By Shefali Kapadia and Matt Leonard The growth spurt in consumer spending that began last summer carried over into 2021, with knock-on effects to supply chains. Freight demand led to hikes in transportation prices and warehouse rents, alongside dips in capacity. And near the end of the quarter, a global disruption occurred: The Ever GivenContinue reading “9 charts show the highs and lows of supply chains in Q1”
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Timeline: How the Suez Canal blockage unfolded across supply chains
By Matt Leonard When the Ever Given ran aground in the Suez Canal, it captured international attention as crews worked to dislodge the vessel and resume global trade flows. Days after the vessel was freed, hundreds of container ships were still waiting to get through the canal as a result of the backlog created byContinue reading “Timeline: How the Suez Canal blockage unfolded across supply chains”
Congested West Coast ports bring the heat to TL spot rates
By Jim Stinson Normality — at least what passes as normality in 2020 and 2021 — seemed to be slowly returning to trucking lanes out of the Los Angeles area after months of supply chain congestion. The number of ships offshore the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in California had dropped in lateContinue reading “Congested West Coast ports bring the heat to TL spot rates”
The US has a new trade chief. What supply chains can expect on tariffs and China.
By Shefali Kapadia Trade didn’t make it into the Biden administration’s seven immediate priorities. It’s not a subject where analysts and former trade representatives expect to see big moves or a flurry of activity. But that hasn’t deterred newly-confirmed U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. “I don’t expect, if confirmed, to be put on the back burnerContinue reading “The US has a new trade chief. What supply chains can expect on tariffs and China.”
Dole, Amazon settle in as logistics infrastructure in Wilmington, Delaware, builds up and out
By Shefali Kapadia Interstate 495 is in clear view from the berths at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware. One traffic light and one turn is all it takes for trucks departing the port to reach the highway and haul their containers to dense population centers along the East Coast. And running parallel to the interstate,Continue reading “Dole, Amazon settle in as logistics infrastructure in Wilmington, Delaware, builds up and out”
Inside the financial health of trucking’s largest players
By Shefali Kapadia Part of 2020 and 2021 so far have proved to be blockbuster for trucking. Consumer demand kept shippers busy and pleading for space, while the supply of tractors, trailers and drivers remained tight. But not all trucking firms benefit equally from the continuing freight boom. As in every industry, some transport firmsContinue reading “Inside the financial health of trucking’s largest players”
How to navigate the 90-day tariff ‘cease-fire’
Higher tariffs, lower tariffs. More tariffs, fewer tariffs. Steel tariffs, auto tariffs. The ongoing saga of the U.S.-China trade war feels like Dr. Seuss book meets roller coaster. Throughout 2018, only one thing has been consistent for business managers when it comes to trade policy and regulation — uncertainty. “This is no way for retailersContinue reading “How to navigate the 90-day tariff ‘cease-fire’”
From mushroom to handbag: Creating a closed loop textile supply chain
Spoiled milk becomes toilet paper. Pineapple leaves become faux leather. Spider silk becomes a Lexus seat. These are just a few of the applications on the market as supply chains seek sustainable solutions to meet growing consumer demand. In Supply Chain Dive’s series, Deborah Abrams Kaplan explores the innovative ways manufacturers are taking natural materialsContinue reading “From mushroom to handbag: Creating a closed loop textile supply chain”
Resilience Plan of the Year: Hasbro’s inventory management strategy
See the original article. Nine West, Sears, Mattress Firm — the list of retailers that filed for bankruptcy this year is by no means a short one. Retail bankruptcies can wreak havoc on supply chain partners. In the case of Toys R Us, vendors took significant hits as a major customer filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 lastContinue reading “Resilience Plan of the Year: Hasbro’s inventory management strategy”
Managing traffic congestion around Atlanta’s ‘gateway to the world’
For 20 years and counting, Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport (ATL) has worn the badge of honor of busiest airport in the world. About 275,000 passengers traverse the airport each day, and nearly 650,000 metric tons of cargo and mail passed through the facility in 2016. “It is a major gateway to the world — one canContinue reading “Managing traffic congestion around Atlanta’s ‘gateway to the world’”
SHEFALI KAPADIA 