Logistics Trends & Insights LLC

Alibaba's B2B platform and Maersk, a long time Alibaba partner, announced yesterday that Maersk’s LCL and FCL logistics services will be available on Alibaba.com. According to the press release, "this will allow SMEs to directly book transparent, cost-effective shipping with a single click." Per the announcement, the service includes: ● SMEs can secure preferential rates ● Guaranteed Capacity & Rates: Lock space and prices to mitigate supply chain risks. ●??Monitor shipments from factory pickup to delivery. ●??Automated Compliance: Streamlined documentation for cross-border trade. The service appears to be similar to Amazon Global Logistics which allows shippers to ship ocean cargo from China directly into the Amazon fulfillment network in the US, UK, and EU. https://lnkd.in/gXdS9-tv. Stay tune for more via a Substack article this weekend on this and more. Happy Friday! Cathy

Congratulations to Spee Dee Delivery Service, Inc. who announced yesterday that it plans to expand into Missouri and Kansas effective April 7. This is another example of regional parcel carriers and parcel tech providers expanding their geographic reach and providing shippers with more delivery options. The parcel market is evolving as two of its leaders, FedEx and UPS, retool their networks and focus on higher margin deliveries such as healthcare/life sciences while the USPS continues to face its own unique issues and Amazon grabs volume - its own and as a 3rd party carrier. The US Parcel Market Q1 report will be available in April to Substack paid subscribers. https://lnkd.in/djGzMTK Other subscriber-only reports in the works are: ??Quarterly Logistics M&A Review and Analysis ??Cold Chain Stay tune for more report announcements. - Cathy

A couple of interesting tidbits I found this morning: For those keeping up with UPS and FedEx surcharges etc. - effective March 24, 2025, the applicable zone will change for certain origin/destination ZIP code pairs. Revised zone charts will be available via UPS.com beginning March 24, 2025. "UPS rate updates help to support ongoing expansion and capability enhancements as we strive to maintain the high service levels you expect from UPS." Sounds like a new way of raising rates while not raising rates....?? The second tidbit I found really interesting particularly regarding the potential upcoming steel and aluminum tariffs on March 12: Per Recycling Today - The Recycled Materials Association says its review and analysis of the executive orders on inbound steel and aluminum tariffs indicate ferrous and aluminum scrap can continue to trade freely across the United States border. https://lnkd.in/ehNKwUsS - Cathy

A bit of history and more in my latest Substack article - The Tumultuous Mexican Cross Border -https://lnkd.in/e4HTeXYy

I'm enjoying a nice cup of coffee ? while working on some content for a couple of clients and finishing up my Substack article. Friendly reminder that Freight Forward and Freight Reverse will go out on Monday. Freight Forward - https://lnkd.in/gr_HEfzf Freight Reverse - https://lnkd.in/eNAtZWT2 Also, we're one week away from TPM (https://tpm.joc.com/en). I'll be there with the rest of the JOC team and will be providing daily updates via Freight Forward. I'll also be moderating a couple of sessions - A sustainability case study with LoveSac, Gemini Shippers Group, Green ABI and Allport Cargo Services and a case study utilizing the DOT's FLOW with Ace Hardware, Wan Hai Lines and TRAC Intermodal. And, we're about two weeks away from RLA's conference (https://rla.org/event/330). I'll be there with the rest of the RLA team and will provide some daily highlights and also help out with the startup pitch competition and the industry partners forum. So, for now, stay tuned for more updates. If you plan to attend either, or both conferences, let me know and let's plan to meet up. ?? - Cathy

Happy Wednesday! Part 2 of yesterday's post concerning trade with our neighbors to the South and North https://lnkd.in/eVYG5G9G U.S. total goods trade with Canada were an estimated $762.1 billion in 2024. U.S. goods exports to Canada in 2024 were $349.4 billion, down 1.4% from 2023. U.S. goods imports from Canada in 2024 totaled $412.7 billion, down 1.4% from 2023. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Canada was $63.3 billion in 2024, a 1.4% over 2023. https://lnkd.in/eUSNae2E (1.4% seems to be the magic percentage here…a bit odd to me ??) An interesting Time article worth the read - How Canada Got Hooked on the U.S. Economy - https://lnkd.in/eCTJUyvg Per the article, in 1988, a free trade deal was signed that removed tariffs on goods and services between the two countries. However, every Canadian government since Pierre Trudeau has tried to diversify trade, with limited success. Despite a pause, this analysis from the Brookings Institute is another good read - Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico will be a blow to all 3 economies https://lnkd.in/eVnWfcqZ TD - Setting the Record Straight on Canada-US Trade https://lnkd.in/gTRjZakB ??Canada is the largest export market for the US and makes up one of the smallest trade deficits. ??The US is a net exporter to Canada of manufacturing goods, particularly motor vehicles and parts. ??Most Canadian exports are inputs used by American businesses in their own production – more so than with other trading partners. ??Canada is an important supplier of other key commodities, including metals and critical minerals. Notably, on the US government’s 50-item critical mineral list, the U.S. is a net importer of 43 of these minerals. That's it for now. A new Substack article is in the works for tomorrow or possibly Friday. Check out the previous ones here and hit the subscribe button to receive early notice of publication. https://lnkd.in/djGzMTK Thanks, Cathy

