Tag: journal of commerce

Growing project cargo scale testing transport limitations, but driving innovation Larger components are pushing handling boundaries with an increasing number of locations too small to accommodate growing cargo sizes. Go to journal of commerce

Weak US industrial activity casts cold light on LTL demand outlook Lower LTL volumes are likely in the coming months, but pricing remains elevated, according to producer price index data. Go to journal of commerce

Pause in tariff hikes drives big gains in trans-Pacific spot rates Carriers are looking to ride the higher rates as long as they can before the fresh vessel capacity that is making its way to the trans-Pacific begins to dull the momentum. Go to journal of commerce

Disruption lingers at Mexico’s Manzanillo port weeks after brief strike While terminal operators had hoped that problems stemming from the mid-May work stoppage would be mostly over, forwarders are still reporting cargo delays. Go to journal of commerce

Conventional power drives project cargo pipeline, but midterm worries persist While traditional energy projects continue to drive immediate demand, long-heralded energy transition initiatives are progressing at a far slower pace amid tariffs and investment uncertainty. Go to journal of commerce

Current market allows top ocean carriers to strengthen long-term position Despite sustained and pending capacity injections, major liners have the ability to alleviate short-term losses and produce healthy profits, writes Jeremy Masters. Go to journal of commerce

Mexico presents obstacles to meeting J.B. Hunt’s ‘Quantum’ guarantee Hauling containers between Mexico and US comes with additional regulations and potential disruptions that could make the 95% on-time performance promise more challenging for Hunt’s new cross-border service. Go to journal of commerce

Asia-Europe ocean rates spike on congestion, capacity shift Labor shortages and low water levels in Europe are intensifying persistent port bottlenecks, while the trans-Pacific demand is pulling vessels out of Asia-Europe. Go to journal of commerce

Shippers mull new lease on life for overage multipurpose vessels An aging MPV fleet is causing concerns for shippers and forwarders in a market where the fleet has limited capacity to accommodate cargo growth. Go to journal of commerce

Asia port disruption wave reaches Singapore That the port is the largest transshipment hub makes it convenient for carriers to transship cargo as they redeploy vessels from European and other long-haul trades to US-focused services. Go to journal of commerce

Acquisition expands Canada’s Mullen Group customs brokerage, forwarding The acquisition of Cole Group brings Mullen trade consulting and additional non-asset logistics leverage in the US and Canada. Go to journal of commerce

LA port stakeholders warming to plan to mitigate impact of bridge project The industry says consistency and communication are the key to minimizing disruption to port traffic during the project to repair the deck of the Vincent Thomas Bridge. Go to journal of commerce

Appeals court temporarily restores US tariffs Within a span of roughly 24 hours, one court decision blocked the US tariffs and a separate ruling restored the tariffs through June 9, if not longer. Go to journal of commerce

J.B. Hunt launching Quantum de Mexico for time-sensitive cross-border freight To achieve the promised 95% on-time performance, J.B. Hunt will require a strong collaboration with BNSF Railway and Grupo México Transportes (Ferromex) to navigate challenges in cross-border rail. Go to journal of commerce

Congress, states join DOT targeting non-English-speaking truckers Trucking executives don’t believe a crackdown on truck drivers who can’t speak or read English will significantly reduce truck capacity. Go to journal of commerce

Federal court ruling blocking tariffs resets shipping outlook The US Court of International Trade on Wednesday stated that President Donald Trump’s tariffs exceed his authority. Go to journal of commerce

Port Houston secures $131 million in federal funds for ship channel work A portion of the money will be used for Project 11, which will ultimately allow an additional 1,400 vessels of all types to call the port each year by deepening portions of the channel to accommodate larger ships.  Go to journal of commerce

UP’s KC terminal will change approach on ocean cargo Union Pacific Railroad struggled during the pandemic with wheeled facilities where containers are pre-mounted onto chassis before a driver arrives, but in 2021 and 2022 there were periods with no chassis to be found. Go to journal of commerce

Restrained capacity sparks India-US ocean rate momentum Sources have linked some of the US-India blankings to carriers shifting capacity to capitalize on surging volumes on the eastbound trans-Pacific trade following a temporary 90-day tariff truce between the US and China. Go to journal of commerce

New investment for AI platform signals ongoing surge for logistics venture funding Pallet is building tools to automate functions like data entry, email and web portal integrations across ordering, quoting and tracking in the logistics industry. Go to journal of commerce

