vetted network led the company to move to the northern border. Go to journal of commerce

US chassis providers getting equipment ready for US import surge TRAC Intermodal, DCLI and FlexiVan Leasing began unstacking chassis shortly after the Trump administration last month announced a 90-day pause on the 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. Go to journal of commerce

Truckstop begins ‘strategic realignment,’ names founder as interim CEO The change at the top of the freight-matching platform comes as the truckload sector enters the fourth year of a freight downturn that began in 2022. Go to journal of commerce

APM clearing out New Jersey rail container backlog ahead of a summer surge The terminal operator said it has reduced the inventory of rail-bound containers at its Elizabeth facility to about 1,600, down from about 4,000 in early May. Go to journal of commerce

BC longshore foremen reach deal with port employers on new contract Maritime employers along Canada’s West Coast have a new agreement that will avert the type of labor actions seen late last year. Go to journal of commerce

Tariffs prompt honest talk on costs among project cargo players Client relationships have not been harmed by tariffs because shippers and carriers recognize the need for additional and unexpected costs to be passed through the supply chain. Go to journal of commerce

Signs of air cargo recovery on the trans-Pacific as freighter aircraft return But a rise in demand for general cargo will not be enough to offset the sharp decline in e-commerce shipments that followed the US clampdown in May on low-value imports from China. Go to journal of commerce

BIMCO looks to set contract standard for charging USTR port fees The group that oversees maritime contracts said the complex nature of the USTR’s new port fees needs to be made clear through a standard clause in shipping contracts. Go to journal of commerce

Gemini ‘game changer’ for Wilhelmshaven as volume soars The hub in northern Germany is expecting rapid volume growth for the rest of the year following a record first quarter spurred on by the launch of the carrier alliance. Go to journal of commerce

China-ECSA spot rates climb amid bullish market pressure The shift of some capacity to the Asia-US trade to meet surging demand there is contributing to tighter vessel space in the ECSA market, forwarders tell the Journal of Commerce. Go to journal of commerce

MSC juggles India-Europe network rotations amid Asia cargo rush Adding to recent capacity cutbacks, the carrier has redeployed vessels serving its premier Himalaya Express service between India, Europe and the Mediterranean onto Asian trades. Go to journal of commerce

Maersk’s contract logistics business adds New Jersey warehouse The carrier continues to ramp up its non-ocean businesses that were acquired from Performance Team with the lease of a new warehouse located about 10 miles from the Port of Philadelphia. Go to journal of commerce