Supply chain

The Journal of Commerce’s supply chain news and analysis impacting the management of end-to-end supply chains reports on supply chain strategies, cargo visibility, inventory trends, sourcing, customs certification and contract logistics. Supply chain news coverage also delves into refrigerated shipping advancements and management of inventory status, regulatory updates and government funding projects. 

The latest Supply chain News & Analysis

Trump administration unlikely to repudiate new WTO pact

Alan M. Field, Special Correspondent |
Despite President Donald Trump’s aversion to multilateral agreements, TFA holds big benefits for US companies.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

New WTO accord to speed customs clearance, cut costs

Alan M. Field, Special Correspondent |
The TFA contains sweeping provisions for expediting the movement of goods, and for publishing up-to-date data about rules and regulations critical for speeding up trade facilitation.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Legislative 'error' threatens US truck safety spend

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
A "technical error" could cut $112 million from federal funding for truck safety enforcement programs, raising the risk of high-cost accidents.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsTrucking NewsLTL

EU reimposes $830 million air cargo cartel fines

Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent |
“Working together in a cartel ... does not fly with the Commission.”
Air Cargo Carriers NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

New agency could jump-start Brazil port concessions

Rob Ward, Brazil Special Correspondent |
Brazil formerly had an independent port ministry.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

US ports worry about potential cuts to security funding

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
“If we get a cut of what they are talking about, it’s going to be devastating.”
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsNorth American ports

US Congress pressured to encourage alliance emergency funds

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
FMC Commissioner Daniel Maffei said he was “disappointed” to learn this week that the 2M and Ocean alliances had decided to forgo emergency funds to protect cargo.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer lines

India pursues integrated transport policy to cut logistics costs

India Special Correspondent |
India wants to switch from a point-to-point transportation system to a hub-and-spoke model.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsInternational rail

Investors keen on freight technology but discerning

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor |
Venture capital money is available to fund freight technology startups, if the fit is right.
Logistics Technology News

Slideshow: Shipping insights heard at TPM

JOC Staff |
JOC’s 17th Annual TPM Conference was bursting with sharp insights on where the industry is headed and on ways to break the cycle of overcapacity, less-than-spectacular service, and unsustainable rates.
Container linesDrayageTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

EU poised to reimpose air cargo cartel fines

Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent |
The fines could total $850 million.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsAir CargoAir Cargo Forwarder NewsAir Cargo Carriers News

As market heats up, Roadrunner merges refrigerated carriers

William B. Cassidy, Senior Editor |
Adding density by merging separate refrigerated subsidiaries gave Roadrunner market leverage.
TruckloadCool Cargo News

UK forwarders and customs team up to monitor Brexit

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
The joint customs consultative committee think tank includes industry representatives most impacted by Brexit.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

DHL targets China cross-border trade with new Hong Kong facility

Greg Knowler, Senior Europe Editor |
Hong Kong fulfilment center takes aim at China's booming cross-border e-commerce market.
Logistics Technology News

Policy shift in Brazil provides spark to economy

Rob Ward, Brazil Special Correspondent |
A gradual return to more open domestic and international trade policies provided a small spark to the Brazilian economy in late 2016 and boosts carrier optimism.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer lines

Spanish trustbuster fines rail freight firms for collusion

Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent |
“Through these alliances, these groups ... could maintain almost unchanged the status quo that existed before the liberalization of the rail freight sector in Spain.”
International railTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Brazil seeks $14B booster for freight infrastructure

Rob Ward, Brazil Special Correspondent |
Brazil’s government for years now has been concessioning out infrastructure to boost investment and foster modernization.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsRail NewsInternational rail

CEVA bullish on 2017 as loss widens

Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent |
Freight management volumes increased “significantly” through the year and outpaced market growth, CEVA said.
Logistics Technology News

Carriers urged to drill down on costs and tech amid grim outlook

Hugh R. Morley, Senior Editor |
The undeniably grim outlook for global container lines in 2017 nevertheless could brighten.
Container linesForwardingLogistics Technology News

Deutsche Post DHL posts record earnings

Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent |
All four DHL divisions contributed to the strong performance.
Logistics Technology News

