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Topic: Ports

The latest news and insight on the current state of U.S. Ports, including infrastructure investment, new services, labor issues, and global trade volumes.


PwC report indicates transportation and logistics dealmaking activity is focused on strategy, not scale
The report observed that T&L dealmaking activity gained renewed traction over the second half of this year, with buyers prioritizing strategic alignment over scale. And it added that acquirers focused on subsectors offering defensible growth, operating efficiency, and exposure to high-barrier markets, with activity across what the firm called the full value chain, ranging from infrastructure to asset-light platforms, coupled with capital allocated for things like technology modernization, resilient supply chains, and specialized logistics services.

Tariffs continue to cast a long shadow over freight markets heading into 2026
With one year ending and a new one soon beginning, there is often a sense of a change or a fresh start coming. While that may sound good on paper, when it comes to the current state of the freight, or logistics, economy, it is more than likely that that prospects of meaningful shifts, or changes, in the current landscape, may not represent anything more than wishful thinking.

U.S.-bound imports see November declines, reports S&P Global Market Intelligence
November imports, at 2.63 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units), decreased 3.2% annually, falling for the third consecutive month, and were down sequentially compared to October’s 2.71 million TEU.

U.S.-bound imports slide in November as seasonal slowdowns and tariff uncertainty weigh on volumes
November U.S.-bound container import volume—at 2,183,048 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—were off 5.4% compared to October and saw a 7.5% annual decline.

Port Tracker report points to ongoing import declines as 2025 ends and into 2026
For October, the most recent month for which data is available, U.S. imports, for the ports surveyed in the report, came in at 2.07 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU), excluding the Port of Charleston, which marked a 1.8% sequential decline and a 7.9% annual decline.  

Port of Long Beach appoints Hacebaga as its next CEO, effective January 1
Hacebaga currently serves as POLB Chief Operating Officer. He has been at POLB for the last 15 years in various senior management roles, and in his current position he oversees daily operations, including commercial services, engineering, finance and administration, planning and environmental affairs, and strategic advocacy.  

Logistics growth sees mild decline in November, states LMI
The November LMI reading came in at 55.7 (a reading above 50 indicates growth is occurring), following matching 57.4 readings, for both September and October. This represents the ninth straight month the LMI has been below the all-time overall average of 61.4.

November Edge Report: What’s shaping freight now
Stay informed and ready for what’s next with the November Edge Report from C.H. Robinson.

Turning Border Challenges into Advantages
When a major automotive manufacturer faced delays and high costs managing freight from more than 30 vendors in Mexico, Averitt delivered a streamlined cross-border solution.

October U.S.-bound imports fall, with further declines expected in the coming months, reports S&P Global Market Intelligence
October imports, at 2.71 million TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units) fell 3.4% annually, again seeing a sequential decline compared to September’s 2.72 million TEU, August’s 2.9 million TEU, and July’s 3.01 million TEU.

Descartes report points to flattish U.S.-bound imports in October
October U.S.-bound container import volume—at 2,306,687 TEU (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units)—were off 0.1% compared to September’s 2,307,933 TEU and saw a 7.5% annual decline.

Port Tracker points to seasonal patterns for U.S.-bound volumes to end 2025
For September, the most recent month for which data is available, U.S. imports, for the ports surveyed in the report, came in at 2.1 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU), which marked a 9.3% sequential decline and a 7.4% annual decline.  

Supreme Court to hear expedited review on legality of White House IEEPA tariffs this week
With expedited review underway, businesses brace for possible refunds, new trade measures, and prolonged market volatility.

Trump and Xi reach preliminary trade understandings as tariff and export disputes ease
The United States and China appear to have found at least some common ground on a few different issues, during this week’s meeting between President Donald Trump and President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, at the APEC meeting in South Korea.

Manufacturing update with Susan Spence, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management’s Manufacturing Business Survey Committee
In this podcast, LM Group News Editor Jeff Berman interviewed Susan Spence, Chair of the Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee.

Fed delivers second straight rate cut as growth slows and job market softens
The Federal Reserve said yesterday that it lowered the target rate, for the federal funds rate, which comes from its Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) for the second consecutive month, dropping it by 0.25%, to 3.75%-to-4.0%, its lowest rate level since 2022.

UPS reports Q3 revenue decline, amid strong pricing and lower volumes
Quarterly consolidated revenue, at $21.4 billion, fell 3.7% annually, and basic earnings per share, at $1.74 (topped Wall Street estimates of $1.29), fell $0.24, or 13.4%, annually. Total operating profit, at $1.8 billion, was off 9.1% annually. 

President Trump ends U.S.-Canada trade talks after Ontario ad criticizing tariffs sparks backlash
Any signs of progress being made on the trade front between the United States and its second-largest trade partner, Canada, appear to be squelched, based on a social media post issued by President Trump last night.

Q&A: Chris Butler, CEO, National Tree Company
LM Group News Editor Jeff Berman recently interviewed Chris Butler, CEO, at Cranford, N.J.-based National Tree Company. Butler provided Berman with an overview of how National Tree is handling tariff policy, supply chain uncertainty, seasonal issues, and sourcing, among other topics.

September POLA and POLB volumes see annual declines
The Port of Los Angeles reported that total volume, at 883,053 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units (TEU), fell 7.5% annually, and the Port of Long Beach reported that total September volume, at 797,537 TEU, was off 3.9% annually.


December 2025 Logistics Management

December 1, 2025 · Persistent volatility, policy whiplash, and uneven demand left logistics managers feeling trapped in a loop - where every solution seemed temporary, and every forecast came with an asterisk. From tariffs and trucking to rail and ocean freight, the year's defining force was disruption itself

Latest Resources

The Warehouse Efficiency Playbook
Warehouse leaders are under pressure to move faster, scale smarter, and keep teams engaged, all while dealing with labor shortages and rising customer expectations.
Drive Agility and Resilience Across Your Supply Chain
November Edge Report: What’s shaping freight now
More resources
 


Latest Resources

The Warehouse Efficiency Playbook
The Warehouse Efficiency Playbook
Warehouse leaders are under pressure to move faster, scale smarter, and keep teams engaged, all while dealing with labor shortages and rising...
Drive Agility and Resilience Across Your Supply Chain
Drive Agility and Resilience Across Your Supply Chain
Today’s supply chains face nonstop disruption—from global tensions to climate events and labor shortages. Avoiding volatility isn’t an option,...

November Edge Report: What’s shaping freight now
November Edge Report: What’s shaping freight now
Stay informed and ready for what’s next with the November Edge Report from C.H. Robinson.
Worried About Supplier Risk? This Template Helps You Stay Ahead
Worried About Supplier Risk? This Template Helps You Stay Ahead
We all know how stressful it gets when a supplier issue catches you off guard - late delivery, a missed order, or...
Close the warehouse labor gap with overlooked talent pools
Close the warehouse labor gap with overlooked talent pools
The warehouse workforce has more than doubled between 2015 and 2025. However, the labor gap is still growing, with the U.S. deficit projected...