Advisories

News

20 09 2023

  • OIA Global

Companies Begin Announcing Peak Season Surcharges

Typically, shippers’ cost pressures increase during peak season as individual companies (UPS, FedEx, etc.) institute higher surcharges to cover increases in their operating costs.

 

UPS announced its 2024 rate increases, which are set to go into effect on 26 December 2023. Rates for UPS Ground, UPS Air, and International services will increase by 5.9%. 

FedEx matched UPS’ figure, announcing its own 5.9% increase.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will not institute any peak season surcharges, ending a practice that began in 2020.  

Amazon’s ground transport service will not add peak season fees, undercutting much of the market. 

Freight truck localization showing semi driving toward camera during sunset in countryside.

18 09 2023

  • Journal of Commerce

Transpacific Capacity Will Increase Before End of Year

Transpacific capacity will increase by as much as 25% on the U.S. West Coast and 35% on the East Coast in the coming months. Expect low freight rates but also potential degradation in both service and schedule reliability. 

More information

09 09 2023

  • Journal of Commerce

Air Cargo Demand Remains Low

The widening imbalance between available air cargo capacity and demand has dragged global rates to their lowest level since the start of the pandemic. Demand growth in air cargo “simply does not exist” and the sector may not see any growth for several quarters, according to several industry analysts.

Source: Baltic Air Freight Indices powered by TAC 

07 09 2023

  • OIA Global

Market Report - September, 2023

These informative documents highlight important supply chain news and events using information from the industry’s leading journalistic sources. Content sections include market trends, disruption, technology advancements, infrastructure investments, government regulation, tariffs, and much more! You can subscribe to future editions here.

Download PDF

28 08 2023

  • OIA Global

Influx of Newbuild Vessels Increases Global Fleet Capacity

The maritime industry is experiencing a massive, sustained influx of newbuild container capacity. Multiple, leading data sources expect the supply glut to grow the world’s net fleet capacity and subsequently impact ocean freight rates.

 

Full story

newbuild vessels capacity blog feature

15 08 2023

  • Journal of Commerce
  • Maritime Executive

Panama Canal Updates Draft Restrictions

The Panama Canal will maintain a draft of 44 feet (13.41 meters) in the coming months. The Panama Canal Authority reduced the total number of ships that can pre-reserve a transit from 19 to 14, with that reduction expected to last through 21 August 2023. This reduction means <34 ships can move through the canal in both directions each day, compared with the 34-42 it normally handles at peak capacity. Panama Canal administrator Ricaurte Vásquez called the ongoing low drought situation “unusually severe” and warned that “significant restrictions” would remain in place until September 2024.

 

Learn more

09 08 2023

  • The Federal Register
  • U.S. Customs & Border Protection

U.S. Custom's Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) Increases 1 October 2023

Effective 1 October 2023, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will increase the minimum and maximum Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) for formal entries. The MPF minimum will increase to $31.67 (currently $29.66), and the maximum fee will change to $614.35 (currently $575.35); however, the percentages will remain the same. The MPF ad valorem rate of 0.3464% will not change.

More information

04 08 2023

  • Bloomberg
  • CNN

Yellow Corporation, Key U.S. Trucking Company, Shuts Down Operations

Yellow Corp. representatives recently notified union officials that the company will cease operations and file for bankruptcy. Yellow was essentially a conglomeration of short-haul trucking firms bought in recent decades, and the 99-year-old company grew to become a major less-than-truckload (LTL) stakeholder over time. The Nashville-based company had been struggling with considerable debt, and the shutdown impacts roughly 300 cargo terminals and 30,000 employees.

Learn More

01 08 2023

  • Reuters

UPS/Teamsters Reach Crucial Labor Deal

Teamsters’ local unions representing 340,000 full- and part-time workers at United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) voted 161-1 to endorse a tentative agreement reached on July 25th, recommending its passage by the full membership.  

The agreement, estimated at roughly $30B by the union, provides wage increases, one more paid holiday, and air conditioning in the delivery trucks. The deal also eliminates a two-tier pay system and forced overtime for delivery drivers.  

Full Story

19 07 2023

  • Bloomberg

ILWU Canada Rejects Tentative Labor Deal

Port workers on Canada’s West Coast are set to strike again after the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) caucus rejected the terms of the tentative labor deal reached with assistance from a federal mediator. The ongoing labor strife continues to impact two of Canada’s busiest ports, Vancouver and Prince Rupert.

18 07 2023

  • Bloomberg
  • The LoadStar

Mexico Overtakes China as Top Exporter to U.S.

In Q2 ’23 Mexico overtook China as the top exporter to the United States. Imports from Canada also surpassed Chinese flows by 5%. China’s weak export demand continued as Chinese shipments to the U.S. dropped 24% in May, the 11th straight month of declines. 

13 07 2023

  • OIA Global

Canadian West Coast Operations Update - 13 July

OIA expects to re-route containers destined for British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan through Seattle/Tacoma, whereas anything for eastern and central Canada will be sent via Halifax and Montreal.

Labor action currently impacts 9/29 marine cargo terminals at the Port of Vancouver, including Centerm, Deltaport, Fraser Surrey, and Vanterm. Congestion around Vancouver predicates that there will be added wait time when picking up containers, as well as a significant backlog to clear out after a labor deal is reached. We encourage you to check Vancouver’s dashboard to see a full container vessel line-up report, which includes vessels at anchor and dwelling outside of port authority jurisdiction.

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