ocean shipping

It’s possible freight rates from Asia could reach new record highs. I know it’s not what U.S. importers like to hear, but freight rates are way up from Asia right now due to a number [...]

Freight Rates behave differently this decade than they did through previous periods. The prices shippers pay climb, even skyrocket, seemingly with every disruptive event. But freight rates [...]

This peak season was supposed to fizzle out early, supposing it would even really happen at all. In May and June, analysts were caught off guard by an early surge in shipping, pointed to as [...]

Shipping surge, new tariffs on the way, 50% tariff on specific Canadian goods announced, subdued peak season predicted, and a new reciprocal trade deal with Jordan… Wow. That’s a lot [...]

A practical walk-through with a worked example — factory price, ocean freight, duties and fees, insurance, plus the line items first-time importers routinely miss (consolidation, compliance, the [...]

Trans-Pacific freight rates have been surging after strong shipper demand spurred an early start to international shipping’s peak season. Last week, ocean freight carriers implemented [...]

On Sunday (June 14th), President Trump announced a peace deal with Iran via a Truth Social post: The Deal with the Islamic Republic of Iran is now complete. Congratulations to all! I hereby fully [...]

When I first started writing about international shipping more than 15 years ago, a rollercoaster was the best metaphor to describe the industry, with its volatile, up-and-down freight rates for [...]

Last week, we blogged on the opening of the Hormuz Strait, but with the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran feeling tenuous and Iran warning of possible mines in the water and [...]

With the two-week ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, Iran has reopened the Strait of Hormuz, but shipping traffic through it is reportedly at a trickle. According to a Reuters article by [...]

It’s time to look at what’s happening with freight rates. Whenever there’s a disaster, crisis, or disruption to a major shipping hub, freight rates are impacted. Usually, that [...]

This is a guest post by Jake Herrera. During each year, shipping volume swings wildly. It only takes weeks for freight availability to go from comfortable to tight. This often happens when [...]

Oil Prices Outlook Oil has always been a large factor in international shipping costs. The Iran War, with the closure of the Straight of Hormuz, effectively cut off shipping access through the [...]

This is a guest post by Jordan Ellis. U.S. Gulf ports can seem calm on Monday and strained by Thursday because ships, trucks, yards, and rail links react fast to small shocks. So, many logistics [...]

Competition on the waters of international shipping looks to be shrinking again as the world’s fifth-largest ocean freight carrier, Hapag-Lloyd, made a buyout deal yesterday to acquire the [...]

This is a guest post by Alexander Bley. International shipping often feels like a gamble. You book a container and schedule the pickup. You expect your goods to arrive on time. Then, you receive [...]

Last week, while Universal Cargo’s blog was on a little break for the holidays, U.S. importers of furniture got good news. The 25% tariff on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets, and [...]

Universal Cargo presents the Cantankerous Journeys of Cramer the Container! This funny new YouTube series follows the misadventures of Cramer the Container as he experiences and witnesses all the [...]

Are the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden attacks over? News broke this week indicating they’ve stopped, which has enormous implications for international shipping. No Attacks Since Peace Deal Since [...]

Air Freight Surge A couple weeks ago, the trade war between the U.S. and China escalated. China announced export controls expansions and President Trump responded with a threat of increasing [...]