China e-commerce exports, unreliable Red Sea shipping boost air cargo

Resurgent air cargo demand and rising rates, powered by the quasi-blockade of Red Sea shipping and continued growth in bookings by Chinese e-commerce platforms, during a normally slow shipping period is creating high expectations among air carriers for peak season and making logistics providers nervous about securing adequate capacity. 

Air cargo demand has grown by double digits for four consecutive months, while rates have risen steadily since late February. The strength of the market rebound...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/china-e-commerce-exports-unreliable-red-sea-shipping-boost-air-cargo

Dali owner, manager seek to cap liability in Baltimore bridge collapse

The owner and operator of the Dali, the cargo ship that struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, are asking a federal court to limit their liability in the disaster that collapsed the bridge and killed six people.

Grace Ocean, the owner of the Singapore-flagged Dali, and Synergy Marine, the manager of the ship, filed a joint petition Monday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland seeking to cap liability at about $43.7 million. The Dali, which was carrying about 4,700...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dali-owner-manager-seek-to-cap-liability-in-baltimore-bridge-collapse

UPS to close 200 sort centers in modernization push

UPS says a projected rebound in parcel demand combined with an aggressive strategy for network consolidation and automation to reduce excess capacity and labor costs will drive double-digit profit margins by 2026. Up to 200 facilities are slated for closure over a five-year period.

The optimization plan, code-named Network of the Future, is expected to save $3 billion per year by 2028 through better productivity, according to a new strategic framework outlined by management on Tuesday. The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/ups-to-close-200-sort-centers-in-modernization-push

Supply chains face weather’s wrath in 2024

Bart

By Bart De Muynck

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.

Global supply chains have faced many disruptions the past few years, and weather has been a huge part of those. In 2021 we had the Texas freeze, causing the worst unplanned blackout in U.S. history. It crippled Texas’ power grid, halting factory production and causing widespread transportation disruptions.

In 2023, we have seen heavy rainsand...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/supply-chains-face-weathers-wrath-in-2024

SEC backs off on requiring companies to report scope 3 emissions

Tracking the full impact of greenhouse gas emissions down the supply chains of publicly traded companies will not be required by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the agency decided Wednesday.

Scope 3 emissions are those generated by a company in the supply chain two steps away from the reporting company, though it would not be dealing directly with those companies.  The initial rule proposed by the SEC would have required publicly traded companies to report their scope 3 emissions in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/sec-backs-off-on-requiring-companies-to-report-scope-3-emissions

Descartes sees ‘no end in sight’ for elevated supply chain investments

Supply chain software provider Descartes again reported record quarterly results, noting it is “picking up a bunch of business from competitors.”

Descartes (NASDAQ: DSGX) reported consolidated revenue of $148.2 million, a 19% year-over-year (y/y) increase, for its 2024 fiscal fourth quarter ended Jan. 31. Services revenue was up 20% to $135.7 million. The period benefitted from prior acquisitions of final-mile solutions providers GroundCloud and Localz. Excluding the impact of those deals as...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/descartes-sees-no-end-in-sight-for-elevated-supply-chain-investments

2024 presidential election may have big impact on supply chains

Bart

By Bart De Muynck

The views expressed here are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FreightWaves or its affiliates.

The first two months of 2024 have already put stresses on U.S. supply chains due to many global disruptions. We find ourselves in the midst of a presidential election year, leaving many people wondering how this will further impact the U.S. economy. This year marks the 60th quadrennial presidential election, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Predicting...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/2024-presidential-election-may-have-big-impact-on-supply-chains

The Light Load: It’s a mad, mad, mad, mad supply chain world

Why do international supply chains suddenly feel like a reboot of “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” or a blood sport version of “The Amazing Race”?

For those who haven’t witnessed the former, it’s a 1963 gargoyle of a movie. I say “witnessed” because you don’t exactly “watch” “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” You may like it. You may hate it. But you can only stare agape as it passes by. The film starred everybody — and I mean everybody — from Spencer Tracy to Ethel Merman to Mickey Rooney,...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/the-light-load-its-a-mad-mad-mad-mad-supply-chain-world

Red Sea cargo diversions could affect 2024 holiday shipping

The current spike in shipping costs caused by ocean carriers routing away from the conflict in the Middle East could seep into longer-term rates if the federal government waits too long to help mitigate potential backups at U.S. ports, according to retailers.

“While many are focusing on the current situation, more challenges will be created the longer these disruptions continue,” said Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation, testifying...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/red-sea-cargo-diversions-could-affect-2024-holiday-shipping

White Paper: The State of Freight – January 2024

This monthly report analyzes the current state of the freight market based on critical insights from our SONAR platform. The themes for January are current freight market conditions and macroeconomic trends. All insights are provided by FreightWaves’ Craig Fuller, Founder and CEO, and Zach Strickland, Head of Freight Market Intelligence.

The report’s key topics include:
• The impact of severe winter weather for the U.S. truckload market
• Post-holiday consumer spending sentiment
• Impacts of the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/white-paper-the-state-of-freight-january-2024

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