Alexandra Blake

Monthly Intermodal Shipping Report - June 2025 - Trends and Volumes

Recommendation: Monitor early June data and set lane plans across seven core corridors to keep the pool of containers circulating efficiently. Align operator schedules with rail yards to limit expenditures and preserve value. Volumes remain robust, with trucks playing a steady role between inland hubs and ports. In June 2025, preliminary TEU intermodal volumes climbed by 4.1% month over month, with a very tight rhythm in the main corridors. The russia route showed a 6% increase vs May, driven by energy shipments and higher container utilization in the pool of containers. Industry teams know that capacity planning matters most in the early weeks; this keeps between lanes balanced.

Don't Miss Tomorrow's Supply Chain Industry News - Essential Insights for Industry Professionals

Subscribe now to receive tomorrow's briefing directly in your inbox. Each update includes key signals you can act on, so your team can translate data into decisions quickly. In york, teams already use these signals to cut stockouts by 20% and improve forecast accuracy by 8% in the next quarter. What you’ll gain : a concise read that highlights how systems across airport and logistics networks respond to demand shocks. Across the world , several retailers cut buffer stock by 15% while boosting on-time delivery to 97% in the past year, illustrating how agility translates into lower risk and higher service levels. This compilation covers years of data and shows what phase of modernisation

Top Challenges Facing the Distribution Industry and How to Overcome Them

theres a straight path to cut delays: establish a centralized data section that aggregates supplier, customer, and logistics data into a single view. This enables real-time tracking, reduces bottlenecks in order processing, and keeps the month on track. Pair visibility with partners to align on priorities and set common KPIs. Global disruptions pushed many wholesalers; primarily due to container shortages, lead times up 25–40% over the last month , with transport capacity constraints driving costs by 8–14% per order. To reduce risk, diversify vendors and build a reserve of critical SKUs that are covered by marketplace agreements with partners . Focus on deals with wholesale customers, and

Think Tank RSS - Real-Time Policy Insights via Feeds

Subscribe to curated RSS feeds from trusted providers to capture policy shifts in real time. Build a signals pipeline that filters noise and surfaces significant changes, so analysts can act within hours rather than days. This approach prioritizes focus over volume and keeps your team aligned with a prescriptive workflow that translates data into concrete actions. Define the processes for triage, summaries, and briefs. In practice, a responsive pipeline shortens the response time, so responsiveness is measured in minutes for breaking topics and in a few days for longer policy cycles. When demand spikes, templates accelerate delivery while preserving accuracy. Use a fixed cadence: a daily

Fast Food Brands Improve Sustainability but Still Fall Short, FAIRR Report Finds

Set ambitious climate-related goals now and publish a transparent plan with measurable milestones for their chain this year. Public accountability drives engagement with suppliers and customers, so tie a concrete target to science-based benchmarks and share progress with markets and stakeholders. The FAIRR report finds that, while many brands improved reporting and packaging commitments, progress on emissions is falling in terms of Scope 3 across several markets. In news accompanying the release, analysts highlight ongoing gaps in direct emissions and supplier engagement. In joint moves, dominos and wendys push engagement with their suppliers and set a new target to increase transparency

US Imports Surge Ahead of Tariffs as Supply-Chain Shifts Remain On Hold

Apply targeted tariff relief on essential inputs now to keep prices stable and protect American consumers. In late data releases, imports rose across categories, with shipments in consumer electronics, machinery, and autos up modestly from foreign suppliers. In the short-run, volumes advanced even as companies waited for clearer policy signals. canada remains a key foreign partner in supply chains, reinforcing the need to keep cross-border channels open. The contradiction between tariff rhetoric and real-world behavior remains clear: while policymakers debate broad changes, supply chains stay paused for major shifts. The fundamental dynamic is that most players prefer incremental

Don't Miss Tomorrow's Supply Chain Industry News - Essential Updates

Make this week’s briefing your go-to источник for actionable updates on ports , capacity , and policy shifts that affect operations. Tomorrow’s notices come from official documents, recent authorization records, and courts rulings, with data drawn from multiple agencies to give you a clear snapshot. Use the week ahead to align schedules and avert avoidable delays by anticipating changes before they hit the docks. Track the numbers: top ports show utilization climbing toward 85–92% capacity in the week , with chassis and yard capacity tightening under peak demand. If you manage shipments, classify orders by urgency, lock in authorization for critical lanes, and adjust carrier load plans to

Smucker Pulls Coffee Price Hike After US Tariff Change

Recommendation: adjust wholesale prices in staged increments over the next 14 days to protect margins while preserving affordability for customers. Tariffs raised green coffee costs by about 5-7% in the latest quarter, prompting smuckers to pause a planned 6-8% price increase on folgers and other coffee drinks, and to test a targeted 2-4% lift on select SKUs under the $8 tier. That decision, officials said, aims to shield revenue while maintaining access for consumers and partners, signaling a pause in prices across the board. The commentary from global industrys analysts notes that this pause helps retain share with the largest distributors and avoids damages to retailer partnerships. A

Jack Daniel’s Maker Says Canada Pulling US Alcohol Off Shelves Is ‘Worse Than Tariff’ for Cross-Border Trade

Recommendation: Reopen ontario shelves to U.S. liquor and spirits to prevent a tariff-like drag on canadians’ cross-border markets and protect your retail workforce. Context: The maker of Jack Daniel’s has told industry watchers that removing U.S. products from shelves creates a response far worse than tariffs, constraining canadians’ access to free choices and raising costs for retailers and consumers. Forecasts from trade groups show cross-border markets for liquor, beer, and wine would decline by a multi‑billion sum if shelves stay thin, with added pressure on the workforce and distributors to adjust. Policy options: A pragmatic approach would have minister -level coordination to restore

Stagnant Sales Fuel Inventory Glut - Causes, Risks, and Smart Inventory Management

Take immediate action: cut orders for slow-moving products by 25% in February, faster than last year, and launch a targeted liquidation plan to convert stale stock into cash. Stagnant sales create a giant stockpile in your warehouse as orders stop and replenishments pause. They signal misaligned demand across chains , with feedback loops that fail to translate analysis into precise inventory place decisions, making it hard to place stock where it matters. Risks rise when you let inventories linger: liquidity decreases; carrying costs increase; obsolescence accelerates; and the risk increases as stock sits longer, eroding margins. Smart inventory management starts with precise SKU cuts and

The Inflation Reduction Act - Guidance for EV Brands on Credits & Compliance

Begin with a facility-by-facility audit of your battery supply chain to ensure IRA eligibility. Map every stage from mineral sourcing to final assembly, each link crossing North American content thresholds. The источник of truth is your internal report, which should cite the data sources you rely on. This first step creates a concrete, action-ready basis for the investment you’ll need to align operations and progress . Develop a driving strategy to maximize credits as you scale EV models. Confirm which models qualify for the maximum credits by reviewing the price caps– largest SUVs and trucks may have different limits–and ensure final assembly occurs in america-based facilities. Build a

Feeding America on Thanksgiving - Addressing Hunger in the U.S.

Launch a Thanksgiving roundup in your area by pairing a local company with Feeding America to move food from shelves to families in need. This approach backs families and converts small acts of giving into durable support across the season. According to Feeding America, a million -strong community relies on food assistance around the holidays, and demand rises in the weeks before Thanksgiving across urban and rural areas . This fact underscores why local action matters and why partners in your area should act now. Set measurable targets: recruit 50 volunteers, secure 20 pickup slots, and gather enough wholesale staples to feed families for a week. Use newsletters to update supporters and