“Despite month-to-month volatility in the final quarter of 2013, the U.S. LEI continues to point to gradually strengthening economic conditions through early 2014,” said Ataman Ozyildirim, Economist at The Conference Board. “The LEI was lifted by its financial components in December, but consumer expectations for business conditions and residential construction continue to pose risks.”
Institute for Supply Management (ISM) Manufacturing Report on Business
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector remained in expansion in January
- 50 represents the dividing line between expansion and contraction for the index of the below chart; which covers the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) and new orders.
- The PMI registered 51.3% in January, which was 5.3% lower than December’s reading.
- New Orders increased in January by 13.2%.
Expanding Manufacturing Industries
- Plastics & Rubber Products
- Primary Metals
- Textile Mills
- Wood Products
- Printing & Related Support Materials
- Fabricated Metal Products
- Electrical Equipment, Appliances & Components
- Transportation Equipment
- Machinery
- Furniture & Related Products
- Food, Beverage & Tobacco Products
Contracting Manufacturing Industries
- Nonmetallic Mineral Products
- MPetroleum & Coal Products
- Apparel, Leather & Allied Products
- Miscellaneous Manufacturing
- Chemical Products
- Paper Products
- Computer & Electronic Products
Transportation Market Update
| Truckload Index Category | Monthly Reading | Previous Monthly Reading | Trend Direction |
| American Trucking Associations (SA) seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage | 131.7 | 130.9 | + 0.6% Increasing |
| Cass Freight Index Report Shipments | 1.000 | 1.037 | – 3.6% Decreasing |
| Cass Freight Index Report Expenditures | 2.265 | 2.387 | – 5.1% Decreasing |
| Freight Transportation Services Index (TSI) | 116.5 | 117.7 | – 1.0 Decreasing |
| Trucking Employment | + 3,100 Jobs | + 100 Jobs | Positive |
| NAFTA Statistics for August | 59.9% of the $96.1 Billion of U.S. – NAFTA trade was transported by truck in November; this is up 2.5% YOY | ||
“The Freight TSI remained above its 2012 range for the 12th month in a row. Beginning with January, every month in 2013 exceeded the high point of 2012, 111.6 reached in December” –Bureau of Transportation Statistics
Global Market Update
Recent Updates from National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates
- U.S. ports followed by Global Port Tracker handled 1.30 million TEUs in December, which was up 0.6% YOY from December 2012.
- “Retailers will be moving spring merchandise toward their shelves in just a few weeks, and early numbers point to a busy season ahead”.
- March 2014 is expected to see a significant jump when compared to March 2013 with a forecasted 1.29 million TEU forecasted for the month; this points to a possible YOY bump of 13.7%.
Transpacific Eastbound
*Note: The ocean carriers have announced their next round of GRI’s and some carriers have implemented a PSS (Peak Season Surcharge) on 1/1/14.
Weather Delays Impacting Logistics Operations
Since the beginning of December the Midwest, Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and most recently the Southeast have all faced a barrage of winter storms. The toll these storms are taking on logistics run the gamut of topics:
- Chassis shortages: Two of the largest ports reporting chassis shortages are the Port of New York, and New Jersey, however Midwestern rail terminals are also feeling the effects of the shortage.
- Terminal Delays: Container terminals along certain East coast ports have experienced several days of closures and/or short schedules both in January and in February. This has resulted in congestion at certain ports with long lines of trucks parked outside of terminals waiting to get in.
- Line Haul Delays: Stranded trucks, delayed loads, and increased truck maintenance are all affecting logistics schedules.
Regulations
Japan Ocean Advanced Filing Rules (AFR)
Japanese Customs Authorities have announced the Implementation of the Advanced Filling Rules (AFR), which require Shipping Company and NVOCC to electronically submit to the Customs information on maritime container cargoes to be loaded on a vessel intended to entry into a port in Japan, in principle no later than 24 hours before departure of the vessel from a port of loading. The rule will be effective on March 1, 2014. Enforcement will start on March 1, 2014 Japan Time or GMT March 9, 2014 at 3 p.m. Please contact your MIQ Logistics representative for more information.
International Longshore Workers Union (ILWU) Contract
June 30, 2014 will mark the end of the current International Longshore Workers Union (ILWU) contract. The ILWU manages the labor for all Longshore work done on the west coast of the United States from Seattle to San Diego and Vessel Pilots in the Panama Canal. Although no one can predict the future, it is important to know the potential scenarios that may occur during the contract renewal negotiations this summer.
SOURCES
Domestic & Global Economy
- “The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. Increased in December”– www.conference-board.org 01/23/14
- “Advance Monthly Sales For Retail and Food Services December 2013” www.census.gov 01/14/14
- “January 2014 Manufacturing ISM Report on Business” – www.ism.ws 02/03/14
- “January 2014 Non-Manufacturing ISM Report on Business” – www.ism.ws 02/05/14
- “Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufacturers’ Shipments, Inventories and Orders December 2013” – www.bls.gov 01/28/14
- “Employment Situation Summary” –www.bls.gov 02/07/14
- “New Residential Construction in December 2013” – www.census.gov 01/17/14
- “Consumer Confidence in U.S. Climbs to a Five-Month High” – www.bloomberg.com01/28/14
- “Advance Monthly Sales For Retail And Food Services January 2014” – www.census.gov 02/13/14
Truckload Capacity & Volumes
- “Cass Freight Index Report” – www.cassinfo.com – Jan 2014
- “December Tonnage Gain Caps ATA Tonnage Index’s Best Year Since 1998” – www.truckline.com 01/22/14
- “BTS Reports U.S. – NAFTA trade up 1.3 percent in November” – www.logisticsmgmt.com 01/30/14
- “3 of 5 transportation modes carry more NAFTA trade in November; trucks up 2.5%” – www.thetrucker.com 01/29/14
- “U.S. Employers add 113K jobs, rate dips to 6.6; trucking adds 3,100” – www.thetrucker.com 02/07/14
- “DOT Freight Transportation Index Declines in December” – www.ttnews.com 02/12/14
- “Freight Shipments Fell 1.0% in December from November” – www.rita.dot.gov 02/12/14
Global Market Update
- “Port Tracker report expects 8.4 percent decline in February import volumes” – www.logisticsmgmt.com 02/12/14
- “NRF Forecast 4.1% Increase in Retail Sales for 2014” – www.nrf.com 02/06/14
- “Weather Closes port to trucks, idles thousands of drivers” – www.nj.com 01/21/14
- “ILWU, Employers Prepare for Toughest Talks in Decades” – www.joc.com 01/03/14