☕ June Freight Watchlist | Cargoccino 6.10.25
Cargoccino: Freshly brewed supply chain news for your team’s week catch-up.
⚡ ELECTRIFYING POLICY PUSH
Electrical manufacturers back bill to assess U.S. electric supply chain risks
The Electric Supply Chain Security and Resiliency Act (HR 3638) is gaining traction in Congress with backing from NEMA and Rep. Bob Latta.
The bill mandates a formal vulnerability assessment of the electric supply chain, a move expected to strengthen national resilience.
🇪🇺 EU SUPPLY CHAIN LAW FACES PUSHBACK
More exemptions urged for Europe’s supply chain due diligence law.
The EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) faces opposition as stakeholders call for broader exemptions. Critics argue the requirements are overly complex for SMEs. Supporters say they're essential for ethical trade.
📎 Full story – Financial Times
🚢 TRANS-PACIFIC SPOT RATES SOAR
Spot rates rise faster than during the 2021 shipping boom!
Carriers are maximizing a narrow window before tariff reprieves expire in July and August:
- West Coast spot rate: $5,600/FEU → 📈 +33% in a week
- East Coast rate: $6,500/FEU → 📈 +25%
Rate indexes lag, but the market heat is real.
🔹 Capacity injection: 397,000 TEUs expected by July
🔹 LA & Long Beach: Forecasting >100,000 TEUs/week mid-June
🔹 Peak season: Already underway, but short and intense
“Next increase or two might be the last,” says Jason Cook of Ardent Global Logistics.
📎 Source: Journal of Commerce, Platts, S&P Global
📦 RETAILERS RAISE IMPORT FORECASTS
NRF & Hackett boost summer outlook ahead of tariff deadlines
U.S. retailers are fast-tracking orders to beat upcoming tariff hikes:
- June: 2.01M TEUs → ⬆ 17.5% from prior forecast
- July: 2.13M TEUs → ⬆ 20.3%
- August: 1.98M TEUs → ⬆ 8.8%
But Q4 won’t mirror the surge:
- September & October imports forecast to drop ~20% YoY
“The peak for the winter holidays will come early,” says Hackett Associates.
📎 Source: NRF/Hackett Global Port Tracker
🚁 WALMART’S DRONE DELIVERY EXPANDS
Five more cities to receive drone deliveries in 2025
Partnering with Alphabet’s Wing, Walmart is scaling its drone operations, building on successful launches in Dallas and the D.C. metro area.
🇦🇺 AUSTRALIA’S RARE EARTHS CHALLENGE
Australia moves to counter China’s dominance in rare earths.
Australia is ramping up investment in mining and processing to reduce dependency on China, which currently controls 85% of global rare earths production.
🚨 L.A. ICE RAIDS AND PROTESTS IMPACTING LOGISTICS
Riots near LA and Long Beach ports could drive up detention & demurrage (D&D) costs
Civil unrest and protests in the Los Angeles area are now impacting port trucking operations — especially drayage container deliveries at the Ports of LA and Long Beach. This could lead to:
📍 Key supply chain risks:
- Terminal access restrictions and possible closures
- Chassis and driver shortages if carriers avoid the affected region
- Missed appointments due to blocked routes or reduced hours
- Rising D&D costs as containers sit longer on port terminals
In previous disruptions (like in 2020), average demurrage bills exceeded $3,000 per container, with daily fees of $125–$250 not uncommon. While the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA 2022) mandates fair billing, shippers often struggle to dispute fees during force majeure events like riots.
🛠️ How BlueCargo helps shippers stay protected:
- Real-time visibility: Track containers and free time across all terminals
- Appointment automation: Secure scarce slots — even during disruptions
- Audit & dispute support: Identify invalid charges tied to unrest-related delays
- Predictive alerts: Flag containers at risk of entering D&D status early
📊 Pro tip: BlueCargo clients like Forrest Logistics have saved millions in D&D fees by using automated dispute workflows and predictive insights — tools especially critical during volatile events like these.
➡️ Facing uncertainty at the ports? Schedule a D&D strategy session with BlueCargo to safeguard your supply chain.
☕ WHAT'S BREWING AT BLUECARGO? ☕
Our team is preparing to meet with you at the annual AgTC meeting in Tacoma, WA.
Tacoma, WA - June 16-19, 2025
Are you attending? Click here to set some time with Shane.
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👉 Click to schedule a demo with our team
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📌 Reference Sources:
- Utility Dive, “Electric Supply Chain Act”
- Financial Times, “EU Due Diligence Pushback”
- Journal of Commerce, Platts, S&P Global
- NRF/Hackett Associates June Global Port Tracker
- Supply Chain Dive, “Walmart Drone Expansion”
- The Guardian, “Australia’s Rare Earths Challenge”
- Internal analysis and Flexport insights from Expert Insights on the New U.S. Customs Landscape, June 2025
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