Freight demand

Will the maritime momentum continue in 2025?

Chart of the Week: Inbound Ocean TEUs Index, Customs TEUs Index – USA SONAR: IOTI.USA, CSTEU.USA

U.S. container import demand is up more than 20% over where it was two years ago, according to U.S. customs and SONAR’s bookings data. While many expected steady increases in container volumes in 2023, the strong growth in 2024 was not on as many people’s bingo cards. What should we expect in 2025?

Import demand cratered in late 2022 thanks in large part to the inventory glut created by the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/will-the-maritime-momentum-continue-in-2025

FMCSA clearinghouse rule puts bullseye on freight capacity

When even a small percentage of tens of thousands of trucks get forced off the road, a major freight capacity shift can ensue – and that’s exactly the scenario playing out now that states have new enforcement power over roughly 179,000 truck drivers.

That’s the number of drivers in “prohibited status” as of Oct. 1, the latest data available from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse. On Monday, all those drivers’ CDLs were automatically revoked. Those...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/capacity-shakeout-coming-down-the-pike

Import demand growth robust leading into Lunar New Year

Chart of the Week: Inbound Ocean TEUs Volume Index – Port of Los Angeles, Port of Savannah, Port of New York/New Jersey, Port of Long Beach  SONAR: IOTI.USLAX, IOTI.USSAV, IOTI.USNYC, IOTI.USLGB

Bookings for twenty-foot equivalent units (IOTI) spiked well above last year’s levels for freight bound for the nation’s top four port complexes heading into Chinese New Year (CNY). 

The IOTI is an index that measures container volumes being booked by departure date from the port of origin, about 15-30...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/import-demand-growth-robust-leading-into-lunar-new-year

Finance expert points to cautionary signals for US freight demand

It’s actually possible for the freight economy, which has been stuck in recession for 18 months, to get worse even though the economy produced robust 4.9% growth in the third quarter, according to Danielle DiMartino Booth.

The QI Research CEO said the firehose of federal stimulus that has lasted three years is finally coming to an end, which will reduce purchasing power for millions of consumers. Her comments came Thursday during the second annual F3: Future of Freight Festival in Chattanooga,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/finance-expert-points-to-cautionary-signals-for-us-freight-demand

Freighters flying fewer hours underscores market weakness in air cargo

A decline in flight hours for all-cargo airlines is another data point to gauge the sagging airfreight market that is typically measured in volume by tonnage or weight by distance carried.

Freighter aircraft utilization fell an estimated 8.1% in January, the second steepest decline in three years after a 9% drop in December, according to a recent report by investment bank BMO. Several airlines have recently reported diminished flight hours or said they expected slower operating activity this...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freighters-flying-fewer-hours-underscores-market-weakness-in-air-cargo

Import demand dip hasn’t fully manifested but is sign of things to come

Companies are ordering less goods, which should not be a surprise

Chart of the Week: Inbound Ocean TEU Index, US Customs Maritime Imports TEUs – USA  SONAR: IOTI.USA, CSTEU.USA

The 36% drop in import volumes reported earlier this month has not materialized domestically yet and may not for several months, depending on your place in the supply chain. The Inbound Ocean TEUs Volume Index (IOTI) measures trends in TEU volumes that companies book by departure date from their ports of origin. With an...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/import-demand-dip-hasnt-fully-manifested-but-is-sign-of-things-to-come

Maritime booking surge suggests capacity could get tighter this fall

Chart of the Week: Inbound Ocean TEUs Volume Index, Outbound Tender Volume Index – USA  SONAR: IOTI.USA, OTVI.USA

Maritime bookings represented by the Inbound Ocean TEUs Volume Index (IOTI) show a 40% increase over the past two weeks, the strongest spike in activity since early spring. This movement breaks the slow downward trend that had been in place since late April and could mean this cycle of tightened transportation capacity may have yet to peak. 

The IOTI is an index with a base value of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/maritime-booking-surge-suggests-capacity-could-get-tighter-this-fall

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