EU court annuls 2013 block on UPS bid for TNT

Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent |
UPS has not said whether it will seek damages following the ruling.
Logistics Technology NewsTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

FMC simplifies service contract amendment rule

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
It could be the first of many rollbacks “consistent with recent executive orders highlighting the benefits of reducing unnecessary and costly regulations” under President Trump.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation NewsContainer lines

Blockchain technology touted for supply chain efficiency

Alan M. Field, Contributing Editor |
Distributed ledger technology is rapidly gaining interest in multiple industries as a secure and cost-effective way to facilitate transactions.
Logistics Technology News

Cold chain interests committed to investments

Lara L. Sowinski |
Ports, carriers, and cold storage providers are committed to ongoing investments, including infrastructure, equipment, technology, and personnel.
Cool Cargo News

Traditional reefer carriers tout specialty services

Lara L. Sowinski |
Container carriers have made steady gains in the global reefer market, but conventional reefer carriers find success through specialty services.
Cool Cargo News

Freight station to speed cargo through Yangon

Tomoo Yatsuhashi, Japan Special Correspondent |
Suzue Corp. is the latest Japanese logistics company to deepen its involvement in the Southeast Asian nation.
Logistics Technology News

UPS upgrading container-tracking tech

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
E-commerce has heightened the sense of urgency regarding shipment visibility.
Logistics Technology News

Report: Logistics issues may cost chemical firms $79B

Joseph Bonney, Senior Editor |
Since 2010, chemical companies have announced 264 new US projects totaling more than $161 billion in capital investment.
Logistics Technology NewsNorth American portsRail NewsTrucking News

Low-sulfur fuel rule could cost carriers $60B

Dustin Braden, Shipper Relationship Manager |
The cost of low-sulfur fuel can be around 50 percent more expensive than typical bunker fuel.
Container linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

Tighter ocean, air margins squeeze Panalpina profit

Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent |
Panalpina faced a very challenging year in 2016.
Logistics Technology NewsAir Cargo

2016 a record year for earnings at Kuehne + Nagel

Bruce Barnard, Special Correspondent |
<p>Kuehne + Nagel posted a record result for 2016.</p>
Logistics Technology News

More carrier consolidation coming, XPO’s Jacobs says

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
Bradley S. Jacobs knows a thing or two about about consolidation.
Logistics Technology News

Carriers: US demurrage-detention proposal could add congestion

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
Shippers’ efforts to push the FMC into a rulemaking relies on antiquated evidence that predates the advent of containerized shipping, carriers said.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Maersk: Data digitalization has ‘humongous’ potential

Joseph Bonney, Senior Editor |
A trial shipment completed last week between North Europe and the East Coast of North America is a sign of digitalization’s potential.
Container linesCool Cargo News

Russian customs to overhaul filing process

Eugene Gerden, Russia Special Correspondent |
The Russian Federal Customs Service is trying to make itself more efficient.
Transport, Trade, and Regulation News

Economists: US protectionism could tip world into recession

Hugh R. Morley, Senior Editor |
Much depends on the actions of President Donald Trump.
Container linesTransport, Trade, and Regulation News

XPO’s Jacobs: Container lines falling behind on tech wave

Reynolds Hutchins, Associate Editor |
Jacobs said more ocean carrier consolidation is coming and more is needed.
Logistics Technology NewsContainer lines

XPO’s Jacobs blasts Teamsters after TPM protest

Hugh R. Morley, Senior Editor and Dustin Braden, Shipper Relationship Manager |
“The Teamsters are out of control.”
Logistics Technology NewsDrayage

MOL spin-off sets up logistics operations in India

India Special Correspondent |
Japanese shipping group MOL is the latest looking to tap into the rapidly growing logistics demand in India.
Supply chainContainer lines

Lack of transparency hampers containerized cold chain

Lara L. Sowinski |
The largest pain point yet to resolve in refrigerated shipping is the lack of data and transparency in managing the end-to-end cold chain, the former head of Maersk Line's reefer business says.
Cool Cargo NewsContainer lines