It seems like every day there are new records being broken on congestion by the number of ships waiting at anchor in San Pedro Bay; the number of days it takes for a container to move, door-to-door from China to the U.S.; and the cost of a container to make the trip. As we move
On top of massive container congestion on the US west coast, recently announced shutdowns and outbreaks in China are further stressing the ocean cargo supply chain. News of both the Meidong ocean closure and airline shutdowns in China where flights are being held due to the outbreak have many shippers and forwarders concerned about when
Dear Importers, We are being asked this question daily “What is going in with shipping (congestion, rates, delays, etc.”). It’s a very good question and I will try to share my thoughts for what it’s worth. US-based port congestion is certainly related to COVID-19, record volumes, rail congestion, lack of dockworkers and truckers, etc. However,
Unlike most years, 2021’s peak season started in June as retail giants Walmart and Amazon desperately try to restock inventory and avoid the trucking, rail, & ocean cargo congestion delays that plague the US west coast. Between rail embargos and empty containers getting preference overloaded export boxes, the new measures many carriers and companies are
The CDC announced that starting on July 14, 2021, a temporary suspension will be imposed on the importation of dogs from the countries that the CDC classifies as high risk for rabies in canines. Published on June 16th in the Federal Register, the suspension comes after more than 450 dogs arrived in 2020 with incomplete,
With delays, pricing extremes, equipment shortages, and driver difficulties due to ELD regulations, there are innumerable issues facing shippers with fireworks carriers and importers dealing with problems that could cause critical failures along the supply chain as we move into the season of outdoor celebrations. It bears mentioning that after the pandemic-induced shutdown of 2020,
As much as we hear about the delays on the US West Coast regarding ocean freight, the focus on retail goods does a disservice to the issues coming up for other cargo including granite shipments from India. Following the pandemic explosion of e-commerce, home improvement spending experienced a 3% increase as people stuck at home
When it rains, it pours – then it freezes and there’s a sandstorm and the logistics sector is topsy-turvy once again. Starting with congestion, the oldest issue currently upending shipments, the coastal ports in California and New York are overflowing with containers and cargo as railroads are bogged down with too much to transport and
Again in the news, we’re hearing about container collapse and losses on vessels crossing the pacific ocean during rough weather. The World Shipping Council estimates that every year more than 1,300 containers are lost at sea, making 2020 a banner year for container collapses and losses. Just the ONE Apus collapse alone saw more than
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) reminds importers, brokers, and filers that, as of Jan. 25, 2021, they will have to submit an APHIS Core Message Set in the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) when they file entry for thousands of affected APHIS-regulated plants and animal products. This will require a significant amount of
