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-- Podcast Cargoccino served here --

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Tariff Talks: Stocking Up or Switching Gears?

U.S. companies are ramping up imports from China to dodge potential tariffs, but that’s only a short-term fix. For importers and shippers, now’s the time to think bigger:

• Act Fast: Secure inventory before tariffs hit.
• Diversify: Explore sourcing options beyond China.
• Reassess Pricing: Adjust prices with transparency.
• Plan Ahead: Build a strategy for future trade shifts.

Your next move matters—protect your margins and stay ready for what’s next.

Source: WSJ

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New Trade Barriers | Canada + Mexico

President-elect Donald Trump is proposing new tariffs: 25% on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 10% on Chinese goods.

These policies, aimed at addressing border security and fentanyl exports, could disrupt supply chains and increase costs. Businesses should evaluate their sourcing strategies and prepare for the ripple effects.

Source: The Hill

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Peak Season Gamble

Target’s container strategy tells a revealing story: they doubled Walmart’s shipments but focused on deliveries during peak season when freight prices were higher. September marked their peak delivery month, yet they imported fewer containers overall compared to last year’s congestion-heavy October season.

The result? A misstep in aligning with a cautious consumer market—despite warnings from May’s CNBC survey. Target anticipated the shift but miscalculated the scale.

What we learned at BlueCargo: Container timing isn’t just logistics; it’s a profit lever. Importers, plan outside the box to avoid costly peaks and mismatches.

Source: CNBC

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Port of LA: Speeding Up Amid Record Loads

The Port of Los Angeles is breaking records, handling over 954,000 TEUs in September—a 27% year-over-year surge. Despite this influx, they've slashed container dwell time from over nine days to about 2.3 days, thanks to efficient rail operations.

Even with booming volumes, streamlined processes keep goods moving swiftly.

Source: FreightWaves

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De Minimis Deluge: A Billion Packages and Counting

The U.S. is processing over 1 billion duty-free shipments annually under the de minimis rule, which exempts imports valued below $800 from tariffs.

This surge, largely driven by e-commerce, now accounts for 92% of all U.S. cargo entries, with 88% arriving by air.

Source: The LoadStar

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Keep It or Ship It? Unboxing the Price of Returns

Retailers are rolling out "Keep It" policies to curb return costs, which can eat up to 59% of an item's price through shipping, restocking, and unsellable inventory.

In 2022, U.S. consumers returned over $816 billion in merchandise—16.5% of total retail sales, according to the NRF and Appriss Retail. While "Keep It" saves on logistics, it sparks new challenges like untracked inventory losses and increased waste.

A billion-dollar problem with no easy fix.

Source: Forbes

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Rebellion Rising: Amazon’s Black Friday Turbulence

This Black Friday, Amazon faces strikes and protests across 20 countries, as workers demand better rights and climate action.

The "Make Amazon Pay" movement, now in its fifth year, plans actions from November 29 to December 2, aiming to highlight concerns over labor practices and environmental impact.

Source: SupplyChainBrain

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The Frontloading Dilemma: Balancing Costs and Risks

As U.S. trade policies are about to shift, importers are frontloading shipments from China to sidestep potential tariff increases. While this strategy locks in current rates, it carries risks—overstocking can lead to higher storage costs and cash flow issues.

The smarter move? Prioritize critical goods and keep inventory lean to adapt to market uncertainties.

Source: JOC

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Thanksgiving Week Rundown

Thanksgiving is here, and Black Friday is just days away. Retailers have been preparing for this moment all year.

From closures to live events, earnings, and giving back, Thanksgiving week offers more than just in-store deals:

🦃 Thanksgiving Closures: A growing number of retailers, including The Home Depot, Lowe’s, Best Buy, Costco, Aldi, and Five Below, are closing for Thanksgiving. These closures give employees a well-deserved break before the Black Friday frenzy begins.

🛒 Star-Studded Deals: As Black Friday approaches, celebrities like Martha Stewart, Eva Mendes, and Jennifer Hudson are turning up the excitement with live shopping events on Amazon Live’s FAST Channel, Facebook pages, and Instagram feeds.

💸 Earnings Watch: On Tuesday, Q3 results roll in from major retailers like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Abercrombie & Fitch, Macy’s, and Nordstrom. While some like Nordstrom remain optimistic, others are voicing concerns about potential impacts from election-related uncertainty.

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FP&A: One Does Not Simply Walk into Mordor

In the treacherous journey of Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A), implementing AI is no shortcut to Mount Doom-level success.

Liran Edelist, a 25-year FP&A veteran, warns that simply automating processes won’t wield the power you seek. To carry this AI “ring” responsibly, you’ll need a solid data foundation, sharp tools for prediction, and a fellowship of skilled humans to ensure accuracy and accountability.

☕ BC Insight: Just like Samwise Gamgee, BlueCargo is the reliable partner you can count on. With our "Managed Service," our team of experts takes on your freight audits, guiding you every step of the way to help your company achieve the success it’s striving for. You don’t have to carry the load alone—we’ve got your back.

Source: CFOVille

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🥧 What is baking at BlueCargo? 🥧

🥧 A heartfelt message from our CEO, Alexandra Griffon:

”This Thanksgiving, we extend our deepest gratitude to our partners, customers, and users. Your trust and collaboration drive everything we do, and we’re truly thankful to be part of your success.”
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🎁 As the holiday season approaches

We’re excited to reconnect at upcoming events like the HTA Holiday Party, the POLB Customer Appreciation event, and the NYNJ Trade Association gathering. Let us know which events you’ll attend—we’d love to meet and celebrate in festive style. Just shoot us an email to connect! [tyler@bluecargo.io]

🤝 TPM25

is just around the corner, and we’re preparing some exciting surprises! Whether you’re attending or not, let us know your plans—we’ve got a special meeting suite this year, and wristbands are required for access. We’d love to add your name to our visitors’ list. [aurelie@bluecargo.io]

🦃🍽🥧🏈

Here’s to gratitude, connections, and exciting times ahead—thank you for being part of the BlueCargo journey!

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Protecting Your Supply Chain, Every Step of the Way

The recent ransomware attack on Blue Yonder is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in today’s supply chains.

At BlueCargo, we provide the security and reliability your business needs to stay resilient during disruptions:

S2T2 Security: With our cloud-native infrastructure, we deliver superior business continuity compared to traditional hosted systems, ensuring your data and operations are safeguarded against cyber threats.

Reliable Visibility: Our robust platform integrates seamlessly with all U.S. and Canadian ports, which helps with every single data on your shipment journey.

Cost Control: BlueCargo doesn’t just optimize detention and demurrage fees—we cover all accessorial fees. Real case studies and ROI models show how our predictive analytics turn potential losses into measurable savings.

In an unpredictable world, we’re your partner in ensuring supply chain resilience, security, and cost efficiency.

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