Looming US tariffs on Chinese imports, a possible late-summer strike at East and Gulf Coast ports, and a general fear of missing out on peak retail season are boosting orders earlier than usual and driving congestion at ports,
according to Bloomberg.
Meanwhile, Red Sea vessel diversions and port congestion have absorbed whatever excess capacity the industry offered at the end of 2023, leaving questions about supply in their wake.
“The lack of available empty shipping containers in key export markets is an ongoing concern. Containers are getting caught up in a global mix of delays.” — Mike DeAngelis, Head of International Ocean Solutions, FourKites.
As Peter Goodman writes for
The New York Times, “The supply chain disturbances of the pandemic proved anything, it was this: Trouble in any one place tends to ripple out widely.”
Time will tell where the ripples go next.
Automakers are leveraging technology to strengthen their complex supply chains against parts shortages, shipping challenges and other delays.
Ocean disruptions are spilling over to air cargo, with growing e-commerce demand and manufacturing activity also contributing to a spike in global air cargo spot rates. Now, shippers risk being at the mercy of the market with
