February inbound container shipments at the top 10 U.S. ports hit their lowest level since before the pandemic, according to the latest available port data aggregated by Bloomberg. … READ MORE >
port activity
Preparing for a tsunami of imported goods
The recent reopening of China’s factory floors and the easing of its supply chain bottlenecks have prompted discussion about the ability of the U.S. supply chain to absorb what will be a tsunami of imported goods. … READ MORE >
Global supply chain disruptions accelerate, presenting a challenge to the middle market
Fragile global supply chains are facing another round of port closures, factory shutdowns, production halts and labor shortages as the delta variant spreads. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Port activity continues its record pace as supply chain normalizes
The increases in seaport activity and the nationwide distribution of goods signal growing confidence in a robust U.S. recovery. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: The logistics of a recovery
The Port of Los Angeles continued processing record numbers of shipping containers in April, including empties necessary for maintaining the Asian supply chain. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: Unexpected risk and a blocked Suez Canal
Just when optimism was returning to the global economy, a shortage of microchips threatens the automobile industry and a container ship gets stuck in the Suez Canal, threatening the global supply chain. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: An impending end to the trade downdraft
Loaded import containers processed by U.S. seaports grew by an average of 20% in the fourth quarter. And export activity — which is still worrisome in terms of global economic demand — was down less than 2% over the last three months of the year. … READ MORE >
CHART OF THE DAY: West Coast container activity suggests an end-of-year pause in the recovery
Import activity at West Coast ports continues to anticipate robust consumer demand despite rising prices and the first hint of a pause caused by the resurgence in the coronavirus at the end of the year. … READ MORE >