Alibaba.com B2B Pulse: January 31st, 2024

Appreciation to everyone who listened to the premiere episode of The B2B Breakthrough Podcast! The responses have been phenomenal, and we're eager to bring you more captivating stories and insights from our featured guests. This week, we were honored to speak with Jason Feifer, the Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine—an exceptional storyteller and an expert in the entrepreneurial field. Don't forget to hit the subscribe button on your preferred podcast platform and enable automatic downloads to ensure you never miss an episode!

Spotify: Listen Here

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Embarcing Change: Lessons in Adabtability

In this episode of the B2B Breakthrough Podcast, host Sharon Gai is joined by Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine and author of "Build for Tomorrow," to discuss why you should embrace change and seize new opportunities, how you can adapt and innovate in your business, and how to future-proof your career as an entrepreneur.

If Apple Podcasts is your podcast platform of choice, check out the link below to listen to the full episode. If you're a Spotify user, click here .

5 Easy Steps for Effective Vendor Relationship Management

Developing strong relationships with your vendors is key to scaling your business. This week we provide a guide for businesses aiming to strengthen their relationships with suppliers. It outlines a strategic approach that begins with thorough research and selection of the right vendors, emphasizing the importance of setting clear expectations and terms from the outset. The article underscores the necessity of communication and the establishment of solid relationships through trust and performance monitoring. It encourages maintaining a collaborative approach to problem-solving and innovation, and advises on the regular evaluation of vendor performance against agreed-upon metrics to ensure mutual growth and success. Click the link below to read more.

Freight Market Update

Over the past week, ocean frieght rates from from Asia to North America have continued their upward trend. Of note, rates to the east coast have risen by almost 20% week-over-week compared to the west coast. Similarly, shipping lanes to the Mediterranean Sea saw another increase of nearly 25%. However, with the Lunar New Year fast approaching, congestion at North American ports have begun to clear up, and experts predict that these rates are nearing their peak.

Conversely, the global air freight market has continued to see a slight decrease, with rates from China to both North America and Europe lowering by 5-10%. While experts predict an increase in demand as shipping disruptions continue in the Red Sea, it is difficult to forecast the impact on pricing.

For logistics solutions with competitive pricing, full visibility, and easily-accessible customer support, check out the Alibaba.com Logistics Marketplace , and for more details, check out the full report as well.