SCS Weekly Rundown | February 13th, 2024

  U.S. Imports Surge To A Seven-Year High

    U.S. domestic import growth in 2024 has defied the countless gloomy forecasts.

    In January, the U.S. experienced a significant uptick in imports, marking the strongest
    growth since 2017, fueled by the Lunar New Year rush and defying many global economic
    uncertainties. This robust performance, which was particularly pronounced at West Coast
    ports, has demonstrated an unexpected vitality in trade activities, despite logistic concerns.

    For more details, read the full article here.
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  Adapting Logistics to Multiple Peak Seasons

    Evolving e-commerce and consumer trends have challenged traditional logistics.

   The logistics sector now faces multiple peak seasons annually, influenced by evolving
    consumer habits and e-commerce expansion. This shift necessitates flexible, technology
    driven solutions to efficiently manage varying demand levels. While traditional peaks still
    remain, adopting innovative approaches has become crucial for handling new, year-round
    peak periods.

    To learn more about these challenges, click here.
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  A System Glitch Is Halting US-Mexico Trade

    Mexico's customs system outage has left key border trade lanes at a stand-still.

    A computer software issue in Mexico's customs system has led to major traffic jams at
    border crossings, most notably, the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas. These delays
    are affecting nearly twenty thousand trucks per day, leading to increasing freight backlogs
    and serving a significant financial blow to freight operations and economic activities that
    rely on the region.

    Read the latest on this story by clicking here.

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  Maersk CEO Eyeing DB Schenker for Expansion

    In a bid to strengthen Maersk's logistics reach, their CEO is pushing for a buyout.

    Maersk's CEO, Vincent Clerc, emphasized the strategic importance behind potentially
    acquiring DB Schenker to diversify beyond ocean freight, aiming to stabilize revenue by
    enhancing their logistics capabilities. Despite a downturn in Maersk's logistics division in
    the previous year,  Clerc sees the acquisition as an opportunity to rapidly scale their
    capabilities, inspired by other competitors who have successfully merged their container
    and forwarding services.

    For all the details on this story as it develops, click here.

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