US Imports Stay Elevated As Port Delays Strain Supply Chains

US Imports Stay Elevated As Port Delays Strain Supply Chains

A recent Descartes report indicates that US imports in August decreased by 3% compared to July, but remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Port congestion is worsening, leading to widespread shipping delays. The report highlights the dominance of West Coast ports and the concentration of import origins. Businesses should diversify their supply chains, optimize inventory management, strengthen logistics partnerships, embrace digitalization, and closely monitor policy changes to mitigate supply chain risks. These strategies are crucial for navigating the ongoing challenges and ensuring business continuity.

01/15/2026 Logistics
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Food Packaging Industry Faces Demand Surge Supply Challenges

Food Packaging Industry Faces Demand Surge Supply Challenges

The pandemic accelerated the restaurant industry's reliance on food delivery, driving transformation in the food packaging sector. This report analyzes challenges such as raw material shortages, design innovation, and sustainability. It proposes future trends including intelligent, personalized, and environmentally friendly packaging. The report suggests businesses strengthen supply chain management, increase R&D investment, and embrace sustainable development principles to enhance market competitiveness. Companies should focus on innovative materials and designs, while also addressing environmental concerns and adapting to evolving consumer preferences in the delivery economy.

01/19/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Customs Agencies Adopt Virtual Classrooms to Boost Training

Customs Agencies Adopt Virtual Classrooms to Boost Training

The pandemic has presented challenges to customs personnel training. Live virtual classrooms have become crucial for overcoming these difficulties. This paper emphasizes that customs organizations should actively embrace change, drawing on WCO guidelines. By carefully designing courses, strengthening interaction, and leveraging technology, they can create effective virtual classrooms, enhance personnel capabilities, and drive customs modernization. Ultimately, this promotes trade facilitation and national security. The focus is on adapting to the new normal and utilizing virtual platforms for continuous learning and development within customs administrations.

01/19/2026 Customs Knowledge
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US Rail Freight Rebounds Amid Mixed Growth Trends

US Rail Freight Rebounds Amid Mixed Growth Trends

Data from the Association of American Railroads shows US rail freight and intermodal volume increased year-over-year in March, partially due to a low base in the same period last year. Performance varied across segments, with intermodal showing strong growth. Looking ahead, challenges include the pandemic, supply chain bottlenecks, and industry restructuring. Opportunities arise from infrastructure investment, intermodal development, and technological innovation. Railroad companies need to respond proactively, and shippers should optimize their logistics strategies. The future of rail freight is intertwined with these evolving dynamics.

01/19/2026 Logistics
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Costa Ricas Aviation Boom Rides Tourism Recovery Wave

Costa Ricas Aviation Boom Rides Tourism Recovery Wave

This paper delves into the opportunities and challenges within Costa Rica's aviation market, highlighting the industry's crucial role in the country's economy and tourism. It analyzes post-pandemic market recovery, route expansion, air travel habits, and the significance of air cargo. The paper advocates for enhanced safety measures, infrastructure investment, maintaining cost competitiveness, and promoting decarbonization within the aviation sector to achieve sustainable development. It emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to ensure the long-term viability and positive impact of aviation in Costa Rica.

01/19/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Private Fleets Expand As Supply Chain Challenges Persist

Private Fleets Expand As Supply Chain Challenges Persist

This article analyzes the counter-trend growth of in-house fleets accelerated by the pandemic, exploring the driving factors and challenges faced. It focuses on key strategies for improving in-house fleet operational efficiency, including strengthening preventive maintenance, deploying proactive safety technologies, enhancing training and certification, establishing industry networks, and conducting benchmarking. The aim is to provide a reference for companies to optimize their in-house fleet operations. These strategies can help companies improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance the overall performance of their logistics operations.

01/19/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Prologis Report Signals Industrial Real Estate Market Recovery

Prologis Report Signals Industrial Real Estate Market Recovery

The Prologis IBI report indicates a gradual recovery of industrial real estate market activity to pre-pandemic levels, driven by e-commerce growth, supply chain diversification, and manufacturing reshoring. Technological innovation is also fueling industry development. While regional recovery varies, the overall trend is positive. The report highlights the resilience of the sector and its ability to adapt to evolving economic conditions, suggesting continued growth potential despite ongoing global uncertainties. This resurgence underscores the critical role of industrial spaces in supporting modern commerce and supply chains.

01/19/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Postpandemic Supply Chains Shift Focus From Penalties to Trust

Postpandemic Supply Chains Shift Focus From Penalties to Trust

In the post-pandemic era, companies face the challenge of OTIF penalties. This Uber Freight webinar offers practical guidance to help businesses mitigate the impact of these penalties. By leveraging end-to-end visibility, precise service insights, complex data analysis, and root cause traceability, companies can optimize their supply chain management. This approach fosters trust, achieves cost reduction and efficiency gains, and enables win-win partnerships. The webinar provides actionable strategies to minimize OTIF penalties and improve overall supply chain performance through data-driven optimization.

01/19/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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US Retailers Curb Imports Amid Consumer Demand Uncertainty

US Retailers Curb Imports Amid Consumer Demand Uncertainty

The National Retail Federation reports a modest 1.1% growth forecast for June retail imports, signaling retailer caution towards back-to-school and holiday season sales. Influenced by inflation and geopolitical factors, retailers are adopting conservative import strategies to avoid overstocking. The retail sector is transitioning from pandemic-driven surges to a more normalized environment. Retailers are managing inventory and optimizing supply chains to mitigate potential market risks. This approach reflects a shift towards careful planning and adaptation in response to evolving consumer behavior and economic uncertainties.

01/20/2026 Logistics
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Customs HR Strategies for Crisis Resilience and Adaptation

Customs HR Strategies for Crisis Resilience and Adaptation

This article provides an in-depth interpretation of the World Customs Organization (WCO) guidelines, aiming to assist customs administrations in enhancing human resource resilience during crises. It analyzes the challenges faced by customs HR under the pandemic and elaborates on seven key areas for building resilience, including leadership & communication, employee health & safety, and workplace transformation. Drawing on international best practices, the article offers valuable insights and references for customs administrations to address future challenges. This resource is designed to strengthen HR functions within customs agencies globally.

01/20/2026 Customs Knowledge
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