Our Week 38 Top Logistics Stories

It’s week 38 and here are three stories you should be updating your customers and prospects on this week. They need your expertise!

Shippers may not be aware of what’s occurring or its importance, so offering your assistance and insights will help you build a stronger relationship with them.

Knowing what’s going on in the market is only half the battle. Your customers need to be told what to do about it and they should hear that from you.

1.      FedEx is instituting an average 5.9% general rate increase effective January 5. The carrier is raising costs for oversize, delivery area, residential delivery, and other handling surcharges in addition to base rates. Expect UPS to follow suit with a similar 2026 GRI announcement in the coming months.

2.      Retailers are forecasting a decline in imports to continue through the end of 2025, driven by weaker consumer demand, inventory overhang, and trade headwinds. Import volume drops are expected, particularly for discretionary goods and items with long lead times.

3.      Some Chinese shipping lines are withdrawing from U.S. routes, creating capacity gaps and shifting negotiating power for remaining carriers for fear of new U.S. port fees. Spot rates on these lanes are becoming volatile as shippers scramble to secure alternate capacity. This is another result of the current U.S. trade policy.

Of course, these stories are just a small part of what’s going on in the supply chain space right now. Updating your clients on how this and other information is relevant to their business is a way to provide more value and strengthen your relationships.

If you need help creating more complete and customized updates for emails, blogs, and social media, we can help. Visit www.shippingbrief.com to learn more.