Canada, Mexico and the US have benefited by trade with one another for years, but the USMCA agreement is under threat as tariffs potentially threaten trade between the 3 countries. Last month, the Peterson Institute published a report - The future of the USMCA What’s next for US trade relations with Canada and Mexico? That’s worth the read - https://lnkd.in/gZy6vNid According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the average manufactured product imported from Mexico contains 40% US content, and the average manufactured product imported from Canada contains 25% U.S. content. https://lnkd.in/eKRVftiQ and https://lnkd.in/ebu8gQDb Some tidbits on Mexico (Canada will come later): US total goods trade with Mexico were an estimated $839.9 billion in 2024. US goods exports to Mexico in 2024 were $334.0 billion, up 3.5% from 2023. U.S. goods imports from Mexico in 2024 totaled $505.9 billion, up 6.4% from 2023. The US goods trade deficit with Mexico was $171.8 billion in 2024, a 12.7% increase over 2023. https://lnkd.in/eas4mHUr Mexico is the largest single source of U.S. horticultural imports. In 2023, Mexico supplied 63% of US vegetable imports and 47% of U.S. fruit and nut imports. https://lnkd.in/eEekYqeu and https://lnkd.in/ezDqKvps Mexico’s tech exports to US increased 35% in 2024, closing gap with China. Mexico was the 2nd exporter of advanced tech products to the United States in 2024 after China. https://lnkd.in/e6MY4sGJ Mexico's automotive industry increased its share of US automotive imports from 37.8% in 2023 to 38.5% in 2024. This marks the 5th consecutive year of growth, with US imports from Mexico reaching a total value of US$181.4 billion in automotive products, including cars, trucks, auto parts, and buses. Overall, the United States imported automotive products worth US$471.6 billion globally in 2024. https://lnkd.in/eMkC8FkT But this year started out with a monthly decline in auto exports in January - Mexico experienced a 13.7% decline in vehicle exports despite a 1.7% increase in production, with 312,257 light vehicles manufactured. https://lnkd.in/eMkC8FkT

Happy Sunday! I'm finishing up some content work for a client today and then it's some yard work. Friendly reminder that Freight Forward and Freight Reverse will go out tomorrow. In addition, look for another Substack article later in the week. For last week's Freight Forward and Freight Reverse: Freight Forward: https://lnkd.in/ebaUjz-e Freight Reverse: https://lnkd.in/e2U8DZ25 Substack - 'Rethinking Supply Chains' - https://lnkd.in/djGzMTK By the way, attending TPM or RLA's annual conference next month? If so, let's meet up for coffee and catch up. ?? - Cathy

A bit of rain this morning here in ATL but this afternoon is looking nice for a drive in the North Georgia Mts. Chris' 91 year-old mom was hospitalized for a few days last week so we're taking her out for lunch and a change of scenery today. Today is a look at some trucking news from this past week: Yellow’s administrators concluded private deals with Knight-Swift Transportation, A. Duie Pyle and TFI International for leased terminals outside of the ongoing auction of the remaining real estate of Yellow. Transport Topics - https://lnkd.in/efE2TqVH General Motors and Jack Cooper ended their 97-year relationship after contract negotiations reached an impasse. Jack Cooper had sought a new contract with GM — and all of its customers — after Ford Motor Co. canceled its contract with Jack Cooper last month. Ford was Jack Cooper's 2nd largest customer behind GM. Detroit Free Press - https://lnkd.in/etgENjrj According to a Texas A&M Transportation Institute study, truck drivers are reluctant to use certain app-based truck parking management platforms that could help mitigate parking shortages and assist drivers in meeting hours-of-service requirements. Transport Topics - https://lnkd.in/e67k7Uie Old Dominion, Saia, XPO and ArcBest fielded questions from analysts about how the FedEx Freight spinoff might affect their operations and the broader LTL market. Trucking Dive - https://lnkd.in/g7Y6t7bf Wabash acquired TrailerHawk.ai, a provider of advanced cargo security and smart access management technologies. According to the press release, the move strengthens Wabash’s Trailers as a Service (TaaS) offering. Press Release - https://lnkd.in/ettzSEQV Owner-operators and truck drivers who did not file a comment on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s brokered freight transparency rulemaking proposal during the initial 60-day comment period will get another chance. The agency announced in a Federal Register notice expected to be published Tuesday, Feb. 18, that it is granting a request from the Small Business in Transportation Coalition (SBTC) to reopen the comment period 30 days. The initial comment period was open from Nov. 20 through Jan. 21. Overdrive - https://lnkd.in/ebQhceYx - Cathy

Yay! It's Friday and Valentine's Day! ?? According to the NRF, consumers are expected to spend a record $27.5 billion on Valentine’s Day this year. The amount is up from last year’s $25.8 billion and slightly above the previous record of $27.4 billion set in 2020.?https://lnkd.in/gqKmwG_y My latest Substack article is out: Air Cargo Market's VAS - Last Mile Delivery. The article discusses how airlines, airports and air cargo handlers are adding last mile service offerings as a way to maintain/increase e-commerce volumes. https://lnkd.in/e8x6QHUB Friendly reminder that new Freight Forward and Freight Reverse LinkedIn newsletters will go out on Monday. -Cathy