2025 Household Goods Shipping

Hello all! Before getting into the 2025 outlook, please note that there will be some delays with service in parts of the US that are getting winter weather they are not accustomed to getting. The seaports in Houston, TX, and Jacksonville, FL, are closed today and should reopen tomorrow.

We are also seeing seaport delays in the EU and UK.

At various conferences in the fall, there was cautious optimism about an uptick in domestic volumes in 2025. People cited factors such as the election being over, mortgage rates dropping, and work-from-home policies changing as reasons for their optimism.?

There are more international concerns due to various election outcomes worldwide in 2024 and 2025. Potential changes in immigration laws and proposed tariffs in the USA could significantly impact international relocations. These changes could lead to a spike in international volumes early in the year and then settle down in the back half of the year.

Now, putting the crystal ball away, I can confidently state that shipments will continue to get smaller, and lump-sum moves will rise. Client-directed COD moves grew quite a bit for Interconex in 2024.

Labor availability will remain a challenge in the US and globally. Pricing pressure on the moving industry has not let up, while overhead costs have increased. These factors have not left much room for wage growth for the crews on the front line with the transferees.

My outlook on international shipping is more upbeat, with the strong probability of the Red Sea soon opening up for safe passage. There will be a period of adjustment with shipping schedules; however, transit times will improve considerably as the year progresses. Freight costs should also come down, as alternate routes to avoid this area add considerable distance. The trans-Pacific rates fluctuate quite a bit. Two weeks ago, the rates were up, and this morning, I read they are coming down.?

Naturally, all of this is subject to change without much notice! So many situations impact moving household goods globally, most of which are beyond anybody's control. We will continue to keep you well informed and provide the best options for your relocating transferee.

Those who work with us know we can always cover those last-minute moves; however, those are less than ideal. A healthy lead time allows us to provide the best experience for your transferee and use your relocation budget the most efficiently.

Thank you for reading this; we hope you found this helpful information. We appreciate any feedback and news you might have from your neck of the woods.

All the best,

Alex