21 Oct 2024

Rail Delays Soar as LA-LB Ports Hit Record Import Highs in September

  In September, rail container dwell times at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach hit their highest levels in two years as the ports experienced a surge in import volumes from Asia. This spike is partially attributed to retailers redirecting cargo from the East and Gulf coasts due to a looming longshore strike. […]

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18 Oct 2024

Global Ripple Effects of ILA Strike

The recent three-day strike by dockworkers at East and Gulf Coast ports is set to cause a delayed reduction in capacity on certain trade lanes and may impact cargo frontloading ahead of a possible work stoppage in January, according to container shipping analyst Lars Jensen. Although the strike lasted only from October 1-3, Jensen, CEO […]

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08 Oct 2024

Double Hurricanes Disrupt US Trucking, Sending Spot Rates Soaring

Spot truckload rates are surging in the U.S. Southeast and climbing across the country following Hurricane Helene, with another storm, Hurricane Milton, set to strike the Gulf Coast of Florida soon. Milton is expected to hit Wednesday before crossing the state into the Atlantic. Last week, rates for dry-van, refrigerated, and flatbed trucks increased nationwide […]

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08 Oct 2024

Hurricane Double Blow Shakes US Trucking Market, Driving Spot Rates Higher

Truckload spot rates across the southeastern U.S. are rising sharply in response to back-to-back hurricanes. After Hurricane Helene ravaged parts of Florida to North Carolina, the trucking market experienced significant disruption. Now, as Hurricane Milton approaches the Gulf Coast of Florida, spot rates are climbing even higher. Last week saw nationwide increases in spot rates […]

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04 Oct 2024

Ports Reopen: ILA End Strike with Wage Offer, Contract Extension.

After weeks of contentious negotiations, maritime employers and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) have reached a tentative deal to reopen container terminals at East and Gulf coast ports. The agreement includes a substantial wage increase for dockworkers and a three-month contract extension while formal negotiations continue. The breakthrough, announced Thursday evening, comes after the White […]

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01 Oct 2024

East Coast Port Strike Begins, Sparking Fears of Shortages and Price Increases

As of 12:01 A.M., October 1st, 2024, the long-anticipated strike by the ILA (the International Longshoremen’s Association) has officially begun, leading to a complete shutdown of all U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports until further notice. This development means that no cargo can move in or out of these ports. Our sources indicate that the […]

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15 Sep 2024

Airfreight Turbulence: Red Sea Crisis Fades, E-commerce Disrupts Trade

The airfreight industry has reached a pivotal moment, with benefits from the Red Sea crisis tapering off while e-commerce growth continues to exacerbate trade lane imbalances. These insights were shared by experts during the “Flexport Air Market Predictions for 2025” webinar this week. Niall van de Wouw, Xeneta’s Chief Airfreight Officer, noted that while ocean […]

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06 Jun 2024

Navigating Container Shortages in 2024: Implications for North American Intermodal

The global supply chain is facing an unexpected challenge in 2024: a shortage of containers. Despite the significant capacity added by ocean carriers, recent reports and spot prices indicate that container scarcity is a reality. But what does this mean for North American intermodal transportation, and could it lead to a repeat of the chaos […]

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05 Jun 2024

China’s Trade Surplus: Undervalued Yuan or Something Else?

The debate over China’s manufacturing overcapacity has ignited intense discussions among policymakers. During her trip to China in April, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen raised concerns about the impact of “artificially cheap Chinese products flooding the global market,” questioning the sustainability of foreign firms, echoing similar concerns from a decade ago. Yellen’s observation holds […]

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04 Jun 2024

Deja Vu: Container Shipping Market Faces Repeat of Pandemic Chaos

  The container shipping industry is experiencing a worrying trend – a repeat of the supply chain disruptions that plagued the world during the pandemic. This shortage of ships, coupled with high demand, threatens to send shipping rates soaring and cause significant delays. Unless there’s a quick turnaround, freight rates could skyrocket, potentially reaching a […]

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