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☆ With ports strike imminent on East Coast, Gulf, truckers, rails are scrambling to move billions in cargo before midnight shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

As much as 43% to 49% of total containerized goods entering the U.S are processed through ports on the East Coast and Gulf Coast. Michael Kanko, CEO of ImportGenius, tells CNBC the economic importance of the ports impacted by an ILA strike is profound. Approximately 50,000 ILA union members work at the ports of Boston, New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami, New Orleans, Mobile, and Houston. UBS forecast that 20% of Maersk's total volume would touch a U.S. port that would be impacted by the strike. East Coast ports in the U.S. are forecast to handle 2.3 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) in October.

Persons: Gary Hershorn, Lading, Alan Baer, Baer, Michael Kanko, Brian Bourke, Pete Buttigieg, Julie Su, Lael Brainard, Biden, We've, Taft, Hartley, Donald Trump, Harold Daggett, let's, Estee Lauder, Steve Lamar Organizations: Port, Port Newark Container, Corbis, CNBC, International Longshoremen's Association, US Maritime Alliance, USA, ILA, U.S ., Seko Logistics, Gulf, Transportation, National Economic, UBS, Maersk, Democrats, Hartley, Business, The U.S . Chamber of Commerce, Biden, ., L'oreal, ABB, Walmart, Walgreens, Disney, Port Authority of, American Apparel & Footwear Association Locations: Port Newark, New York City, Newark , New Jersey, Coast, U.S, ImportGenius, East Coast, Gulf Coast, U.S . East Coast, Maine, Texas, Boston , New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, Savannah, Jacksonville, Tampa , Miami , New Orleans, Mobile, Houston, The, Port of New York, Port Authority of NY, Virginia, Mitre . East Coast, Port of Virginia

☆ The global freight recession will continue in 2024: CNBC Supply Chain Survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

watch nowThe global shipping industry has been mired in a freight recession this year and the challenging economic conditions will continue into 2024, according to a new CNBC Supply Chain Survey. The CNBC Supply Chain Survey was conducted October 21-October 31 among logistics executives who manage freight manufacturing orders and transportation, including those at C.H. "Without more freight moving, 2024, and potentially 2025, will continue to see soft pricing as capacity outstrips demand," he said. Freight trucking will remain soft Trucking companies get paid per load, and low expectations for orders imply potentially lower revenue this holiday season. A slightly better second half 2024 outlook The survey shows expectations for a slight turnaround in freight volume in the second half of 2024.

Persons: Robinson, Kuehne, Nagel, Zhang Jingang, Alan Baer, Noah Hoffman, Jeff Bezos, Uber, Tim Robertson, Robertson, Brian Bourke Organizations: CNBC Supply Chain Survey, CNBC, Chain Survey, SEKO Logistics, DHL Global, USA, ITS Logistics, Getty, Logistics, C.H, Surface Transportation, Convoy, Tank Transport Locations: Qingdao, Shandong province, China

☆ The holiday spending outlook is sluggish across thousands of retailers: CNBC Supply Chain Survey
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Photographer: Christopher Dilts/Bloomberg via Getty Images Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAs holiday shopping season begins, lack of big orders from retailers is the rule amid fears that consumer spending will be weak, according to a new CNBC Supply Chain Survey. At the CNBC Evolve Global Summit last Thursday, Target CEO Brian Cornell said the company is doubling down on its cautious outlook for the holiday season. The CNBC Supply Chain Survey was conducted October 21-October 31 among logistics executives who manage freight manufacturing orders and transportation, including those at C.H. Lunar New Year and order volumes The CNBC Supply Chain Survey underscores an overall climate of uncertainty that is defining the market right now. The freight trucking recession Trucking companies get paid per load, and the low expectations for orders imply potentially lower revenue this holiday season.

Persons: Christopher Dilts, Robinson, Noah Hoffman, Hoffman, Jeremy Barnum, Brian Cornell, Raj Subramaniam, restocking, Kuehne, Nagel, Paul Brashier, Tim Robertson, Robertson, Brian Bourke, Elmer Buchta, Jeff Bezos, Uber, Brashier, Berkshire Hathaway, Alan Baer Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty Images Bloomberg, Getty, CNBC Supply Chain Survey, North American Surface Transportation, CNBC, Global, FedEx, Chain Survey, SEKO Logistics, USA, ITS Logistics, Amazon, Maersk, Logistics, Convoy, Tank Transport, U.S ., Union Pacific, BNSF, Norfolk Southern, CSX Locations: Chicago , Illinois, C.H, U.S, China, United States, Montana, Indiana, Panama, West Coast, U.S . West Coast, Los Angeles, Berkshire, West, East Coast

[1/2] Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER bulk carrier transits the expanded canal through Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, on the outskirts of Panama City, Panama April 19, 2023. The Panama Canal Authority has reduced maximum ship weights and daily ship crossings in a bid to conserve water. Container ships are the most common users of the Panama Canal and transport more than 40% of consumer goods traded between Northeast Asia and the U.S. East Coast. Some shipping executives are bracing for more reductions later this year, noting that in 2020 a less severe drought prompted canal operators to reduce crossings to 27 per day. "The Panama Canal is just the latest example."

