Global Freight Market Insights

Impact your business with timely information on global freight trends that could affect capacity availability, pricing, and more. Create and download custom reports by adding your preferred ocean and air trade lanes—then, check back monthly for updates.

Updated on April 20, 2023

The following information is built on market data from public sources and C.H. Robinson’s information advantage—based on our experience, data, and scale. Use these insights to stay informed, assist with decision making to potentially mitigate risk, and hopefully help avoid disruptions to your supply chain.

Customize and download this report

Explore all market insights

Global Market Overview

Top Story: What companies can learn from the automotive supply chain evolution
New automobiles in production line 

While many industries are still facing overflowing inventory due to low consumer demand, the automotive industry is on the rebound. In fact, S&P Global Mobility expects new vehicle sales globally to reach nearly 83.6 million units in 2023, a 5.6% increase from the previous year. While this trend is currently trending upward coming out of the pandemic, macroeconomic challenges could impact this growth, and evolving market conditions could introduce new challenges.

Even with this projected growth, the auto industry is under pressure to reduce operating costs and emissions. Since C.H. Robinson works alongside 85 of the top 100 auto companies, our experts have firsthand knowledge of the ways auto supply chains have evolved over the last five years and why their transportation and customs processes can’t be effective with their pre-pandemic operations.

Today, auto companies place more focus on opportunities for nearshoring and reshoring, strategies for costs and emissions savings, and the operational shifts needed to adapt to market changes. While these trends are gaining significant traction in the automotive space, they aren’t unique to this industry. In fact, companies across all industries can learn from the shifts in automotive.

Diversifying with new sourcing and manufacturing locations

Nearshoring, reshoring, and friend-shoring—these terms have come up more frequently in supply chain conversations since the U.S.-China tariffs were established in 2018. Since there is a lot that goes into moving or establishing a new plant, including labor, manufacturing space, raw materials, etc., there was not substantial movement on this strategy before or during the pandemic.

Now, more companies are taking the leap to diversify their supply chain through reshoring, particularly in the automotive space. To name a few, Volkswagen announced they’re establishing an EV plant in Canada and Tesla and BMW are establishing or growing plants in Mexico.

In fact, the National Association of Auto Transport in Mexico expects to grow 20% in the next four years due to nearshoring efforts. In Mexico alone, 13 of the states experienced a 12% growth in foreign direct investments (FDIs) last year.

Coincidentally, the highest areas of investment were in states where automotive manufacturing is historically strong, including Nuevo León, which produces more than 20% of all auto parts in Mexico. As a leading North America customs house broker with offices strategically positioned across the U.S.-Mexico border and our experience moving the most truckload freight of any company in the world, C.H. Robinson experts see the growth directly impact our customers navigating nearshoring challenges.

While Mexico is a strong area for automotive, there are also shifts outside of North America. In fact, C.H. Robinson recently helped an automotive customer shift from Asia to splitting between Mexico and eastern Europe. On top of that, activity is building in Southeast Asia. The Australian port authorities reported Southeast Asia exports to Oceania increased more than 10% in 2022.

While its clear automotive companies are implementing reshoring strategies into their supply chain, the idea of implementing this strategy may feel overwhelming for companies that don’t know where to start. 

If you’re interested in exploring this further, start with a sourcing analysis report. The report helps you see where current sourcing shifts are taking place, if an alternative sourcing location carries any trade agreement or other preferred legislation to reduce landed costs, and more. Log in to Navisphere to get started on your sourcing analysis report.

Shifting strategies to meet cost savings goals

The pandemic brought a new appreciation for risk management, agility, and flexibility in automotive supply chains and that trend continues. As the market has softened, many conversations with automotive companies are focused on how they can introduce more efficiencies into their supply chain to increase cost savings. While this can look different depending on the lanes and regions being used, many companies are eager to uncover savings opportunities. 

Recently, C.H. Robinson experts helped Mazda in Australia cut 23% from their air freight costs by identifying they were paying duty on goods that qualified as duty-free and managing container prioritization to minimize demurrage and storage costs. Other automotive companies are taking advantage of consolidation offerings for truckload and ocean, with more openness to a mix of contractual and spot pricing that helps with agility during market shifts.

