Industry Resources

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

Ocean Carriers Return to Profitability

The average operating margins for the top 13 ocean carriers finally returned to the black for the first half of 2017. This is first time since the second quarter of 2015 where the average operating margin is positive. These results have eased some, but not all, of the concern shippers have regarding the financial stability of the containership industry. Out of the 13…

Good360 Adds Hurricanes Irma and Maria to Relief Efforts

Victims of Hurricanes Irma and Maria also will receive assistance from Good360, the charity the International Housewares Association has partnered with to provide hurricane victims with home goods products as they rebuild their lives and homes. Last week IHA announced its partnership with Good360 to help Texas recover from Hurricane Harvey. Good360 is working closely with…

IHA Partners With Good360 on Hurricanes Harvey, Irma & Maria Relief Efforts

Your company can help Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico recover from Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. As residents of Texas, Florida, and now Puerto Rico, continue to struggle with the destruction wrought by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, IHA is partnering once again with Good360 to provide hurricane victims with home products as they rebuild their lives and homes.…

ILWU Extends Labor Contract

Shippers remember all too well the chaos and congestion that engulfed US West Coast during the 2014-2015 labor contract negotiations between the ILWU (International Longshore Warehouse Union) and the representatives for the steamship lines. It took the threat of getting Washington DC involved before the parties agreed to a contract. By the time the contract was finally signed,…

Another Carrier Merger

The steamship industry was riddled with carrier consolidation during 2015 and 2016. A total of eight carriers were either acquired or merged with other carriers. Shippers were hoping that 2017 would bring some stability to their supply chains. The stability lasted only six months. On July 9, 2017, COSCO Shipping Holdings announced that they were making a bid to acquire Orient…

Tax Reform: What You Need to Know about the Border Adjustment Tax

Not since 1986 has the U.S. Tax Code undergone fundamental reform. But now, with Republicans controlling both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate, and President Trump anxious for a win on one of his biggest promises from last year’s campaign, major efforts are underway to redefine our nation’s outdated and overly complex tax code to make the United States more…

Ocean Freight Carriers Seeking Rate Increases Ahead of Peak Season

On June 7, a headline in a trade publication indicated freight carriers were poised to profit from higher rates. On June 8th, that same trade publication had a new headline indicating that new capacity entering the market would keep pressure on West Coast rates. Those contrasting remarks highlight the uncertainty when it comes to predicting freight rate stability in the Asia to…

Ocean Freight: Cancellation Fees Related to Overbooking

Steamship lines have complained for years that shippers book more containers than what are required to meet their shipping needs. It is common practice for some shippers to place excess container bookings to protect space only to cancel these bookings prior to the sailing date. Steamship lines claim that for every four containers booked, only three show up for the sailing.…

Ocean Carrier Financial Results Seeing Red

The 2016 operating margins for the top 13 ocean carriers have been announced. While the fourth quarter showed some improvement, the overall numbers were abysmal for the containership industry. Of the 13 carriers, only three posted operating margins in the black. Despite an uptick in rates triggered by the collapse of Hanjin Shipping, the remaining 10 carriers posted margins in…