US Logistics Update [Aug 15, 2026]-English

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced on the 12th that the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July rose 3.4% year-over-year. The core CPI, excluding energy and food, rose 2.5% year-over-year. The U.S. Producer Price Index (PPI, wholesale prices), released on the 13th, also rose 4.7% year-over-year, marking a slowdown from the previous month’s rate of 5.5%, while the core PPI rose 4.2% year-over-year. Since the year-over-year and month-over-month increases in both the CPI and PPI were in line with or below the consensus estimates compiled by Dow Jones, the prevailing view is that the Federal Reserve will keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged this coming September. Experts point out that, in addition to the recent easing of inflationary pressures, the current sources of inflation cannot be resolved by interest rate hikes; even if rates are raised, they cannot curb price increases driven by geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East and the AI investment boom. In other words, “raising interest rates will only exacerbate economic hardship without solving the problem.” As signs of slowing inflation emerged, stock prices rose, bond yields increased, and oil prices fell to around $80 per barrel.

Meanwhile, July retail sales—which account for about 70% of U.S. GDP—recorded their sharpest decline in over a year due to a drop in online shopping and auto sales, raising concerns in the market. According to a report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce on the 14th, retail sales in July fell 0.6% from the previous month, marking the largest decline since May 2025. Sales declined in five out of 13 categories, with online retailers—including Amazon—seeing a sharp 2.2% drop in sales. The industry dismissed concerns about a slowdown in consumer spending, stating, “This is more likely due to the change in the timing of this year’s Amazon Prime Day (from July to June) rather than a fundamental slowdown in consumer spending.”

U.S. Court of International Trade Upholds Trump’s Tariffs on ‘De Minimis’ Imports

The U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) ruled on the 13th to uphold President Trump’s executive order suspending the “de minimis” exemption for goods valued at $800 or less, meaning the government’s tariff collection will continue. The CIT panel ruled that the Trump administration’s action falls within the scope of presidential authority permitted under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). While the Trump administration’s attempts to impose blanket tariffs have been repeatedly blocked by the Supreme Court and the Court of International Trade, this ruling is expected to provide a boost to Trump’s trade policies, which have been facing legal challenges.

North American Vessel Dwell Times

TPEB (TRANS-PACIFIC EASTBOUND) Trends

With port operations continuing to be disrupted by typhoons in China, coupled with peak-season demand, supply constraints in the trans-Pacific shipping market to the U.S. are intensifying. Consequently, while carriers are deploying their maximum available capacity, supply to the U.S. East Coast is expected to become even more limited due to the drop in water levels at the Panama Canal. Driven by these supply constraints and robust demand, freight rates from Asia to the U.S. have resumed an upward trend since August, with rates on the U.S. East Coast route currently at their highest levels this year. The industry advises early booking and securing flexible shipping schedules, as securing vessel capacity may become even more difficult in the coming weeks. The graph below shows recent freight rate trends.

Panama Canal Draft Restrictions Emerge as an “Unpredictable Variable” for U.S. Peak Season Logistics

With the Panama Canal Authority set to implement its fifth round of draft restrictions on September 3, the tightening of these restrictions is expected to create a major variable in this year’s U.S. import peak season logistics flow. The draft restrictions directly reduce the cargo capacity of Neo-Panamax-class vessels; a 10,000-TEU vessel must reduce its load by approximately 450 TEU per foot. If additional draft restrictions are imposed in September, a total cargo loss of 1,125 TEU is expected. In response, shipping lines are already significantly raising surcharges. CMA CGM plans to apply a surcharge of $500 per TEU starting September 10. Meanwhile, the Port of Los Angeles has requested that relevant organizations prepare for the possibility of some cargo being diverted to the West Coast. From mid-2023 to early 2024, the Panama Canal experienced minimal rainfall due to El Niño, causing the water level in Gatun Lake to plummet to 79.6 feet. As a result, the number of ships passing through daily was cut in half from 36–38 to 18, and (as of February 2024) with vessel waiting times extending to a maximum of 21 days. 