WiseTech makes $2 billion gamble on overturning complicated software history The company’s deal for E2open shows it is betting it can thread the needle between keeping its customers happy while targeting the customers of those customers. Go to journal of commerce

Journal of Commerce Rankings: Top 25 US truckload carriers still stuck in low gear The largest asset-based truckload carriers are churning their way through a muddy market bottom extended by economic uncertainty, searching for signs of rising demand. Go to journal of commerce

Ocean carriers bring in more trans-Pacific container services amid rate surge Whether the expected capacity injection on tap for June is enough to stem further rate increases remains unclear. Go to journal of commerce

Crew availability ‘biggest threat’ to multipurpose ship sector A squeeze on the talent pipeline for the MPV and heavy-lift sectors means that competition for crew and captains is set to intensify. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM unveils plans for Suez return on India-Mediterranean service The Marseille-based carrier has finalized operational plans to shift vessels deployed on its MEDEX service back to the normal sailing journey through the Suez Canal beginning next month, sources say. Go to journal of commerce

HMM adds to boom in intra-Asia services with China-Singapore-Indonesia loop The Seoul-based carrier is teaming with Singapore’s PIL and X-Press Feeders on a new service that will be inaugurated from Tianjin on June 19. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM signs deal to develop $600 million Haiphong terminal complex The facility, the carrier’s first investment in northern Vietnam, will have a combined capacity of 1.9 million TEUs when operational in 2028. Go to journal of commerce

WiseTech notches biggest acquisition with $2.1 billion deal for E2open The widely used forwarding software platform has long been acquisitive, but its pending purchase of logistics and planning platform E2open represents a new foray into shipper-focused technology. Go to journal of commerce

California rips US Senate move targeting state’s emissions rules Gov. Gavin Newsom says a Senate vote that appears to be the first step in killing California’s stringent emissions standards is “illegal” and will be challenged in court. Go to journal of commerce

Journal of Commerce Rankings: US LTL sector defies soft demand, regains traction Excluding the last remnants of Yellow’s revenue, the largest US LTL carriers boosted their top line by 3.9% last year, with daily volumes rising 2.7% and terminal numbers up almost 3%. Go to journal of commerce

Cargolux inks three-year green fuel deal to handle Microsoft cargo The Luxembourg-based carrier is the latest airline to sign a supply agreement for sustainable aviation fuel, but it comes as the industry makes slow progress toward decarbonization. Go to journal of commerce

General air cargo in decline as China-US e-commerce boom slows Demand for goods traditionally shipped by air has been weakened by global economic issues, high inflation in destination markets and geopolitical issues that have impacted trade flows. Go to journal of commerce

DCLI-Blackberry deal will improve visibility for domestic chassis pools The GPS technology will provide real-time visibility into chassis location, mileage and high-impact events on the road that could require repairs. Go to journal of commerce

Trans-Pacific services set for restart as carriers scramble to restore capacity Carriers may find it difficult to bring trans-Pacific capacity back quickly because they repositioned ships into other trades outside of the region amid the tariff-linked demand drop in April and early May. Go to journal of commerce

US DOT initiates crackdown on non-English-speaking truckers The move to ensure commercial drivers comply with US law requiring English-language proficiency will have ramifications for shippers, carriers and drivers. Go to journal of commerce

India-US West Coast rates jump as capacity suffers from Asia cargo rush Indian capacity to the West Coast is in large part confined to extended Asian networks connecting over regional hubs, so space availability remains exposed to demand volatility at origin load ports. Go to journal of commerce

CPKC grapples with complaints over US, Canada terminal operations The railroad says it acted fast to resolve issues at its Dallas-area terminal and denies there have been any significant problems in Calgary and the Toronto area. Go to journal of commerce

Stakeholders look to advance possible Houston-area dredging project The Cedar Port industrial park and barge port says the construction of a new ship channel could pave the way for potential development of a container terminal at the site. Go to journal of commerce

Scheduling linked to 10% tariffs causing confusion, angst for US importers A calendar quirk is causing consternation for importers of non-Chinese goods with long lead times who believed they had avoided the first salvo of US tariffs by loading their cargo before the prescribed “load-by” date and are now facing unexpected costs. Go to journal…

HTA seeks new CEO amid multiple challenges for West Coast drayage operators Matt Schrap, who has headed the HTA for the past four years, told the Journal of Commerce he is transitioning to another job but will remain with the group through late August. Go to journal of commerce

LTL trucker Pitt Ohio opens marine terminal near Norfolk port The 15,000-square-foot, 37-dock-door facility is the latest example of how LTL carriers are expanding into drayage, container handling and global supply chains. Go to journal of commerce

