Category: Supply Chain

North American Sea Freight Market Strained

The North American sea freight market faces ongoing challenges, with recent labour actions on the US East Coast fuelling local anxieties and adding congestion and capacity pressures on the West coast. The three-day strike by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) on the US East C... Read more

Air freight surges from Asia to Europe while trans-Pacific faces regulatory hurdles

As peak season ramps up, air cargo from Asia to Europe is experiencing strong growth, largely driven by rising demand for eCommerce, while new scrutiny on duty exemptions has led to a significant drop in air cargo volumes from Asia to the United States. In October, tonnage from Hong Kong to Eu... Read more

Sea Freight Outlook for 2025

The global sea freight market is set for another turbulent year in 2025, with rates likely to remain high despite anticipated softening in some lanes. Although new vessel deliveries are expected to bring additional capacity, a combination of geopolitical uncertainties and market reconfigurations ... Read more

Labour tensions rise on North America’s East coast

Ongoing labour disputes on the US East Coast and Canada’s Port of Montreal continue to threaten disruptions to North American supply chains. The agreement between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on the US East coast (USEC) brings temporary relief, securing peace for th... Read more

Air cargo rates surge as Vietnam becomes key export hub

The air cargo market is seeing a significant surge in rates, driven by strong demand and tight capacity, especially on routes from Asia to North America and Europe. In October, spot rates reached their highest point this year, with rates from Vietnam to the US increasing by 65% and to Europe b... Read more

Creative solutions ease Bangladesh export challenges

As Bangladesh’s apparel sector ramps up production following months of disruption, exporters are benefiting from creative logistics solutions to overcome rising freight rates and capacity shortages.  Metro shipments from Bangladesh have been utilising an innovative mix of air freight, sea/a... Read more

Sea freight market review

The sea freight market in October 2024 is facing continued challenges from geopolitical tensions and industrial actions, with strikes on the US East and Gulf Coasts contributing to significant disruptions. Although the three-day US East coast strike in early October has been resolved with a te... Read more

Road freight market sees failure and consolidation

The UK road freight market is facing severe pressures from rising operational expenses and ongoing labour shortages, with Q3 rates surging 10% year-on-year, reflecting widespread cost increases. This tough economic climate has led to the failure of nearly half of all haulage companies launched... Read more

Reefer container shortage looms as demand surges

The global market for refrigerated containers, or reefers, is facing significant pressure as we approach the end of 2024. Seasonal demand, combined with increased export activity from regions like Latin America, is straining equipment availability. This surge coincides with the peak season for... Read more

US East Coast dockworker strike: Temporary resolution but risks remain for January

While a tentative agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) has paused the strike, a final resolution must be reached in January 2025, or further disruption could occur. The recent US East and Gulf Coast dockworker str... Read more

US East coast port strikes underway

At 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday 1st October 2024, dockworkers along the US East and Gulf Coasts began a major strike, marking the first significant work stoppage in nearly 50 years, threatening major supply chain disruption across the US and beyond. Nearly 50,000 members of the International Longs... Read more

Australia follows US and Canada with stricter air cargo security measures

In response to heightened security concerns, the US, Canada, and now Australia have implemented stricter security protocols for air cargo originating from Europe and the CIS, to minimise potential risks after incendiary devices were discovered within European parcel networks. Australia’s Dep... Read more