Persons: Aris Martinez, Max, Drew Lerner, Peter Sand, Steve Ferreira, STRI's Steven Paton, Paton, Brian Bourke, Lisa Baertlein, Marianna Parraga, Elida Moreno, Louise Breusch Rasmussen, Deepa Babington Organizations: Monrovia NSU CHALLENGER, REUTERS, ANGELES, Evergreen Marine, Pacific, Panama Canal Authority, Northeast, U.S ., Smithsonian Tropical Research, El Nino, Central American, Canal Authority, SEKO Logistics, Thomson Locations: Cocoli, Panama, Panama City, HOUSTON, China, U.S, Northeast Asia, U.S . East Coast . U.S, United States, Chile, Brazil, Suez, Gatun Lake, El, U.S . East Coast, Los Angeles, Houston, Copenhagen

☆ As back-to-school, holiday orders begin, this is what may be the new 'normal' in peak retail trade season
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

As peak retail trade order season nears — July is the official start of the back-to-school and holiday order inventory build that runs through October — executives in the shipping industry are keeping a watchful eye on order activity. Holiday orders are traditionally imported starting in August, with the manufacturing orders for these items made by retailers as much as six months in advance. Still, category by category, demand levels vary. SEKO executives said they are seeing consumers trade down in the product, but as far as which categories will be the big winners this peak season, it's too soon to know. "The pig in the python has yet to go through when it relates to inventory" said Hans Hickler, president of Americas for SEKO Logistics.

Persons: James Gagne, Gagne, it's, Hans Hickler Organizations: Federal, SEKO Logistics Locations: U.S

☆ Where the trucking and rail recession is showing up in the economic data
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

The decrease negatively impacts earnings for both trucking and rail where revenue is generated by moving freight. Ocean freight orders are a leading indicator of train and trucking earnings since 90% of the world's trade moves by water. This is one of three key supply chain charts that are signaling more financial potholes for trucking and rail companies. West Coast ports have been losing trade to both the East Coast ports and Gulf ports as a result of prolonged labor negotiations, though union representatives indicated last week a "tentative agreement" had been reached, but no details were provided. Trucking is needed for both container pick up at the ocean terminals and rail ramps.

☆ There’s a new inflation warning for consumers coming from the supply chain
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-13 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

While many sources of supply chain inflation that stoked higher goods prices have come down sharply, including ocean freight rates and transportation fuels, bloated inventories due to a lack of consumer demand are sustaining upward pressure on warehouse rates. "But inflationary pressures remain where demand outpaces supply in 2023, including in warehousing through most of the United States, domestic parcel and labor." One reason for the imbalance between warehouse supply and demand is lack of new facilities coming into the market. The Fed is now more focused on services inflation, in particular labor prices, as it expects the pressure in goods inflation to remain downward. But the logistics issues suggest that there will be some elements of sticky inflation on the goods side of the equation.

☆ Relief Efforts in Turkey, Syria Face Logistical Hurdles
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-07 | by ( Paul Berger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Aid groups and logistics operators worldwide are ramping up urgent relief efforts for victims of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria but say moving supplies through the region’s devastated infrastructure will be a major challenge. Mr. Hovey said Direct Relief plans to fly supplies to airports at Istanbul in northwestern Turkey and at Adana in southeastern Turkey, close to the disaster zone. Many U.S. charities without aid operations in Syria and Turkey are now planning relief efforts, said Kathy Fulton, executive director of American Logistics Aid Network, which coordinates aid efforts among logistics operators following disasters. Aid groups are mostly focused on getting relief to Turkey and Syria by plane. He said the demand for air charters is also starting to make it harder and more expensive to secure space for aid and relief efforts in other parts of the world, such as Ukraine.

☆ How the end of China's travel lockdown could boost online retail powerhouses like Shein
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-09 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

As of January 8, Chinese citizens may travel out of the country freely for the first time in years. The change could boost Chinese e-commerce powerhouses like Shein and Alibaba. Though there are plenty of dedicated cargo flights in and out of China, more than half of air cargo worldwide travels in the belly of passenger planes. Chinese online retailers stand to benefit even more, said Brian Bourke, chief commercial officer of Seko Logistics, a freight forwarding company that manages transportation for Shein, among other US and Chinese e-commerce giants. Cheaper air cargo rates are likely to encourage even more investment in speed from Shein and others.