Driving out waste makes it easier to decrease costs and emissions. And as the auto industry focuses more on renewable energy, both in its supply chains and its products, opportunities like this continue to grow in an importance. This has meant increased demand for tech tools like Emissions IQ, our self-serve tool that instantly shows global carbon emissions across all forms of a company’s transportation.

Final thoughts

Change is not easy, especially if your supply chain is on track using the same strategies you’ve been using for the past decade. But today’s supply chains are more complex, and companies are under greater cost-pressures. The automotive industry is just one example of what out-of-the-box thinking can get you—increased savings, efficiencies, and a more resilient supply chain.

If you’re interested in diving deeper into the strategies that would work best for your company, we’re here to help.

Get the latest market updates delivered to your inbox

Thank you for signing up for the global freight market updates from C.H. Robinson. Read our global privacy notice.

North American Freight Market Insights | C.H. Robinson

Market Insights Live! Ways to Win in Today’s Market

Tune in for new ways to leverage today’s softer market, and strategies to prepare for the next shift.

Watch on-demand

Air Freight Update

Asia

There has been a gradual increase in demand from mid-March compared to the first few months of the year, driven by quarter-end push and increasing ecommerce demand. Expect the increasing demand to continue in April and remain stable in May prior to the upcoming quarter-end uptick.

Capacity is sufficiently available across most trade lanes as more passenger flights continue to resume operations. Rates have trended upwards and will continue to remain stable and competitive in the second quarter of 2023.

North America

United States export capacity is generally open and rates continue their downward trend. Expect additional capacity entering the market in the coming months to support increased travel demand.

South Asia, Middle East, and Africa

India market remains steady with capacity available for U.S. imports. Spot rates on U.S. imports continue to trend down as capacity grows and demand remains light. U.S. exports to India markets are relatively well balanced between capacity and demand, leading to more predictable transit times.

Latin America

Export conditions remain mixed in Latin America. Northbound “seed season” from Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay started early March and will continue to about mid-May, mainly supported by dedicated charter programs.

  • Argentina seed volumes are relatively low and capacity from Buenos Aires is available. 
  • Brazil capacity and rates are stable on major routes. 
  • Colombia will have its peak season for flowers April 3–22, creating additional southbound capacity out of Miami and attractive spot rates.

C.H. Robinson Mexico started operational coverage for the newest local airport AIFA, capacity and rates remain stable. Southbound capacity (i.e., Miami) is available to most markets.

Ocean Freight Update

Ocean freight demand on most trade lanes is generally flat. However, rates have reached unsustainable levels for the steamship lines, which are pushing more aggressively for increases.

Inactive capacity breakdown by percent of global fleet
Graph depicting inactive capacity breakdown by percent of global fleet

Source: Linerlytica

Steamship lines continue to void sailings to balance the supply. They are also slow steaming—or taking longer routes—via the Cape of Good Hope on the backhaul legs of major East-West services. This will impact transit-sensitive commodities.

While congestion is mostly gone, the need for some flexibility remains as blank sailings and service adjustments continue to impact lead times.

Global schedule reliability
Graph depicting global schedule reliability

Source: © Sea—Intelligence

Asia

The market started to turn positive for the first time since September 2022, as carriers announced rate increases around mid-April on some key routes.

Trans-Pacific spot rates continue to fall. However, there is rising conviction around upcoming general rate increases (GRI) with carriers announcing rate increases. The improvement in capacity utilization has boosted carriers’ confidence. Shipments pushed forward ahead of the mid-April GRI are expected to drive utilization levels further upwards.

Asia-Europe spot rates remain steady with minor rebounds expected over the coming weeks. Capacity utilization is reaching a three-year high on the Asia-North Europe route, while Mediterranean utilization has also recovered and is on par with the last two years.

Europe

While the energy crisis did not impact the winter demand as drastically as forecasted, overcapacity continues to impact this region. Steamship lines have implemented service changes to optimize their coverage, differentiate services, and fill up ships with the right ports of call.

