US Intermodal Volumes Reflect Uneven Recovery in June

US Intermodal Volumes Reflect Uneven Recovery in June

According to the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), U.S. intermodal volumes decreased by 2.9% year-over-year in June, although the decline narrowed. Domestic containers showed growth against the trend, while international standard containers continued to decline. The IANA anticipates that international volumes may surpass domestic volumes in the future, but supply chain volatility needs to be monitored. The market faces multiple challenges, including macroeconomic factors and supply chain bottlenecks, requiring transformation and upgrades. This includes strengthening infrastructure construction and optimizing operational processes.

01/28/2026 Logistics
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Businesses Adapt Strategies to Tackle Labor Shortages

Businesses Adapt Strategies to Tackle Labor Shortages

Labor shortages have become a widespread challenge across various industries. While the pandemic accelerated this trend, deeper factors such as demographic shifts, skills mismatches, and work environment concerns also play a significant role. Businesses need to adopt diversified strategies, including improving compensation and benefits, enhancing the work environment, offering flexible work arrangements, strengthening training programs, and upgrading technology. Governments should provide policy support to collaboratively address the labor shortage issue and ensure healthy economic development. This multifaceted approach is crucial for mitigating the impact of the shortage.

Mexico Faces Challenges and Opportunities in Nearshoring Boom

Mexico Faces Challenges and Opportunities in Nearshoring Boom

Moody's Analytics Director Alfredo Coutino analyzes the drivers, advantages, beneficiaries, and potential risks of nearshoring. He emphasizes that geopolitics, cost, and resilience are the primary forces driving this trend. Mexico, with its geographical proximity and industrial base, has emerged as a popular destination. Businesses need to pay attention to risks related to labor, infrastructure, and regulations, and should continuously invest in improvements. Nearshoring offers opportunities for both companies seeking supply chain optimization and Mexico, but careful planning and risk mitigation are crucial for success.

Penske Logistics Acquires Black Horse Carriers to Expand Services

Penske Logistics Acquires Black Horse Carriers to Expand Services

Penske Logistics' acquisition of Black Horse Carriers aims to expand its contract carriage business, complement its customer and industry portfolio, and enhance technological capabilities. This acquisition reflects the accelerating trend of industry consolidation within the logistics sector, potentially increasing industry concentration, intensifying competition, and accelerating technological innovation. Key to a successful integration lies in cultural alignment, operational integration, customer retention, and technology integration. The deal signifies a strategic move by Penske to strengthen its market position and capitalize on the evolving landscape of the logistics industry.

01/26/2026 Logistics
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Russia Eases China Border Trade with New Decree

Russia Eases China Border Trade with New Decree

Russian Presidential Decree No. 912 aims to alleviate congestion at western border crossings by allowing the import of certain goods without complete documentation. This temporary measure is intended to facilitate customs system reform and regulate China-Russia trade. In the long term, China-Russia cross-border e-commerce businesses need to adapt to the trend of digitalization and compliance, enhancing their compliance capabilities to gain an advantage in the future market. This emphasizes the importance of adhering to regulations for sustained success in the evolving trade landscape.

01/26/2026 Logistics
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Supply Chains Weigh Automation Costs Against Labor Savings

Supply Chains Weigh Automation Costs Against Labor Savings

Automation is an inevitable trend in supply chain development, but balancing high capital investment with labor costs is a key challenge for companies. This paper analyzes the current application of automation in supply chains and explores how companies can balance capital investment and labor costs when embracing automation. It proposes suggestions such as gradual implementation, selecting appropriate technologies, and strengthening employee training to achieve the common development of enterprises and employees. This approach helps maximize the benefits of automation while mitigating potential negative impacts on the workforce.

US Services Sector Expands Steadily in September

US Services Sector Expands Steadily in September

The September ISM Non-Manufacturing report shows the NMI index slightly decreased to 58.6, but remains well above the expansion threshold, indicating 56 consecutive months of growth in the non-manufacturing sector. The PMI index is above the 12-month average, suggesting a long-term growth trend. Analysis should focus on sub-indexes such as new orders, employment, and prices, as well as geopolitical factors like interest rates and inflation. A cautiously optimistic outlook is maintained for the future development of the non-manufacturing sector.

Retail Sales Rise Despite Economic Uncertainty

Retail Sales Rise Despite Economic Uncertainty

Data from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Retail Federation (NRF) indicate a positive trend in January retail sales, offering hope for a continued, albeit slow, economic recovery. The analysis delves into the driving forces behind the data and explores how retailers should navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and embrace the transformation of the retail industry. Positive retail sales reflect improving consumer confidence, a key indicator for sustained economic growth. However, retailers must adapt to changing consumer behaviors and technological advancements to maintain momentum.

01/28/2026 Logistics
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Youtube Shopping Launches in Philippines Boosting SE Asia Ecommerce

Youtube Shopping Launches in Philippines Boosting SE Asia Ecommerce

YouTube Shopping has officially launched in the Philippines, deepening its partnership with Shopee to cover six Southeast Asian countries. This reconstructs the 'content-to-consumption' link, bringing multiple values to consumers, creators, and brands. Creators can monetize through product tagging and brand collaborations, while brands can precisely reach their target audience. The Southeast Asian video commerce market possesses significant potential and is reshaping the regional retail landscape. This move aims to capitalize on the growing trend of online shopping through video content in the region.

Ribbed Down Jackets Drive Shenzhen Couples Ecommerce Boom

Ribbed Down Jackets Drive Shenzhen Couples Ecommerce Boom

Shenzhen-based couple behind "alright then" capitalized on the niche trend of "ribbed down jackets," growing their Taobao store to over 100 million RMB in annual sales and reaching the top spot within four years. Their success stems from a keen insight into fashion trends, rapid supply chain response, and the support of e-commerce platforms. This case reveals the synergy between design thinking, platform prediction, and merchant iteration behind niche trends, highlighting how these elements work together to drive success in the online retail market.