Carriers forge new paths in ongoing quest to monetize visibility investments Hapag-Lloyd is betting it can extract economic value for itself through smart containers in the form of improved fleet utilization, thereby de-risking the uptake – or lack thereof – from customers. Go to journal of commerce

US LTL pricing maintains record high as truckload slumps The US price index for LTL trucking, bolstered by new contracts, is as high as it’s ever been, but the truckload sector is stuck in a two-year trough. Go to journal of commerce

UK-EU trade deal designed to ease Brexit-driven border frictions Strained relationships between London and Brussels have plagued trade negotiations over the past five years around complex issues including tariffs, regulations, fishing rights and the movement of people. Go to journal of commerce

USWC recovered import market share last year amid East, Gulf coast labor woes The Port of Los Angeles took the top spot for containerized imports in 2024 and edged out Houston and Savannah as the busiest gateway for exports. Go to journal of commerce

US supply chain planning must involve a mix of the known and unknown Importers can get a fairly good sense of how to proceed over the next few months based on developments to date, but things will get fuzzy when the separate cooldown periods for tariffs on China and the rest of the world expire…

Ports look to delay proposed US tariffs on Chinese-made cranes Under their current configuration, the newest round of tariffs targeting China’s maritime industry will add $7 billion in costs for US ports, according to one estimate. Go to journal of commerce

Capacity-demand imbalance to shield truck rates from US import surge Greater interplay between US drayage and truckload markets may appear as imports fluctuate due to shifting tariff deadlines, but little impact is expected on pricing. Go to journal of commerce

Potential regulatory bombshells flying under MPV sector’s radar Breakbulk and project cargo industry stakeholders must take note of the far-reaching potential ramifications of the recently reintroduced US SHIPS Act, writes Associate Editor Carly Fields. Go to journal of commerce

US tariff-linked cargo rush causes port congestion, box shortages in China Forwarders expect congestion and container shortages to worsen in the next few weeks as carriers redeploy vessels to trans-Pacific services from Asia-Europe trades to meet increased demand from shippers. Go to journal of commerce

Zim restarts China-Los Angeles service to capture fresh import demand The Zim Central China Xpress will restart next week, little more than a month after Zim announced its suspension as part of the carrier’s broader 30% to 35% trim in its trans-Pacific network. Go to journal of commerce

High-and-heavy shippers sound alarm on rising tariff costs Caterpillar and Deere are counting the sizable costs of tariff-related expenses, even with the announced 90-day tariff pause between the US and China. Go to journal of commerce

Norden continues MPV expansion amid ‘strong projected demand’ The Denmark-based carrier has been growing its multipurpose vessel fleet since entering the project cargo sector with the acquisition of Thorco Projects in 2023. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM fleet will not need to pay Chinese tonnage tax: CFO With less than half of CMA CGM’s fleet built in China, CFO Ramon Fernandez believes US services can be structured to avoid the incoming tonnage fees. Go to journal of commerce

Ocean carriers line up hefty rate hikes on oversupplied Asia-Europe trade The carriers want to raise prices by more than 50% in a bid to stem the slide in rates that began at the end of December and is showing no signs of slowing. Go to journal of commerce

MSC, Zim plan to rework Asia-US Gulf network as demand drops MSC plans to provide all of the tonnage in a US Gulf service, with Zim slated to get a lower share of slot space as weaker demand forces service changes. Go to journal of commerce

Revised China tonnage tax less disruptive, still costly An industry backlash mitigated the costliest components of the US Trade Representative but surcharges from some carriers are still likely on the way, writes Executive Editor Mark Szakonyi. Go to journal of commerce

BNSF, UP prepping for July cargo rebound after tariff-induced lull Intermodal providers might see a small bullwhip effect, in which international volume declines in May and June but rebounds in July and August as shipments delayed due to now-paused tariffs on Chinese goods begin arriving in Southern California. Go to journal of commerce

Eastbound trans-Pac spot rates in revival mode in wake of US-China trade deal Rates are climbing quickly amid fresh Chinese volumes headed to the US, with an expected crunch in vessel capacity and the potential for port congestion driving the gains.  Go to journal of commerce

Panama Canal Authority hits back at FMC ‘chokepoint’ probe as unwarranted The canal agency highlighted data that refutes Trump administration claims about unfair treatment at the waterway, while the International Chamber of Shipping said freedom of navigation is a global responsibility. Go to journal of commerce