Social movements in France are impacting French ocean terminals. This is causing delays for cargo flow as well as some re-routing to nearby ports (e.g., Antwerp). These alternative ports are managing the influx thanks to the large amount of capacity in the market.

North America

Imports remain soft year over year (Y/Y) due to inflation and normalizing demand from the largest importers, including retail, furniture, electronics, and home improvement, which represent over 50% of U.S. imports.

Many shippers are still showing high inventory levels and waiting to order more, while seasonal shippers have not yet started to increase their volumes.

March 2023 U.S. container import volumes increased 6.9% from February 2023, up 4.2% from pre-pandemic March 2019. While this looks positive, consider the fact that March has three extra days compared to February, and the 2019 Chinese New Year was two weeks later than in 2023.

While Los Angeles and Long Beach terminals spot slowdown actions are not significantly impacting cargo flow, shippers keep looking to the U.S. East Coast (USEC) and Gulf port as an alternative, solidifying the shifts occurred during the pandemic.

Oceania

The trans-Tasman market continues to be fluid with space and services opening gradually. The shuttle service out of Sydney and Brisbane has added tonnage to the lane, while the Focus Container Line to the trans-Tasman service introduction has increased options. 

U.S. to Oceania

The market continues to soften, and rates will continue to slowly decline as carriers compete for market share. Space continues to be tight on the USEC but easing on the U.S. West Coast (USWC).

Port calls to New Zealand for exports from the USWC continue on a two-week basis, and transshipment service options are increasing.

Europe

The Europe export market remains stable, with space and equipment readily available for dry cargo. Rates are still gradually being reduced by all carriers as supply still outweighs demand.

Asia

Northeast Asia to Oceania continues to be in flux. Carriers are attempting to increase rates, but demand is not at a level to sustain increases.

Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is in steady decline as demand weakens. Carriers are now looking at amending services, such as rationalizing port calls, to limit space and increase demand.

There are currently no reports of congestion in Singapore or Malaysia. Feedback from the lines report operations are normal and without major delays.

South Asia, Middle East, and Africa

Demand is fairly steady in India and Bangladesh, but space remains available. Pakistan remains down severely.

Steamship lines are implementing service changes in this area of the world. Steamship lines are trying to optimize ship utilization and offer creative routes to attract cargo.

Some vessel operators on the India subcontinent to North America are attempting small rate increases, yet the lower demand doesn't allow them to affect the market significantly.

Inland Drayage Update

North America
Average lead times across the country
Bar graph showing inland lead times for U.S. regions 

Inland service highlights

  • Capacity continues to open across U.S. markets and requires less lead time as shown in the image above.
  • Drayage carriers invested heavily over the past year in assets like chassis equipment, yard space, and trucks to support their operations. While rates have decreased and stabilized, rates likely won’t decrease as drastically in alignment with ocean freight.
Southeast

Port Everglades Terminal

  • Primarily known as one of the busiest cruise ports in the world, it is also Florida’s number one container port.
  • Beginning May 1, 2023, it will charge a Terminal Escort Fee, impacting any driver that needs to access the terminal without having a TWIC card.
  • Since the majority of core carriers in the MIA/PEF markets already require drivers to have TWIC cards, there likely will be little to no disruption in day-to-day operations for standard dray.
  • However, it is something to be aware of if you are working with and/or transload with several truckload providers.

Georgia

  • The Ports Authority is increasing chilled cargo capacity to stay ahead of anticipated growth in demand.
  • Consider routing through the Port of Savannah for refrigerated and temperature controlled cargo bound for southeast consignees.

Charleston

  • There are some growing pains in the Charleston market as the South Carolina Ports Authority (SCSPA) prepares to officially launch their SMART Pool chassis program.
  • With the South Atlantic Chassis Pool repositioning chassis into other markets, they require drivers to return SACP-owned chassis to an offsite depot.
  • Expect to see an increase in driver wait time at the port, chassis split charges, and crosstown fees until the SMART Pool program goes live in May.
Northeast

NY/NJ

  • The ports in this area are abnormally slow for this season but continue to see week over week volume increases on inbound cargo.
  • Wait time at the gates is a rare occurrence, a significant change from previous months.
  • The empty return rule is still in effect for steamship lines. This has caused containers to be held out of the port, unable to return for up to four days, which may lead to additional charges. 
Central/Ohio Valley

Chicago

  • UP Global IV is in the testing phase of changing their operations from a wheeled facility to grounded/stacks on freight between LAX to Chicago only.
  • Overall volume in Chicago has drastically reduced and capacity has been fluid.

