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IHSA Ocean Contract Negotiations

IHSA and our carrier partners are fully engaged in contract negotiations that determine annual shipping rates for cargo shipped from Asia to the US. The new shipping rates will go into effect on May 1, 2020 and expire on April 30, 2021. When negotiations began, both parties were prepared to discuss the usual topics of rates, fuel, detention free time and space allocation.…

2020 IBC Global Forum: Speakers Announced!

The IBC 2020 Global Forum will be presented in a live-streamed webinar format this year. Attendees can anticipate learning from key industry buyers and IHA’s Global Offices and Representatives. Please save the dates of September 22 – 24 for a twice daily livestream, featuring confirmed speakers from Sodimac (Latin America), Indòmit (Spain & Portugal), EPA (Costa Rica),…

Global Retail Intelligence – February

February 26 – Amazon Enters Food Delivery Market in IndiaIn the wake of Uber’s attempt at food delivery in India, after falling to the competition of two local competitors, Swiggy and Zomato, Amazon is on the brink of launching its food delivery service in India. The launch is delayed from the original plan of launching by Diwali. The initial launch will be in Bangalore…

Carriers Monitoring the Coronavirus

The carriers are monitoring the impact the coronavirus could have on containers moving from China to the US. They have refrained from cancelling sailings so far, but the situation is very fluid. To help contain the coronavirus, the Chinese government extended the Chinese New Year holiday for most of the country by 3 days. Factories located in areas hardest hit by the…

Global Retail Intelligence – January

January 22 – Kaufland to Exit AustraliaSchwarz Group’s Kaufland, with about current 200 employees in Australia and a plan to open 14 stores in Victoria and land purchased in other sites has decided to pull out of the country, indicating that it will continue to focus on core markets in Europe. From Yahoo Finance January 22 – Amazon Australia Launches New Delivery…

Scrubbers Could Provide Significant Cost Savings

Carriers that took the risk to install scrubber installations on their ships will likely have a competitive advantage in the containership industry. Effective January 1, 2020, vessels will be required to produce sulfur emission levels less than 0.5%. Scrubber installations allow carriers to buy the less expensive higher sulfur fuel. In principle, a scrubber cleans the…

Trade and Tariff Saga Continues

Trade and tariff issues are a priority on the IHA’s government affairs agenda, with tariffs on China being the main concern. Hopefully, a “phase one” deal between the U.S. and China can be finalized to bring some relief from the 16-month trade war that’s disrupted global supply chains, but until a deal happens the tariff exclusion process and/or sourcing alternatives to China…

IHA Plans Sourcing Mission to Vietnam

To help members investigate alternatives to sourcing from China, the International Housewares Association will hold a sourcing mission to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, next year. The 2020 Vietnam Sourcing Mission will be offered in two sessions: April 20-22 or April 23-25. Each session is limited to just six companies to provide a high level of service and allow for private…

Stats: Sustainability Aware

Sustainability is on the minds of many consumers and they are bringing the topic to both retailers’ attention and product assortments. Sustainability—the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance, according to research firm The NPD Group’s Health Aspirations & Behavioral Tracking Service—also is used in a broader sense to…