Trans-Pacific Maritime

Tariff threats roil North American container marketplace

Trade and tariff concerns are roiling an already volatile market and pushing up prices for shipping containers in North America, a new report says.

The region saw a 20% spike in average container prices over the past 90 days to lead a global surge on market volatility, U.S. election uncertainty and tariff fears, growing Mexico-U.S. trade, and logistical disruptions in Canada, according to the December forecast from box marketplace Container xChange.

Higher container prices — and freight rates —...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/tariff-threats-roil-north-american-container-marketplace

COVID outbreak could cripple California container ports

ports workers Los Angeles

Los Angeles County is at the epicenter of the current COVID surge. That county’s Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex is simultaneously at the epicenter of America’s import surge. These two spikes are now converging as hundreds of California dockworkers catch COVID.

The doomsday scenario — COVID-induced terminal closures in California at the very height of the import boom — is generally considered unlikely. But it’s being openly talked about.

“If the catastrophic infection rates continue, there...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/covid-outbreak-could-cripple-california-container-ports