Memphis/Nashville

  • Expect increased dwell time at the NS Rossville rail.

Indianapolis

  • Many of the chassis shortages in Indianapolis and other areas of the Midwest were in part a result of the IEPs reallocating chassis from rail hubs to port hubs where the demand was highest.
  • The CN Indianapolis rail has been more efficient in comparison as a grounded facility.

Minneapolis

  • Expect delays in this market with seasonal weather.
  • Carriers are reporting terminal chassis need repair. This results in added time at the BN because of containers placed on chassis (wheeled operation) that require the driver to wait for repair before out-gating.

Kansas City

  • Currently, 40ʹ chassis supplies are still in deficit and dwell is 35+ days, but driver capacity is open.
  • Seasonal weather will affect rail lines and transit times.

Cleveland

  • CSX is moving containers to the offsite location and grounding them. This requires drivers to retrieve chassis from an offsite depot instead of making them available at the rail, which causes additional time and fees. 

Columbus

  • Chassis shortages remain a constraint.
  • Norfolk Southern is not mounting from the train and requires a lift fee.
  • Expect additional charges when moving in this market.
West/Gulf

Port of Los Angeles/ Long Beach

  • Drivers report excessive wait time as well as issues with empty returns across all steamship lines and terminals.
  • It takes longer than usual to get in and out of all locations and in many cases, drivers exceed two hours.
  • The port congestion fee in this market has been removed, however due to excessive wait times, many carriers charge for driver wait time per hour if their driver exceeds the set limit. 

Northern California

  • Seasonal weather continues in The Sierras, which is uncommon for these markets at this time of year.
  • Caltrans recommends motorists avoid travel during approaching spring weather events.
  • Expect reduced capacity when moving inland from northern California and delays as a result.

Houston

  • Port congestion is declining, and more carriers are expiring their port congestion fees.
  • There are still some challenges and longer dwell times, but they are not as hindering as they were the first few months of 2023.
Asia

The domestic transportation market is gradually recovering, but demand is decreasing compared to last year. Fuel rates have slightly decreased since March, and the domestic freight market is still experiencing a fierce price war due to unbalanced demand.

Customs clearance times between Shenzhen and China are speeding up for both imports and exports. Transit time in the Pingxiang port from China to Southeast Asia remains two to three days and import congestion is relieving since Pingxiang port implemented a diversion of inbound and outbound vehicles in March.

Oceania

Australia port logistics and landside container transport services are currently operating at levels within capacity, and there are no reports of service issues at any of the major ports nationally.

Two major container terminal operators have completed their annual review of terminal ancillary charges. The terminals have continued investments in equipment upgrades to ensure service levels meet expectations.

The refrigerated logistics sector has seen one of Australia’s largest cold chain refrigeration companies, Scott’s Refrigerated Logistics, placed into receivership (a form of debt restructuring), having the potential to place additional pressure within the cold chain logistics market.

Customs Update

North America
2023 PMS calendar

CBP published the 2023 Periodic Monthly Statement (PMS) dates for 2023. PMS is a free program offered by CBP that allows importers to pay their duties, taxes, and fees directly to the government.

United States announces 200% tariff on Russian aluminum

Beginning March 10, 2023, the United States will impose a 200% tariff on aluminum and derivatives produced in Russia. In addition, a 200% tariff goes into effect on April 20, 2023 on aluminum imports with any amount of primary aluminum smelted or cast in Russia.

Section 301 China Tariffs

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) recently extended hundreds of Section 301 China Tariff exclusions. Identify duty exclusion eligibility and uncover duty refund opportunities using our U.S. Tariff Search Tool.

Forced labor update: CBP to require Chinese postal code

On March 18, 2023, CBP will begin implementing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Region Alert enhancement into the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE).

