Industry Resources

Learn about IHA’s cost-saving programs, including the International Housewares Shippers Association, designed to help members grow their business!

Federal Maritime Commission Addresses Eastbound Transpacific Market

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has finally weighed in on the eastbound transpacific market. Shippers have been complaining for months that carriers have been routinely canceling sailings so demand will outweigh supply which ultimately drives up freight rates. The cost to ship a container from China to the port of Los Angeles in May was $1700. To ship that same container…

“COVID 4” Relief Bill Still in the Works

Over the past few months, a “COVID 4” relief bill has been inching towards a compromise between the U.S. House and Senate, with the difference in cost coming down to about $1 trillion. To recap, House Democrats passed their COVID 4 bill, the $3.4 trillion HEROES Act (H.R. 6800), on May 15, but it wasn’t taken up by Senate Republicans who were concerned about the bill’s…

U.S. Retail Intelligence – September

September 20 – Will ShopRite Continue Its North Jersey Reign?With Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market, Amazon, Aldi and Lidl setting up shop in northern New Jersey, competition is heating up for the region’s No. 1 grocer. From Winsight Grocery Business September 20 – QuikTrip's Network Reaches 850 C-StoresThe convenience retailer opened four new locations on Sept. 17,…

US Imports Expected to Remain Strong Through October

The surge in US imports from Asia is causing supply chain challenges for shippers. The challenges come at a time when shippers are desperately trying to replenish their depleted inventories. The surge in imports is expected to last through the end of October. Some logistics experts are predicting the surge could last through the end of the year before the market…

Pre-Election COVID Legislation

Congress passed five bills through early summer to address the pandemic, with the biggest being the $2.2 trillion CARES Act (“COVID 3”), which initiated the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and was enacted on March 27. Seven weeks later, House Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) passed the House Democrats’ COVID 4 bill, the $3 trillion HEROES Act, but Senate Republicans weren’t biting…

Container Spot Rates Reach Record Highs

There appears to be no end in sight to the recent surge in spot rates on containers moving from Asia to the United States. The market has seen six straight weeks of spot rate increases buoyed by increased demand. The August 1, 2020 spot rate to move a container from Asia to US West Coast ports has reached a 10-year high of $3,167. This represents a 121% increase over the August…

COVID Liability Protection and OSHA

For Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and congressional Republicans, the “COVID 4” bill that Congress and the White House hope to pass by early August must contain liability protection from frivolous lawsuits for businesses, medical workers, schools and other entities. According to the Daily Mail, more than 770 COVID-based lawsuits had been filed by May 4 against…

Container Spot Rates Spike in June

Shippers are fed up with the carriers so-called capacity management strategy. The strategy of canceled sailings has resulted in thousands of US-bound containers being delayed in Asia. The lack of space available on ships has quickly driven spot rates to a 52-week high. The spot rates from Asia to US West Coast ports increased over $1000 in the last three weeks topping out…

“COVID 4” Legislation

From March through early June, Congress passed five bills to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic that became law. In order of passage they are: H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (“COVID 1”); H.R. 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“COVID 2”); H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security…