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Thanksgiving Cargoccino 2025

Cargoccino is your bi-monthly serving of supply chain news, brewed for quick reads with your favorite drink. ☕

For this Thanksgiving edition, we pulled together the headlines shaping freight, retail, and global logistics as teams wrap up their peak-season pushes.

Here’s your steady digest before we all pause for a moment of gratitude and a well-earned break.

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FMC: No Rehearing for now, Rule Vacated

The U.S. Court of Appeals issued its decision on demurrage and detention billing practices and partially vacated the FMC’s billing rule.

The Commission has not sought rehearing, so the ruling now stands unless the FMC pursues further review. No additional steps have been announced.

There is also no required timetable for the FMC to revise or replace the vacated portions of the rule.

Source: Federal Maritime Commission

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Toys, Tariffs, and Holiday Timing

Tonies avoided China’s 30% tariff hit by shifting U.S.-bound Toniebox 2 production to Vietnam.

Ravensburger and others remain tied to China’s ecosystem, absorbing costs or pushing selective price increases.

Despite tariff-driven pressure, U.S. toy sales rose 7% in the first nine months of 2025, with retail prices up about 4%.

Source: The New York Times

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Retailers Rework Their Logistics Formula

Tariffs and uneven demand are reshaping how retailers plan their end-of-year flows.

Brands are extending reorder timelines, tightening SKU selections, and pushing inventory earlier to avoid cost swings.

Those with diversified factory networks are softening tariff exposure, while others are absorbing narrower margins heading into December.

Source: Vogue Business

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When Reliability Becomes a Line Item

Maersk is introducing a paid tier for guaranteed schedules, shifting on-time arrivals from an expected service baseline to a priced feature.

The move comes as carriers contend with delays driven by congestion, weather instability, and network reshuffling.

Shippers are now weighing whether predictable transit justifies a premium in a year when reliability has been inconsistent across major routes.

Source: Breakbulk News

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Port of LA Fire Contained

Emergency teams have substantially contained a container ship fire at the Port of Los Angeles.

Impacts are localized to the affected berth, with no broader terminal shutdown. Investigations are ongoing, and operational effects remain limited.

Source: Port of LA

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Europe’s Ports Still Operating at the Edge

European gateways continue to face congestion cycles driven by structural undercapacity.

Antwerp, Hamburg, and Rotterdam remain labeled as “heavily disrupted,” with strikes and volatile river levels adding pressure. Pre-berth waits averaged 1.7 days in early November; Port Said reached 3.7 days.

Source: Journal of Commerce

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What’s Brewing at BlueCargo?

TPM26 planning is already underway, and we’d love to see you there.

If you're attending, let us know. We would love to host a private dinner for you and your team.

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🦃 A Thanksgiving Message from the BlueCargo Team

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This year reminded us how much strong partnerships matter.

We’re grateful for our BlueCargo users, and for the feedback that helps our product keep freight charges accurate and transparent.

We also appreciate the connections made at events throughout the year, many of which became productive collaborations.

If our paths haven’t crossed yet, we hope 2026 brings the right opening.

Have a great Thanksgiving from all of us at BlueCargo.

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🦃🍽🥧☕🏈

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