Smooth Sailing? Not Today.
Good morning! ?? If you thought your morning commute was rough, global trade is having an even worse day. Clarksons , the world’s biggest shipbroker, just took a 20% stock hit, thanks to tariffs, trade wars, and a market that’s about as stable as a container stack in rough seas. Meanwhile, Trump’s big push for U.S. shipbuilding could come with a hefty price tag—like $30 billion in added costs and a potential supply chain meltdown. And if that wasn’t enough, a cargo ship called H&S Wisdom is literally stuck in the mud in the Humber estuary, waiting on the tides like a trucker stuck at a weigh station.
So, if your supply chain feels a little jammed up today—just be glad you’re not waiting on that ship. Let’s dive in.
“Good luck has its storms.” — George Lucas
Clarksons Faces Rough Waters Amid Trade Turmoil
Clarksons, the world’s biggest shipbroker, just took a 20% stock hit thanks to ongoing trade chaos. Freight rates have been sinking since early 2025, caught in the crossfire of tariffs, geopolitical conflicts, and economic uncertainty. Trump’s on-again, off-again tariffs, plus ongoing tensions in the Middle East and Ukraine, have made global trade feel like a rollercoaster with no brakes.
?? What’s the damage?
Even though Clarksons pulled in a record ￡115M profit in 2024, the current market turbulence is putting serious pressure on the industry. Some disruptions (like Red Sea attacks) have been weirdly profitable, but the long-term outlook depends on whether trade lanes can stabilize.
?? Why It Matters:
When shipping struggles, everyone in logistics feels it—higher costs, tighter margins, and unpredictable delays. Clarksons’ challenges signal wider instability in global supply chains that could trickle down to trucking, rail, and warehousing.
?? Hot Take:
Global trade is like a trucker trying to follow three different GPS routes at once—one says tariffs, another says war, and the third just keeps recalculating. If you’re in logistics, buckle up. This ride isn’t smoothing out anytime soon.
Stormy Seas Ahead: Trump’s Shipping Plan Could Disrupt Supply Chains
Trump wants to revive U.S. shipbuilding, but his plan could jack up costs and throw global trade into chaos. A proposed hefty port fee on Chinese-built ships (and fleets that use them) could add $30 billion in annual costs for consumers and double U.S. export shipping expenses.
To dodge the fees, shipping companies might reroute vessels or skip U.S. port calls, leading to bottlenecks, delays, and a supply chain mess reminiscent of early-pandemic gridlock. MSC is even considering bypassing key export hubs like Oakland, which could hit industries relying on those ports hard.
?? Why It Matters:
This isn’t just a shipping problem—it’s a logistics industry nightmare. If major carriers reroute, some ports could get swamped while others are ghost towns, driving up costs and complicating freight movement.
?? Hot Take:
Trump’s plan is like charging a retroactive toll on every car that’s ever used a highway—it punishes past choices and creates a rerouting mess. Will it really boost U.S. shipbuilding, or just clog up the entire supply chain? Buckle up, because smooth sailing is definitely not in the forecast.
Cargo Ship Stuck for Weeks—But Locals Keep Spirits Afloat
Imagine being stranded on a sandbank for weeks, just waiting for the tides to bail you out. That’s exactly what’s happening to the H&S Wisdom, a cargo ship that’s been stuck in the Humber estuary since March 2—and won’t move until late March or even April.
But in true community spirit, locals and Humber Rescue have stepped in, delivering food, water, and even care packages of sweets to keep the crew’s morale high. While refloating efforts are in the works, there’s no quick fix without either higher tides or a costly cargo unload.
?? Why It Matters:
One stuck ship might not seem like a big deal, but it’s a perfect snapshot of supply chain fragility. Natural factors like tides and shifting sandbanks can throw logistics into chaos, creating delays that ripple across the industry.
?? Hot Take:
No matter how advanced logistics get, Mother Nature still calls the shots. Sometimes, the only solution is to sit tight and wait for the water to rise.