Data from the rail industry is shedding light on the current challenges facing the supply chain industry. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to global trade, resulting in delays and bottlenecks throughout the supply chain process. Rail data from the Association of American Railroads (AAR) shows that carload volumes are down compared to pre-pandemic […]
The freight market has been experiencing a downturn for the past few months, leading many to wonder if it has finally hit the bottom. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant disruptions to supply chains, resulting in a decrease in demand for freight services. However, the recent uptick in consumer spending and economic activity has raised […]
Venable LLP’s Lydia Childre has provided a brief update on the US Department of Commerce’s investigation into circumvention of antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) for solar cells and modules imported from Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, made with parts and components originating from China. The investigation has undergone recent developments in Congress and the DOC. […]
The National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) and the Airforwarders Association (AfA) have joined forces to lobby Congress for critical funds to improve the handling infrastructure of air cargo at US airports. According to the organizations, the lack of investment in this essential aspect of the logistics chain seriously threatens its viability. […]
In the first quarter of 2023, air cargo growth is rebounding from the impact of COVID and is expected to resume its typical annual increase in demand. However, this growth may lead to an overwhelming demand for airports in the next 20 years, as it is estimated to increase by around 50%. The National Customs […]
The latest advancement in artificial intelligence (AI), chatbots, is being considered by logistics experts to improve supply chain operations. Software providers, such as Blue Yonder Group, SAP, and Manhattan Associates, are developing research programs to examine how generative AI can enhance forecasting, procurement, inventory management, and shipping decisions. These chatbots are being viewed as “super […]
FedEx has announced plans to restructure its air network, with a goal of reducing costs by $700 million annually. The company plans to achieve this by downgrading to surface transportation where possible, outsourcing more flights, implementing more direct routes and streamlining ancillary support functions like maintenance. FedEx will also invest less in its own aircraft […]
The ongoing geopolitical tensions between China and the United States are causing the global shipping industry to become increasingly bifurcated, with fleets and cargo flows cleaving into two. While some countries are attempting to remain neutral and trade with both sides, others are joining either the Western or Eastern trade blocs. This trend is particularly […]
The petition filed by GDLSK LLP is aimed at addressing the issue of unfair trade practices in the U.S. steel shelving industry. The petition requests that the United States Department of Commerce conduct an investigation to determine if boltless steel shelving units prepackaged for sale from India, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam are being sold […]
Despite falling spot container freight indexes and low import demand, the industry is not behaving like it is facing an imminent crisis. Rates paid by liner companies to charter container ships are now increasing, while the duration of charters is rising. The number of idle container ships has decreased, and liner companies continue to buy […]
