US Container Imports Rise As Supply Chain Trends Shift Descartes

US Container Imports Rise As Supply Chain Trends Shift Descartes

Descartes' global shipping report reveals a significant rebound in U.S. container imports in January, increasing by 7.2% month-over-month, but still down year-over-year. The report highlights key findings such as easing port congestion, a rebound in Chinese imports, and the lingering effects of the pandemic. It analyzes drivers including consumer demand, inventory levels, and supply chain diversification. The report recommends that businesses strengthen risk management, optimize inventory management, and diversify suppliers to address ongoing supply chain challenges.

02/12/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Pitt Ohio Expands Warehousing in Midatlantic Midwest

Pitt Ohio Expands Warehousing in Midatlantic Midwest

Pitt Ohio has announced the launch of warehousing and distribution services across the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions. This initiative aims to help customers address supply chain resilience needs by integrating transportation, warehousing, and management. The services encompass project-based work, surge inventory management, and forward stocking solutions. Pitt Ohio also offers customized solutions designed to optimize inventory management, improve customer satisfaction, and reduce operational risks. The new service provides a comprehensive approach to streamlining logistics and enhancing supply chain efficiency.

01/20/2026 Warehousing
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Flexport Offers Shortterm Warehousing for Amazon Sellers

Flexport Offers Shortterm Warehousing for Amazon Sellers

Flexport offers short-term warehousing for Amazon-bound goods, enabling sellers to buffer and batch shipments before sending them to Amazon warehouses. This service is charged weekly per pallet, typically for storage periods of no more than a month. Sellers can optimize inventory management, reduce storage costs, and improve supply chain efficiency. For long-term storage needs, third-party logistics providers or Amazon FBA warehouses should be considered. This allows for greater flexibility and control over inventory flow to Amazon.

01/20/2026 Warehousing
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Amazon Upgrades Fulfillment by Merchant with New Efficiency Tools

Amazon Upgrades Fulfillment by Merchant with New Efficiency Tools

Amazon FBM has received a major upgrade, introducing four key features including custom vacation settings and multi-location shipping management. These enhancements aim to improve sellers' control over the fulfillment process and inventory management efficiency. Sellers can now flexibly schedule vacations, optimize multi-warehouse layouts, accurately track logistics, and simplify inventory management. This will help reduce operating costs, enhance the buyer experience, and strengthen market competitiveness. The upgrade focuses on giving sellers more power and flexibility in managing their FBM operations.

02/12/2026 Logistics
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CH Robinson SAS Launch Realtime Supply Chain Platform

CH Robinson SAS Launch Realtime Supply Chain Platform

C.H. Robinson partners with SAS to offer end-to-end supply chain solutions for the retail industry. This collaboration integrates data, optimizes transportation procurement, and enhances inventory visibility, ultimately enabling a more agile and efficient supply chain. The solution leverages data analysis and potentially dynamic programming techniques to improve decision-making across the entire supply chain, from sourcing to delivery. By providing real-time insights and predictive analytics, retailers can better manage their inventory, reduce costs, and respond quickly to changing market demands.

02/03/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Amazon Sellers Weigh Sea Vs Air Freight for Profits

Amazon Sellers Weigh Sea Vs Air Freight for Profits

This article delves into the costs, timelines, and risks associated with Amazon FBA sea and air freight. It offers strategies for sea freight for bulky, slow-moving items and air freight techniques for listings in their growth phase. A three-dimensional model encompassing 'product value - sales cycle - inventory level' is presented to help sellers build a dynamic logistics system. The goal is to optimize costs, improve efficiency, and maximize profits by strategically choosing the right shipping method and managing inventory effectively.

02/02/2026 Logistics
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Amazon Terminates Brand Program Stranding Chinese Sellers

Amazon Terminates Brand Program Stranding Chinese Sellers

Amazon abruptly announced the termination of its Authorized Brand program for third-party sellers, impacting thousands of Chinese vendors and leaving them with hundreds of millions in inventory facing clearance pressure. Sellers invested significant resources in qualification processes, but now face inventory pile-ups and decreased traffic due to the program's cancellation. Sellers are appealing to Amazon to retain sales links, grant advertising permissions, and extend the sales period to seek reasonable solutions and mitigate losses from the sudden program closure.

01/04/2026 Logistics Industry Insights
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Amazon Vendor Central Balancing Growth and Challenges

Amazon Vendor Central Balancing Growth and Challenges

Amazon VC sellers have listing control and high visibility, but also face longer payment cycles and inventory pressure. Essentially, VC is Amazon's vendor management system, selecting high-quality sellers through an invitation-only process. SC (Seller Central) and VC are distinct operational models. Sellers need to weigh the pros and cons carefully before choosing. While VC offers advantages like enhanced brand control and marketing opportunities, the extended payment terms and potential for large-scale orders require careful financial planning and robust inventory management.

12/31/2025 Logistics Industry Insights
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Amazon Sellers Grapple With IPI Limits Ahead of Peak Season

Amazon Sellers Grapple With IPI Limits Ahead of Peak Season

Amazon sellers should be aware of the risk of storage limits if their IPI score falls below 400, especially as peak season approaches. This article analyzes the importance and influencing factors of the IPI score and provides practical tips for improving it. These include reducing excess inventory, fixing stranded inventory, hiding restock recommendations for SKUs not being replenished, and optimizing low sell-through rate SKUs. Sellers should prioritize their IPI score and take effective measures to ensure peak season sales are not affected.

12/30/2025 Logistics Encyclopedia
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Nordstrom Rack Cuts Costs As Online Sales Decline

Nordstrom Rack Cuts Costs As Online Sales Decline

Nordstrom Rack is strategically adjusting its operations by slowing down store fulfillment and raising the threshold for free in-store pickup. These changes aim to improve inventory accuracy and boost profitability. By optimizing its supply chain and enhancing operational efficiency, Rack is committed to building a more efficient and sustainable business model. This strategic shift is designed to maintain a competitive edge in the highly competitive off-price retail market and address challenges related to inventory management in an omnichannel environment.

01/16/2026 Logistics
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