China-US ocean bookings surge since weekend trade deal: Hapag-Lloyd The predicted rush to get US imports from China on the water has begun as shippers take advantage of the 90-day cut in tariffs, according to CEO Rolf Habben Jansen. Go to journal of commerce

Overcapacity, trade seasonality push India-Europe rates to multi-year low On top of the persistent pressure of overcapacity and muted demand, industry sources have also linked the market softening to the historical seasonal pattern of the Indian export trade. Go to journal of commerce

Large truckload carriers make capacity cuts, but trucks reenter the market The Journal of Commerce Truckload Capacity Index hit its lowest point since 2014 in the first quarter, but April saw a net gain of 558 active carriers, US data shows. Go to journal of commerce

Freighter exodus leaves trans-Pacific air cargo on edge after China-US trade deal The trans-Pacific air cargo sector is trying to assess the demand implications of the preliminary trade deal between Washington and Beijing, which included a reduction in the tariff on parcels from China. Go to journal of commerce

Yang Ming expects stable Q2 on non-US-China trades The carrier was commenting after reporting its first-quarter results along with Taiwan’s other two mainline carriers, Evergreen Marine and Wan Hai Lines. Go to journal of commerce

AI continues its advance across truckload fleets, drayage Technology providers are rolling out artificial intelligence tools to help augment transportation teams and service providers with limited resources. Go to journal of commerce

Multimillion-dollar price tag awaits car carriers as US ship fees loom Wallenius Wilhelmsen, the world’s largest car carrier operator, said its vessels make between 300 and 350 voyages a year to the US, potentially generating annual voyage fees of about $300 million. Go to journal of commerce

DP World plans $760 million investment in the Dominican Republic The investment will increase the Port of Caucedo’s capacity by 24% while expanding an adjacent Free Trade Zone, the terminal operator said. Go to journal of commerce

West India container trade facing delays, vessel skips after regional tensions Despite a ceasefire announced over the weekend between India and Pakistan, the combined impact of the recent tensions and enhanced port security protocols has left container supply chains out of India’s west coast corridor in a state of flux. Go to journal of commerce

Capacity crunch beckons on eastbound trans-Pacific after US-China deal Much of the volume that has been locked up over the past month will come flooding back into the market after Washington and Beijing agreed to significantly slash their respective tariffs for 90 days. Go to journal of commerce

Truckers send Trump administration long list of rules to rewrite or kill A request for industry comment on trucking regulations that could be modified or ended generated 896 responses in one month, with electronic logging devices and hours of service rules at the top of the list. Go to journal of commerce

Drop in USWC domestic intermodal volumes could come soon: Hub Group The US’ second-largest intermodal carrier has not yet felt the effects of US tariffs on China, but notes the delay in impact between the ports and the rails could take a few weeks. Go to journal of commerce

Manufacturing malaise clouds outlook for US industrial freight Trade disputes cast a pall over US manufacturing and trucking as exports and imports drop, PMI surveys show. Go to journal of commerce

US retailers project first on-year import cut in 19 months as tariffs bite The National Retail Federation also warned the negative growth will accelerate, with imports through the summer expected to be at least 20% lower than the corresponding month last year.  Go to journal of commerce

Tariffs amplify US warehousing demand, disrupt inland truck routes The tight supply of warehousing for frontloaded freight is diverting truck shipments as shippers reposition inventory. Go to journal of commerce

US-Houthi ceasefire claim not sufficient for carrier return to Red Sea: Maersk There remains no guarantee of safety for ships, crew and cargo passing through the waterway, which means it would likely be out of bounds for the rest of the year, says CEO Vincent Clerc. Go to journal of commerce

CMA CGM levies emergency surcharges on Pakistani trade amid India tensions Sources anticipate the additional rerouting costs in the region will force other ocean carriers to follow suit on similar surcharges. Go to journal of commerce

US in race to replenish China stocks to avoid summer shortages: Maersk CEO Importers in the US are rewiring their supply chains and drawing extra inventory from Canada, Mexico and domestically in a “wait and see” response to the trans-Pacific trade war, according to Vincent Clerc. Go to journal of commerce

Datacenter growth poses manufacturing hurdle, project carrier opportunity The main heavy-lift components needed for datacenters are cooling infrastructure such as large-scale air conditioners and backup power infrastructure such as batteries, diesel generators and transformers. Go to journal of commerce

Trump taps former Maersk executive to head MARAD Stephen Carmel’s nomination to lead the agency comes after the White House withdrew previous nominee Brent Sadler from consideration for the post. Go to journal of commerce

