Editor’s Note: First, let us say that the humanitarian impacts and terrifying possibilities of a raging geopolitical storm leading to a global conflict are what really matter when eyeing Gaza. That is a concern well beyond this blog! We write this in the spirit of the annual budgets we are preparing (or will soon be […]

Shipping Line News Blank Sailings Up Dramatically Container Volume Asia to US East Coast Ports (2023) Container Volume Asia to US West Coast Ports (2023)

In a world already fraught with frightening freight challenges, shippers are now grappling with a bone-chilling new threat that haunts their every waking moment—a rising number of cargo thefts. Statistics reveal a total of 566 incidents documented this year, marking a spine-tingling 56% year-over-year increase. These thieves, driven by an insatiable appetite for cash, target […]

It’s no secret that the decline of cable television has given rise to a new entertainment behemoth: streaming platforms. The resulting power struggle forced network executives to rethink the wheel to attract more viewers than their competitors, and in turn, more advertising revenue. One of the tactics that’s taken centerstage is based upon the age-old […]

PICTURE THIS…It’s 1973. You’ve just arrived at your health-conscious Uncle Larry’s house for the weekend—and are less than enthused when you hear all about the new superfood blender that your uncle won in a raffle at his gym. He then proceeds to offer up one of his “World Famous Larry-aids,” which is loaded with fruits […]

In today’s interconnected world, where goods are sourced globally, a dark and omnipresent shadow looms in the background: forced labor. Forced labor generates an estimated $150 billion (USD) in profits and affects over 27 million laborers (about the population of Texas). To avoid this treacherous and complicated pitfall, it is crucial for the logistics, transportation, […]

Issue Date: January 19, 2022 Quote of the Issue: “We may have all come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.” –  Martin Luther King, Jr.  Adios Coming for the USMCA? ShapLight Focus: Congress is pressuring the Biden Administration to bolster US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) enforcement efforts— especially with Mexico— on labor, agriculture, telecom, […]

Issue Date: December 8, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “…too many of us now tend to worship self-indulgence and consumption. Human identity is no longer defined by what one does, but by what one owns.” –  Jimmy Carter.  Demanding Times for Import and Consumer Demand Forecasters ShapLight Focus: US household debt rose to an all-time high […]

Issue Date: October 14, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “If I had a dollar for every time I got distracted, I wish I had a puppy.” –  Anonymous.  Drewry Forecasts Steamship Industry Profits of $300B for 2021 ShapLight Focus: Hapag-Lloyd made $3.3B in the first 6 months of 2021 while Cosco put $10.5B on the board […]

Issue Date: September 7, 2021 Quote of the Issue: “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” –  Aristotle  Ocean Supply Chain’s so Darn Freaky, It’s Hurting our GDP ShapLight Focus: The US economy grew 6.5% in Q2 2021, but that figure fell well short of economists’ predictions of 8% growth due to supply chain […]