☆ California Long Ruled U.S. Shipping. Importers Are Drifting East.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-10 | by ( Paul Berger | Photographs David Walter Banks For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +13 min

Abercrombie & Fitch Co. is moving more merchandise through New York and New Jersey to avoid West Coast bottlenecks. It trailed its East Coast rival again in that measure during September and October, according to the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association and ports data. ”There are so many customers that got so screwed because they were entirely reliant on L.A. and Long Beach.”The logistical challenges of spreading imports along the East Coast and the Gulf Coast are massive. The shift in trade to the East Coast marks a return to where container ships originated. Then the U.S. began importing more goods from Europe, making an Atlantic Ocean crossing to various East Coast ports more critical.

☆ China's travel rule relaxation means more space for cargo on passenger planes — and a big boost for Chinese retailers like Shein
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-07 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The change could boost Chinese e-commerce powerhouses like Shein and Alibaba. Though there are plenty of dedicated cargo flights in and out of China, more than half of air cargo worldwide travels in the belly of passenger planes. Without regular passenger flights, the price to move cargo via plane in and out of China has been sky-high. Chinese online retailers stand to benefit even more, said Brian Bourke, chief commercial officer of Seko Logistics, a freight forwarding company that manages transportation for Shein, among other US and Chinese e-commerce giants. Cheaper air cargo rates are likely to encourage even more investment in speed from Shein and others.

☆ Gig labor could have challenged FedEx and UPS. Now it's making them stronger.
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-26 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But UPS and FedEx have taken the cue and are integrating flexible workers in their own ways. Gig goes mainstreamWhere smaller players sometimes rely entirely on gig workers, UPS and FedEx are incorporating flexible laborers to complement full-time workers where and when deliveries are less consistent or particularly costly. Despite all that growth, the ecosystem around gig workers — regulation, banking, insurance, and more — is underdeveloped. And though gig workers often covet flexibility, they can easily end up with next to no job security and extremely variable earnings. In response, legislators have tended toward blunt force tactics — potentially eliminating all independent contractors in the name of gig workers.

☆ New York continues streak as nation's No. 1 port as LA cargo volume hits level not seen since 2009
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Earlier this week, the Port of Los Angeles posted its lowest level of October since 2009. "Firstly, shippers are still avoiding the West Coast to mitigate the risk of labor strikes at LA and Long Beach. According to Project44 data, total vessel TEU capacity deployed from Europe to the East Coast is up 15.5% compared to Oct 2021. CNBC Supply Chain Heat Map providers warned in the summer and fall of a decrease in manufacturing orders which has impacted the volume of shipping. The lesser container volumes are now being seen off the ports across the East Coast, including New York and New Jersey.

☆ Canceled sailings from China and 'radical' vessel cuts hit U.S. ability to reach export market
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-11 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

"As shipping lines reduce their vessel calls in the form of blank sailings, this reduces the capacity for outbound volumes. Sea-Intelligence wrote in its recent blank sailings report that it has detected some unannounced cancellations for the calendar-year period of weeks 42-52 in the past two weeks. "Blank sailings have been ramped up drastically on the Transpacific, but not so much on Asia-Europe," said Alan Murphy, CEO at Sea-Intelligence. On Asia-North Europe routes, Sea-Intelligence is only seeing an additional six blank sailings, and on Asia-Mediterranean routes an increase of four blank sailings. The weekly average of vessels waiting this week is 14, waiting for an average of 6.3 days.

☆ China, 'factory of the world,' is losing more of its manufacturing and export dominance, latest data shows
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The container ship Emma Mærsk docked at the Dapukou container terminal of Ningbo-Zhoushan Port on August 21, 2022 in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province. Teodoro said Vietnam's close proximity to China and cheap labor are reasons why Vietnam is considered a suitable alternative. Vietnam has taken the lion's share of the manufacturing trade away from China with an almost 360% increase in far-distance trade since 2014 — the year the country started to invest in its maritime and manufacturing sector. Malaysia and Bangladesh have taken apparel manufacturing away from China, according to MDS Transmodal, while Taiwan has seen a marginal uptick in metal manufacturing. Ningbo port hit by Covid policiesThe Port of Ningbo, the world's largest port and the third-largest container port, is the latest Chinese trade hub to see an impact from the government's "Zero Covid" policies.

