It is common knowledge that the ports on the US West Coast are facing massive congestion right now. There are issues like an abundance of containers coming in, a lack of chassis available and a possible labor dispute that might be contributing to the congestion. The good news is that there might be a new agreement soon between the workers in the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union and the companes in Pacific Maritime Association. While a new labor contract with…

Maritime shipping from Asia to the US or from the US to Asia is about to get more expensive for shippers.

The Transpacific Stabilization Agreement, also known as the TSA, is a research and discussion organization consisting of a membership that includes 15 of the largest carriers in that region. From time to time, through their extensive research on cargo shipping in their region, the TSA will suggest alterations for their members.…

2012 was a booming year for the US dairy industry, in terms of international shipping exports. With prices for dairy products (like milk, cheese, butter, ice cream and more) increasing, the Wall Street Journal reports that US exports increased nearly 13% in a decade. As a result, dairy production companies have increased their capacity for milk products by as much as 25%. And thanks to …

It is well documented that there is a trade deficit with China, where the US imports way more cargo from China than we export. However, there is one major product to China that we export: poultry. From January to November 2014, the US exported $272 million worth of poultry to China. It seems that companies in China are working with great freight forwarders to lock down the…

In 2015, ocean freight shipping will embark on a great journey. It is projected that 1.7 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) will be transported in 2015. And while the ocean freight shipping industry is excited about the prospect of moving containers across the world, it seems that overcapacity is going to be a major issue to still deal with from 2014. As you plan out your supply chain in 2015, it is wise to examine an outlook for ocean freight…

Whether you realize it or not, rare-earth materials are found in numerous products that consumers and organizations use daily. Examples, such as scandium and cerium, are found in smart phones, automobiles, green energy products and national defense technologies. China, being a top supplier of rare earth materials, dominated the market to the point that they enforced a quota system for exports of rare-earth materials. In 2010, with a quota system still in place, China did…

As we complete the final quarter of 2014, some wonder how the economy faired during this time. Imports into the US certainly triumphed. The US Commerce Department reported a .9% increase in imports during October to $240.97 billion. This has been the highest increase in six months. For certain commodities, like equipment and heavy machinery, this is the highest import level in more than 20 years. These companies are working…