The Week 48 freight market continues to be influenced by labor challenges and congestion in North America. Dwell times at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have improved, reducing delays and easing rail transport to inland U.S. destinations. The shift in U.S. trade policy under the incoming [...]
In 2023, Mexico emerged as the United States’ largest trading partner, surpassing China for the first time. Trade between the two nations surged to nearly $800 billion, signaling a dramatic shift in global supply chain dynamics. This realignment is largely attributed to several recent disruptors, including U.S.-China trade tensions, [...]
The Week 47 freight market finds labor challenges and congestion continuing to dominate North American shipping. Following the near two-week shutdown at Canadian ports, operations have resumed, but a significant backlog of containers and vessels remains. Clearing this congestion is expected to take several weeks, with some vessels still [...]
De minimis shipments, valued at $800 or less, have surged in recent years, largely due to the rapid expansion of e-commerce. These shipments now account for 92% of U.S. imports, with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) processing approximately 4 million daily—up from 2.8 million the previous year. While this [...]
As the new administration takes office, one of the most closely watched areas of economic policy is the potential shift in trade strategies—particularly when it comes to tariffs and free trade agreements. With the global economy still navigating the after-effects of the pandemic, supply chain challenges, and evolving geopolitical [...]
Labor negotiations across North American ports are facing critical challenges, with disputes over automation on the U.S. East Coast and government-mandated arbitration in Canada sparking intense resistance among longshore unions. Both the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) in the U.S. and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 514 in [...]
In Week 46, the Canada labor action continues to disrupt operations at British Columbia’s major ports, halting vessel, rail, and truck activities at Vancouver, Prince Rupert, and Fraser-Surrey. Meanwhile, transpacific trade sees notable market shifts, with the U.S. West Coast saw ample space availability and reductions, while the East [...]
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded nearly $3 billion in grants through its Clean Ports Program, a major initiative funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, to support zero-emission port equipment, infrastructure, and climate-focused planning at ports across 27 states and territories. The new funding builds on the [...]
Week 45 of the freight market finds labor action in Canada creating port congestion and rail operations impacting North America. SPECIAL EDITION: CANADA PORT WORKER LABOR ACTION SUPPLY CHAIN IMPACT The union representing longshoremen at the Port of Montreal (CUPE 375) went [...]
ZEMBA RFI REPORT As more companies and governing agencies seek to reduce GHG emissions, the ocean shipping industry faces the challenge of reducing emissions. The sector, responsible for approximately 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, to decarbonize, has an array of e-fuel solutions now under consideration. To accelerate this [...]