☆ Mississippi River water woes, retail overstock trailers: Latest supply chain stresses for economy
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The towboat Roberta Tabor pushes barges up the Mississippi River in Granite City, Illinois, US, on Friday, July 9, 2022. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAccording to the National Weather Service Memphis Office, the Mississippi River is projected to tie the all-time record of -10.70 feet, either later today or tonight. The Mississippi River is a vital waterway for trade and the lower water levels have impacted the amount of commodities that can be imported or exported out of New Orleans. "Our members depend upon adequate water levels in the Mississippi River system, to reach domestic and international export markets. The East Coast congestion has had a massive impact on vessel reliability.

☆ A new wave of UK port labor strikes begins, with 'massive impact' for Christmas supply chain
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

A striking dockworker on a picket line outside the Port of Liverpool during a strike in Liverpool, UK, on Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022. The shop stewards who represent union workers accepted Peel Ports request for a meeting at the union office on Tuesday. Supply chain impact from second round of U.K. strikesThe latest development comes amid mounting labor issues linked to inflation at U.K. ports, with workers at the nation's largest port, Felixstowe, beginning another strike this week after one in August. "Unite made it clear that until they have reached their goals these waves of strikes will continue which will have a massive impact on the Christmas business and supply." The CNBC Supply Chain Heat Map shows the present situation at the ports.

☆ Tensions rise in West Coast port labor battles, with unions and management trading accusations
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Tensions are rising in West Coast port labor battles as unions and port management trade accusations about worker productivity and the awarding of job assignments. Jerome Roberts, GVP of marketing at supply chain consulting company Blume Global, told CNBC the one shift protest had no lasting productivity impact. Logistics companies fear the latest round of accusations will only increase tensions for a supply chain and national port infrastructure already dealing with multiple labor concerns. Project44, which also collects and analyzes port productivity for the CNBC Supply Chain Heat Map, has tracked some recent issues at Seattle operations. Container dwell times at the Port of Oakland have been improving over the month of September, according to Josh Brazil, vice president of supply chain insights at Project44.

☆ New York is now the nation's busiest port in a historic tipping point for U.S.-bound trade
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( Lori Ann Larocco | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

This comes as the flow of trade continues to move away from the West Coast with logistics managers worried about a labor strike or lockout. More East Coast trade, and more port congestionThe CNBC Supply Chain Heat Map for the U.S. shows how the continued increase in trade has East Coast ports and Gulf port as the winners in this movement of freight. Maritime prices fallingThe flow of trade away from the West Coast has decreased the demand for vessel space, leading Far East to West Coast maritime freight prices to fall. "Shippers are still bringing in a lot of containers, on the East Coast and West Coast and Gulf Coast as well." Shippers are still hesitant to return re-routed cargo to the U.S. West coast, Sand said.

☆ Rail Shippers Brace for Potential National Strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-14 | by ( Paul Berger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Companies from food suppliers in the Midwest to retail importers across the U.S. are bracing for a potential national rail strike by seeking alternative transport to keep their supply chains running. Tens of thousands of American workers are on strike and thousands more are attempting to unionize. “We believe the potential for a rail work stoppage is growing,” Citi’s Christian Wetherbee wrote in a research note Wednesday. Other shippers will have to hold on to cargo if the rail network shuts down. U.S. railroads hauled more than 18,000 carloads of grains over the past week, according to the Association of American Railroads.

☆ Meet 16 top reverse-logistics leaders tackling retail's $761 billion e-commerce returns problem
▼ + stars: | 2022-07-15 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

Becca Meinz, the vice president of end-to-end supply chain at Best BuyBecca Meinz is the vice president of the end-to-end supply chain for Best Buy. Steve Lewis, the senior vice president of commercial strategy at GXOSteve Lewis is the senior vice president for commercial strategy at GXO. Kraig Foreman, the president of e-commerce at DHL Supply Chain North AmericaKraig Foreman is the president of e-commerce at DHL Supply Chain North America. Eduardo Vilar, the senior vice president of merchant solutions at AffirmEduardo Vilar is the senior vice president of merchant solutions at Affirm. Glen Sutton, the executive vice president at Ceva LogisticsGlen Sutton is an the executive vice president at Ceva Logistics.

☆ The biggest threat to UPS and FedEx isn't Amazon. It's the gig economy.
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-27 | by ( Emma Cosgrove | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Target's new delivery strategy shows FedEx and UPS are being disrupted by the gig economy. Top analysts see gig startups taking volume from UPS and FedEx. Gig delivery is leveling upOne gig driver delivering one order at a time isn't much of a competitive threat to the way UPS and FedEx move goods. Beyond same-day service, gig startups often offer live tracking and text updates for each order. On UPS' first quarter earnings call Tuesday, UPS CEO Carol Tomé acknowledged that gig logistics companies are competitors of UPS.

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