Mini-Bids Surge… Shippers Accelerate Shift to Short-Term Procurement Amid Shrinking Trucking Capacity

The JOC reports that U.S. shippers are rapidly expanding their use of “mini-bids”—short-term contracts—to respond to soaring prices and shrinking supply in the trucking market. As the trucking market has become increasingly volatile in recent months, leading to a rise in cases where traditional annual contracts are failing to function properly, mini-bids are being utilized as a means to fill this gap. In other words, shippers are segmenting their procurement into regional mini-bids rather than nationwide contracts, prioritizing the securing of supply above all else. Major U.S. trucking companies such as Werner, Knight-Swift, and J.B. Hunt emphasize that “the motivation behind mini-bids is not to lower prices but to secure stable capacity.” They note that contract rates are rising in line with the recovery of the spot market and forecast double-digit increases through the third quarter of next year.

U.S. CBP Announces Tighter Customs Clearance Regulations for Foreign Importers... Role and Responsibilities of CTPAT-Certified Brokers Expected to Expand

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is further strengthening oversight of Foreign Importers of Record to enhance supply chain security. As a result, U.S. customs brokers’ obligations to verify their clients are expected to expand, and the importance of CTPAT-certified brokers is expected to grow even further. According to the recently issued Executive Order 14411, stricter identity verification and eligibility screening procedures will be required when foreign importers—not U.S. legal entities—import goods into the United States. In particular, CTPAT-certified brokers (CVCBs) are expected to conduct more thorough due diligence on their clients’ business entities, supply chain information, and ability to pay taxes and duties. In other words, U.S. customs brokers will be required to go beyond simply filing declarations and assume the role of key oversight entities responsible for verifying the eligibility of importers and assessing supply chain risks. Through these measures, CBP aims to reduce risks such as trade fraud, transshipment, and customs duty evasion, while increasing supply chain transparency. Consequently, companies exporting to the U.S. market will need to manage importer information, supply chain data, and origin and price declaration documents more systematically, and collaboration with reliable customs clearance partners is expected to become increasingly important.

U.S. Government Announces Major Crackdown on Illegal Transshipment

In an official report recently released by the Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy under the White House, the administration warned that cases of “illegal transshipment”—in which Chinese products are exported to the United States via third countries after their country of origin has been altered—are on the rise in some 40 countries worldwide, and announced a major crackdown. The report explains that illegal transshipment is carried out by falsifying the country of origin through minimal processes, such as simple assembly or repackaging. The White House announced plans to strengthen enforcement by establishing a “Detection-Based Border Surveillance” system utilizing artificial intelligence (AI)-based analytical technology.

Air Cargo Trends (August 3–9, WorldACD)

The U.S. air cargo market continued to see weak demand in the first week of August, with the decline in shipments originating from Asia having a particularly notable impact. Meanwhile, while freight rates have remained higher than last year’s levels, they have been trending downward in recent weeks. Air cargo volume originating from North America decreased by 4% compared to the previous week. Freight volumes on the North America→Asia route fell by 6%, and those on the North America→Europe route by 5%. Freight volumes from the Asia-Pacific region to the U.S. decreased by 4% compared to the previous week. By country, most countries—excluding Malaysia—recorded declines, with Taiwan down 11% and Indonesia down 10%. In the Shanghai region of China, freight bound for the U.S. decreased by 4% due to the impact of Typhoon “Dolphin.” Meanwhile, it is estimated that some cargo aircraft capacity was redirected to the U.S. (Trans-Pacific) market due to a decline in e-commerce volumes bound for Europe from China and Hong Kong; as a result of this increased capacity, spot rates on the Asia→U.S. route fell by 3% compared to the previous week. In conclusion, the combination of shrinking e-commerce volumes from China and the impact of the typhoon is increasing downward pressure on freight rates in the Trans-Pacific market. Some observers go so far as to say that, given the decline in European e-commerce volumes and increased capacity on Pacific routes, it is virtually impossible to expect a strong peak season this year; however, there is a possibility that some cargo could shift to air freight if ocean shipping delays occur due to port congestion in China or typhoons.