Tariffs, Freight, And Inventory Movements...

In November, North American Supply Chain leaders shifted their focus to tariff mitigation and began putting in place or executing plans to prepare for the potential impact of new or increased tariffs.

Ocean shipping prices continued to normalize across Asia – US, despite some importers frontloading shipments to mitigate the risks of potential labor strikes and increased tariffs under the incoming administration.

Ocean rates rose slightly on Asia --- EMEA lanes driven by a recent equipment shortage. Air rates also saw a modest rise, though they remained well below extreme peak-season levels.

Meanwhile, domestic USA freight and warehouse demand has seen a small uptick, fueled by inventory pull-forward and repositioning efforts.