shipping

Navigating the Waves: Spot Rates vs. Contract Rates in Ocean Shipping

The shipping industry is buzzing. Rates are climbing, carriers are thriving and shippers are feeling the pinch. Is it 2020 all over again? While the current market may feel familiar, understanding your options is key to navigating these turbulent waters. Let’s dive into the difference between spot rates and contract rates to help you make informed shipping decisions. Spot…

Supply Chain Update: A Closer Look at Containerized Ocean Freight and Its Impact on the Housewares Industry

The global supply chain remains a complex and ever-changing landscape. As we navigate these fluctuating waters, staying informed about key developments in containerized ocean freight is crucial to making informed decisions and maintaining efficient operations. Regulatory Landscape: Recent rulings by the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) have sought to address…

Why Shipping Rates Are Soaring (and When Relief Might Come)

If you thought the days of skyrocketing ocean shipping rates were behind us, think again. Just when shippers hoped for a post-pandemic reprieve, a perfect storm of factors once again pushed prices upwards. Here's the lowdown on what's happening and what to expect: Capacity Crunch: Not What We Expected Before the Chinese New Year in 2024, the outlook seemed promising for…

IHSA to Introduce “Core Carrier” Program

The carrier landscape has changed dramatically over the last five years. Carrier consolidation has been a game changer. With fewer entities, the carriers now have a much greater ability to manage capacity in their favor. We believe the carriers will continue to manage capacity for the foreseeable future. To help combat this serious issue, IHSA will be nominating four carriers…

Low Chinese Shipping Rates Severely Undercut American Businesses

An international postal agreement has been tipping the scales in favor of Chinese merchants for decades, allowing the e-commerce market to continue to become the domain of the Chinese at the expense of U.S. companies and taxpayers. The USPS is part of an arcane arrangement with the Universal Postal Union (UPU), which is the postal arm of the United Nations. This arrangement…

Ocean Network Express Startup Issues

The merger of the three major Japanese container lines, K-line, MOL and NYK into Ocean Network Express (ONE) has gotten off to a rocky start. Industry experts expected a few hiccups during the startup phase of the merger. However, anyone that has shipped or has attempted to ship with ONE can safely say the issues have gone far beyond a few hiccups. IHSA has a contract with…

Why is the USPS Charging You 5x What They Charge Chinese Shippers?

By Jayme Smaldone Below is an elongated version of an OpEd I wrote for The Wall Street Journal, published on February 6, 2018. Please share with anyone that warehouses goods in the US. President Trump recently tweeted about mounting problems with the U.S. Postal Service. Specifically, he noted that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is not charging Amazon enough to deliver…

Optimize Shipping Advantages for Your Business

IHA continues successful partnership with International Housewares Shippers Association (IHSA). The International Housewares Shippers Association (IHSA) is the not-for-profit shippers’ association formed by IHA to lower supply chain costs for its members at the highest quality service levels. Through combined leverage of members, IHSA negotiates freight contracts with more…

IHA Member’s Wall Street Journal Op-Ed Discusses Inequality of Postal Rates

The unfair advantage of postal rates given to products mailed from China to the U.S. versus products mailed within the United States was the focus of a Feb. 7 Op-Ed article in The Wall Street Journal by Jayme Smaldone, founder and CEO of Mighty Mug. According to Smaldone, the U.S. Postal Service rate for a 1 lb. package mailed within the U.S. is $6.30. A Chinese company…