While additional vessel capacity is beginning to ease pressure on some Asia–US services, the disruption created by months of exceptional import demand has shifted beyond the ports into domestic transport, warehousing and distribution.
US importers accelerated purchasing ahead of proposed tariff changes and rising transport costs, bringing forward the traditional peak season. Rather than fading as expected, strong consumer demand and continued inventory replenishment have sustained import volumes well into the third quarter.
For shippers, securing vessel space remains important, but it is no longer the only priority. The greatest risks increasingly lie in what happens after containers reach the United States.
Ocean capacity is improving, but demand remains resilient
Imports from Asia finished the second quarter approximately 13% higher month-on-month as retailers continued rebuilding inventories despite ongoing trade policy uncertainty.
Carriers responded by restoring services, deploying additional vessels and introducing extra-loader sailings to capture the sustained demand.
Those measures are beginning to increase capacity, particularly into the US West Coast, where additional weekly services during July and August are expected to improve equipment availability and shorten booking lead times.
Even so, freight markets remain significantly firmer than at the start of the year.
Spot rates on several Asia–US services have risen by between 70% and 100% over recent months, supported by continued demand, peak season surcharges and higher fuel costs following renewed tensions in the Middle East. Brent crude climbed around 6% after renewed US-Iran military action, increasing bunker costs and prompting carriers to recover higher operating expenses through additional surcharges.
The market is becoming more balanced, but pricing remains well above historical averages.
Inland logistics has become the new bottleneck
Higher import volumes are placing increasing strain on domestic supply chains long after vessels have berthed, unloaded and departed.
Ports, rail terminals, container yards, distribution centres and regional trucking networks are all handling significantly higher cargo flows than anticipated, creating congestion that can delay deliveries even when ocean services operate to schedule.
Road freight illustrates the trend clearly.
Spot truckload rates have increased by around 23% year-on-year around Savannah, while Houston and Los Angeles have each recorded increases of approximately 12%. Demand for transport from ports to inland distribution centres continues to exceed available trucking capacity in several regions, particularly for time-sensitive retail freight.
Warehousing is also experiencing renewed pressure as importers hold larger inventories to protect against future supply chain disruption. Slower container turnaround and longer dwell times can quickly affect the availability of equipment, warehouse space and onward transport.
The result is that a shipment arriving on time at port does not necessarily arrive on time at its final destination.
End-to-end planning is becoming more valuable
The current market demonstrates why international logistics cannot be viewed as a series of separate transport movements.
Ocean freight, customs clearance, rail services, trucking and warehousing are inherently interdependent. Delays or capacity shortages in one part of the supply chain can quickly affect every subsequent stage.
Businesses planning transport only as far as the arrival port may find themselves facing avoidable costs through storage charges, delayed collections or limited trucking availability.
Earlier forecasting, coordinated bookings and greater visibility across the complete logistics process allow importers to secure inland capacity before containers are discharged, reducing both delays and unnecessary cost.
As freight markets gradually stabilise, the quality of execution is becoming a greater differentiator than freight rates alone.
A strong North American network delivers greater control
For companies importing into the United States, local capability has become every bit as important as global reach.
Global Forwarding combines established carrier partnerships across Asia with experienced operations throughout North America to provide integrated ocean freight, customs brokerage, inland transportation and warehousing services. Together with our colleagues at Hecny Forwarding in the UK and EU, we deliver coordinated logistics solutions, with the Clarity tracking platform providing visibility from origin through to final delivery.
Whether cargo arrives through the West Coast, Gulf Coast or East Coast, customers benefit from a single logistics partner capable of coordinating every stage of the shipment, helping reduce delays, improve inventory planning and maintain consistent service even during periods of sustained market pressure.
If your business imports from Asia into North America, speak to Global Forwarding about building a supply chain that delivers reliability from factory departure to final destination.