Foreign supplier verification program

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published its final guidance on foreign supplier verification programs (FSVPs) for importers of food and animals, originally released on January 10, 2023.

North American Trade & Tariff Insights

Stay up to date on the latest news, insights, perspectives, and resources from our customs and trade policy experts. Proactively prepare for any emerging customs and trade developments by staying informed—subscribe to Trade & Tariff Insights today.

U.S. Tariff Search Tool

Find potential savings

Stay up to date with client advisories

Receive notices on changing regulations when they happen.

View all client advisories

Customize and download this report

Trade lane updates

Use these insights to forecast how capacity changes and trends impact your business. Create customized, shareable reports by adding your preferred trade lanes. Check back each month for the latest updates in the lanes you care about. Updated ocean and air freight market insights will be available the third Thursday of each month.

Market status key:
Stable
Strained
Critical

Add a trade lane

Trade lane FAQs

Q: What are C.H. Robinson's definitions of ‘stable,’ ‘strained,’ and ‘critical’?

Stable: Green – Relatively open capacity and low spot market rates
Strained: Yellow – Capacity is tight and mid-level spot market rates
Critical: Red – Backlog of capacity and high spot market rates

Q: What do the terms and acronyms commonly used in market updates mean?

  • Blank sailings – Blank sailings occur when a carrier has removed a vessel rotation from a given service string. This results in one week where there is no vessel sailing offered at the ports called on that particular service string.

  • CY – Container Yard. A location where containers are stored temporarily during transit. It can be a port terminal, rail terminal, or trucker’s yard.

  • Extra loader – An extra loader is a vessel that an ocean carrier has added to a service string to increase capacity in the short term. This vessel would not be part of the standard vessel rotation on that service string. It would be removed as soon as it is no longer required to meet excess demand.

  • FEU – Forty Foot Equivalent Unit. The forty foot represents a 40′ container.

  • GRI – General Rate Increase. This is one of the mechanisms ocean carriers can use to increase rates for ocean transport on a particular trade.

  • IPI – Interior Point Intermodal. Also known as rail ramps, these are inland points to/from which carriers can offer service on a through bill of lading.

  • PSS – Peak Season Surcharge. This surcharge is typically applied by ocean carriers during the peak shipping period on a given trade lane, where vessel space is either fully utilized or overbooked.

  • Roll/roll pools – A “roll“ happens when a container booked on a given sailing/vessel is transferred by the steamship line to the following vessel serving the requested lane. A “roll pool” is created when a steamship line plans for a large number of containers to roll from one vessel to another.

  • SSL – Steamship line or ocean carrier

  • Steamship line alliance – Alliances occur when a group of steamship lines share vessel space on their service strings and manage services in agreement with each other. There are currently three steamship line alliances on the main east-west trades: the Ocean Alliance, 2M Alliance, and The Alliance.

  • TEU – Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit. The twenty foot represents a 20′ container.

  • Transshipment – This service offered transports cargo in two legs on two different vessels. The first vessel brings the container from the port of origin to the port of transshipment. The second vessel brings the container from the port of transshipment to the final destination port.

  • VSA – Vessel Sharing Agreement. This is an agreement between steamship lines to share slots (space) on a service string or vessel.

Market insight videos

Watch these short videos to gain a better understanding of the market dynamics affecting global supply chains and the movement of goods around the globe.

Wheeled v. grounded U.S. inland terminals

Wheeled v. grounded U.S. inland terminals

Explore the difference between wheeled and grounded U.S. inland terminals with Jenna Kuehn, Director of Global Forwarding Inland at C.H. Robinson.

The chassis shortage

The chassis shortage

Learn about the dynamics behind equipment shortages in the U.S. inland market with Jenna Kuehn, Director of Global Forwarding Inland at C.H. Robinson.

Watch Oceania’s airfreight market forecast

Help minimize supply chain disruptors, while providing ways your supply chain can tackle the peak season. Included are key solutions you can adopt to lift the strain on your business and reduce the impact it can have on operations.

Get a free global freight forwarding consultation

Discover how our deep expertise and seamless, multimodal set of global services can help you realize potential ocean and air savings.

Connect with an expert