by Dave Frentzel | Sep 4, 2021 | Briefs
Moving a container from China to the US has gotten expensive these days, a lot more expensive. For mid-sized importers, spot and premium rates – rates that actually get an empty container to your factory or warehouse loading dock and a confirmed sailing date – may be...
by Dave Frentzel | May 14, 2021 | Briefs
This past year has no doubt been a challenge for inventory planners: customer demand surging or evaporating seemingly overnight, shortages of critical supplies, and global shipping congestion, delays and skyrocketing rates isn’t business as usual. For many companies,...
by David Bovet | Jun 5, 2020 | Briefs, Investor Advisory
Ports and ocean carriers April port import container volumes recovered somewhat from March but remained quite mixed. On the Pacific Coast, the Canadian ports shifted up to positive import comparisons versus the year-earlier month. The US ports improved from March but...
by Dave Frentzel | May 9, 2020 | Briefs, Strategic Sourcing, Supply Chain Management
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed startling deficiencies in many companies’ sourcing strategy and supply chains. Supermarkets were unable restock their shelves when demand for home basics like peanut butter and toilet paper surged [1]. Healthcare providers could...
by David Bovet | May 6, 2020 | Briefs, Operations, Strategy, Supply Chain Management
The coronavirus pandemic has revealed the vulnerability of many global supply chains. Supply plummeted first from shutdown factories in China, then demand collapsed worldwide as countries adopted stay-at-home orders. These unprecedented events surfaced a level of...
by David Bovet | May 1, 2020 | Briefs, Investor Advisory
Ports and ocean carriers Port import container volumes took a dive in the month of March. Many of the largest ports saw reductions of around 20% compared to the prior year. Those that fared better, with reductions in the 5 to 10% range, were Long Beach, Oakland,...