MSC suspends two US services, rejigs others as tariffs hit Chinese imports The world’s largest shipping company said Wednesday the service suspensions and network changes were “in response to the recent changes in demand for cargo transport from Asia to the US.” Go to journal of commerce

Apparent Houthi ceasefire raises container shipping overcapacity risk The freeing up of vessel capacity that has been diverted around southern Africa for the past 18 months could inject as much as 2 million TEUs of functional capacity into the global container shipping market. Go to journal of commerce

Port-focused US logistics provider takes majority stake in Mexican forwarder PSA BDP acquired a majority stake in Mexico-based forwarder ED International, expanding PSA’s cross-border forwarding network. Go to journal of commerce

Container sector challenges cast shadow over MPV demand A divergence from the weakening container sector has seen the MPV trade hold steady, although the potential for a breakbulk cargo grab by container lines cannot be discounted. Go to journal of commerce

Heavy loads at risk from uncertainty around US freight network map With the status of a federal multimodal freight network unclear, heavy haulers are forging ahead with their own push for processes, highway improvements and infrastructure specific to the transport of oversized and overweight loads. Go to journal of commerce

Market ‘unease’ catches up with MPVs amid tariffs, economic uncertainty A slip in a key sentiment index reveals the MPV sector’s vulnerability to general market uncertainty, but operators remain optimistic that the cargo pipeline remains robust. Go to journal of commerce

Domestic intermodal may breathe easy, at least for now: analyst  Relative stability may indicate that during the coming trade war, transloading could fare better than inland point intermodal, writes Larry Gross. Go to journal of commerce

Chinese tariffs cloud trans-Pacific outlook for 2025: Matson While the Jones Act carrier added another service from Vietnam in the first quarter, it says volumes from that country won’t replace what’s lost from China. Go to journal of commerce

Logistics vets bridging shipper-small carrier divide sans broker In launching TruSygnal, Burns Logistics CEO Ed Burns wanted to provide a way to allow small carriers to create relationships with shippers that typically shy away from brokers. Go to journal of commerce

MPV trade shift slow to materialize on shakeup of cargo mix A swing from renewables to fossil fuels in the US and new opportunities for wind cargoes internationally could overhaul traditional MPV trade lanes over time. Go to journal of commerce

US importers turning to foreign trade zones amid tariff hikes Interest in FTZs, where shippers can store goods while deferring the payment of duties, has increased dramatically since President Donald Trump implemented tariffs in April. Go to journal of commerce

India’s ban on Pakistan cargo raises disruption risk The restrictions have “effectively” made direct vessel calls to either Karachi or Port Qasim on India services operationally impossible, according to major container lines. Go to journal of commerce

Truckload technology providers partner on cargo theft initiative Rapidly growing occurrences of cargo theft in the US have compelled two early-stage technology companies to use data around truckload movements to assist law enforcement. Go to journal of commerce

US forest product export rebound unlikely to repeat amid tariff war Paper and forest product exports climbed for the first time in more than five years in 2024, but various headwinds will challenge demand in 2025. Go to journal of commerce

NYSHEX enters container index fray targeting floating rate contract adoption The broader goal of NYSHEX’s new container index is to provide rate information that will support the use of hedging tools for shippers, NVOs and carriers against increased volatility. Go to journal of commerce

US LTL rates rising despite falling volumes, more cautious shippers Less-than-truckload companies are reporting low volumes and customers stressed by trade conflicts, but contract rates are climbing. Go to journal of commerce

Shift in ocean capacity from trans-Pacific spells trouble for Asia-Europe While ongoing port congestion in North Europe and longer voyages around the Cape of Good Hope will help to absorb incoming vessels, it will also leave the trade lane open to volatile shifts in capacity that cannot be planned for, a Journal of Commerce webinar…

US tariffs dampen 2025 outlook from oil field service majors The Big Three oil field service companies, key drivers of breakbulk steel industrial project cargo, are bearish in their forecasts for the year as global economic uncertainty eats into profits and project pipelines. Go to journal of commerce

India-US liners pull early-May rate hikes as capacity stays ahead of demand With demand expectations faltering, carriers have either jettisoned or substantially lowered the increases they were planning to implement beginning May 1, forwarder sources tell the Journal of Commerce. Go to journal of commerce

Cold chain warehouse major Lineage to invest $1 billion in Tyson storage deal Lineage will acquire four existing warehouses in the US from Tyson and develop two other next-generation facilities where the food conglomerate will be the anchor tenant. Go to journal of commerce