US logistics Update [Aug 22, 2026]-English

With U.S. national debt reported to have surpassed $40 trillion for the first time in history, attention is focused on whether the U.S. national debt issue—which goes beyond a mere fiscal matter—will affect future interest rates, exchange rates, and financial market trends. According to the U.S. Treasury, the nation’s total national debt stood at $40.047 trillion as of August 18, marking an additional increase of $10 trillion in approximately four years since the debt surpassed $30 trillion in January 2022. Reuters reported that, considering U.S. national debt stood at approximately $19.95 trillion in January 2017, it has more than doubled in less than a decade. Along with the rise in national debt, the U.S. government’s interest burden is also increasing; according to Bloomberg, the U.S. government’s cumulative interest expenses for fiscal year 2026 amounted to approximately $1.71 trillion, a 15% increase from the previous year. Interest expenses are currently one of the largest burdens on the federal budget, and concerns are growing in the market that massive fiscal deficits and rising national debt could increase upward pressure on U.S. interest rates in the long term. High interest rates could dampen corporate investment and consumer spending, leading to an economic slowdown. Currently, U.S. national debt is approaching the statutory debt ceiling of $41.1 trillion, raising the possibility that political conflicts surrounding future debt ceiling negotiations will resurface. In the past, U.S. national debt was not perceived as a “major problem” thanks to the country’s economic strength and the dollar’s hegemony, but now warning signs are mounting due to soaring interest costs, credit rating downgrades, and rising Treasury yields.

According to the minutes of the July Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting released by the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed) on the 19th, a number of committee members expressed the view that additional interest rate hikes may be necessary if inflation does not stabilize sufficiently at the 2% target level. According to the minutes, some members expressed concern that recent inflationary pressures remain widespread and that delaying interest rate hikes could necessitate more aggressive tightening measures in the future. In fact, while the July FOMC meeting kept the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.50–3.75% annually, three members cast dissenting votes, arguing for a 0.25 percentage point increase. While Fed officials assessed that the U.S. economy is maintaining solid growth overall and the labor market remains stable, they pointed out that uncertainty regarding the inflation outlook remains high and that external factors—such as supply chain disruptions or the resurgence of international conflicts—could heighten inflationary pressures. Although the market had been leaning toward the possibility of interest rate cuts until early this year, the release of these minutes has strengthened the view that the Fed may maintain its tightening stance for longer than expected. Meanwhile, President Trump emphasized, “When we release good numbers (economic indicators), they keep raising interest rates because they’re so afraid of inflation,” adding, “There’s no need for that; instead, we should be lowering interest rates.”

North American Vessel Dwell Times 

TPEB (Trans-Pacific Eastbound) Update

The Trans-Pacific Eastbound shipping market from Asia to the U.S. continues to see rising freight rates as peak-season demand coincides with supply chain disruptions. According to industry data, while carriers are currently deploying most of their available capacity, structural blank sailings and vessel location imbalances persist. In particular, due to the impact of Typhoon Dolphin, which recently struck eastern China, approximately 2.4 million TEU of cargo has accumulated at the ports of Shanghai and Ningbo. The industry expects efforts to clear the backlog and redeploy container equipment to continue through at least the end of August. Demand also remains strong, and the industry forecasts that this strong demand is likely to continue through September. Freight rates are also on the rise; spot rates on the Asia-to-U.S. West Coast route increased by 9% compared to the previous week, while rates on the U.S. East Coast route rose an additional 3%, reaching a new high. According to industry sources, the current rise in freight rates is attributed more to supply-side factors than to a surge in demand. Analysts note that congestion at the ports of Shanghai and Ningbo, operational disruptions caused by typhoons, and stricter draft restrictions at the Panama Canal are straining container capacity and driving up rates.

Amazon Plans Major Expansion of Drone Delivery Service

Reuters reported on the 19th that Amazon has announced plans to expand its drone delivery service to approximately 500 cities and regions by the end of this year. Amazon currently operates drone delivery services in 11 locations nationwide and has revealed plans to expand to about 500 cities and towns across the country, including Syracuse, New York, and Cleveland, Ohio. The drone delivery service operates by delivering to multiple towns within a 7.5-mile radius of a single delivery hub, with customers paying $4.99 per drone delivery. Amazon Prime members pay $2.99, and delivery is free for orders of $50 or more. To expand its delivery network, Amazon must obtain approval from local communities, which requires hearings before local councils and public comment periods. Amazon stated that it has already received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to operate drones in most parts of the United States. Meanwhile, while Amazon’s early drones used to set down packages after landing, the current MK30 model releases packages while hovering a few feet above the ground.

Trends in the Air Freight Market from Asia to the U.S.

The air cargo market from Asia to the U.S. (TPEB) is showing signs of increasingly tight supply as the peak season approaches. According to WorldAcd, Flexport, and others, the market in northern China (Shanghai and Beijing) has maintained a relatively stable flow, with project cargo such as AI servers, semiconductors, and electronic devices continuing to support demand. Although some flights were canceled recently due to Typhoon Dolphin, there have been no significant changes in freight rates so far. In southern China’s Guangdong region and Hong Kong, cargo demand is also increasing ahead of the peak season. In particular, Incheon International Airport in South Korea has emerged as the departure point with the tightest supply on Pacific routes; due to rising demand, the earliest available booking dates for some flights have been pushed back to late next week or later. The impact of the peak season is also spreading across Southeast Asia; demand from Vietnam and Thailand, in particular, is expected to rise, while in Malaysia, capacity is rapidly being exhausted due to increased volumes of solar panels and server equipment.

Google Acquires Data from Bankrupt Airline for $10 Million… The Key to AI Competitiveness Is Now 'Corporate Data'

Google has acquired internal data from the bankrupt U.S. airline Spirit Airlines for approximately $10 million. This data reportedly includes corporate operational records accumulated over several years, such as emails, internal messenger chats, meeting materials, operational documents, and software code. While AI competition has traditionally focused on publicly available information and the development of large language models, real-world business data generated within companies has recently emerged as a new key resource. This is because the processes by which employees solve problems, methods of interdepartmental collaboration, customer service records, and operational decision-making processes cannot be obtained from the internet. This has significant implications for the logistics industry as well; it is certain that data accumulated within companies—such as shipping records, customer service histories, experience handling exceptional situations, and operational know-how—will emerge as core assets for AI-based competitiveness in the future. This case is widely regarded as a prime example demonstrating that, in the AI era, a company’s value is determined not by mere equipment or manpower, but by the data and knowledge accumulated through actual business processes. In other words, “Google did not buy the airline’s data; it bought the airline’s experience.” In the future, within the logistics industry as well, actual operational records may become a greater asset than operational manuals, and internal company emails, SOPs, and exception-handling cases are highly likely to be reevaluated as assets for AI training.