U.S./Mexico Cross Border

Supply Chain News

SoCal Ports Report High Import Volumes Ahead of Tariffs

The SoCal Ports of Los Angeles (POLA) and Long Beach (POLB) reported strong import volume gains for April. POLA imports rose 5% year-over-year (YoY) to 439,230 TEUs for the month, whereas POLB imports increased 15.1% YoY to 419,828 TEUs. According to Gene Seroka, POLA Executive Director, the volume growth has been paced, in part, by retailers and manufacturers bringing in cargo ahead of the increased tariffs announced by President Trump. During the first week of May, however, POLA imports dropped more than 30% after the increased tariffs took effect. A significant proportion of SoCal container imports come from China. According to Descartes, 62% of POLA Container imports originated in China in 2023, whereas 65% of POLB container imports originated in China.

With the 90-day suspension of increased reciprocal tariffs on China, it is expected that significant import volumes will resume in the next several months. According to Vizion, a container tracking software provider, bookings of China exports to the U.S. soared by 277% for the week ending May 5. According to the POLA Executive Director, they do not foresee a COVID-level tsunami of cargo. Rather, they project a large, but manageable wave. Read more at Logistics Management, SoCal Ports, and yahoo!finance Revived Demand.

Maersk and Gemini Alliance top Ocean Carrier Schedule Reliability Ratings

According to Sea-Intelligence, global Ocean Carrier schedule reliability improved by three percentage points month-over-month in March 2025 to 57.5% – the highest recorded since Nov. 2023. The Ocean Carrier Maersk was the most reliable top-13 Carrier with a schedule reliability of 66.9%, followed by Hapag-Lloyd at 64.3%, and MSC at 61.9%.

Regarding Ocean Carrier Alliances, the newly formed Gemini Alliance—comprised of Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd recorded 90.3% reliability across all arrivals, followed by MSC at 75.8%, and Premier Alliance (HMM, ONE, Yang Ming) at 53.2% schedule reliability for all arrivals in Feb/March 2025. Read more at Sea-Intellegence.

U.S. Tariffs Uncertainty Increases Demand for Customs-Bonded Warehousing

U.S. tariffs uncertainty is creating increased demand for customs-bonded warehouse space and Foreign Trade Zones by Shippers desiring to avoid or defer increased customs duties on U.S. imports. Bonded warehouses allow duties on imported goods to be deferred up to 5 years. Tariffs are assessed at the prevailing rate when goods are withdrawn into U.S. commerce. After pausing imports from China during the period of high tariffs (e.g., 145%) in April and early May, many Shippers are now increasing their import volumes from China during the 90-day suspension period of lower tariffs (e.g., 30%) and placing them in bond until new the tariff levels are determined. Third-Party Logistics Providers such as RK Logistics have announced an expansion of their customs-bonded warehouse capacity to assist Shippers in navigating their response to increased tariffs. Read more at san.com bonded warehouses and DC Velocity RK Logistics.

DHL Acquires E-Commerce 3PL IDS Fulfillment

DHL announced it has acquired IDS Fulfillment, a third-party logistics (3PL) provider specializing in e-commerce fulfillment and retail distribution for small and midsized companies. The amount of the transaction was not disclosed. IDS, with about 500 employees joining DHL, ships more than 50,000 packages daily from 4 facilities, totaling over 1.3 million SF. By purchasing IDS, DHL Supply Chain advances its efforts to expand its U.S. customer base beyond larger enterprises. The company will bring on more than 50 customers weighted toward small and medium-sized e-commerce brands through the deal.

The Danish 3PL DSV finalized the acquisition of German competitor DB Schenker, creating one of the largest global logistics companies with 160,000 employees and about $46 billion in annual revenue. The merger was completed after U.S. and European antitrust authorities approved the $16 billion deal, which was signed in Sept. 2024. Jens H. Lund, DSV CEO, stated: “With this acquisition, we have become a world-leading player in global transport and logistics, at a time when global supply chains are in focus more than ever before. By combining the two companies, we will create a unique, flexible platform for long-term financial growth.” Read more at Supply Chain Dive and Maritime Executive

U.S. DOT Provides $150 Million Grant for New San Diego-Tijuana Border Crossing

The U.S. Dept of Transportation recently announced it will proceed with a $150 million grant to construct a new land Port of Entry (POE) near the San Diego and Tijuana border. The “Otay Mesa East” POE, located 3 miles east of the original POE, will include 10 lanes for cargo and passenger vehicles, state-of-the-art technology, and a new four-lane toll road along State Route 11 to reduce wait times, strengthen border security, bolster bi-national trade, and provide relief for the existing Otay Mesa and Tecate POEs, which process about 3,600 trucks per day. The grant was initially awarded in 2022; an agreement was finalized in April 2025. Site preparations have begun, and the project’s final design is being processed. Once construction of the POE facility begins, a phased-opening approach will be considered with the goal of opening the facility in late 2027. Read more at Transport Topics and SANDAG.

Laredo Cross-Border Port Becoming a Supply Chain Powerhouse

Laredo, TX, has emerged as one of the largest ports in the world in terms of volume and crossings, driven by its robust infrastructure and strategic location on the US-Mexico border. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, cross-border trade at the Laredo crossing was valued at $313 billion in 2023, which included 2.9 million truck crossings. According to the Laredo Economic Development Corp. and Lee & Associates, the port is home to 660 trucking & transportation companies, 250 freight forwarders, and 120 customs brokers. It includes new industrial developments such as the 433K SF Pinnacle Center, 213K SF Vidal Cantu Industrial Center, 326K SF & 259K SF Laredo Logistics Crossing, and a 440K SF development by Realterm & Titan Development. Analysis by LoadWise 3PL and OL Logistics found that shipping products from Laredo to significant destinations such as Detroit, Atlanta, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh yields savings compared to shipping from Houston to those cities, all other factors being equal. Shipping to Los Angeles, Denver, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and San Francisco is also cheaper from Laredo than from Dallas. This is due in part to lower labor costs and the city’s status as a “backhaul” market (more product from northern cities coming back to Mexico as opposed to final destinations like Dallas and Houston). Read More at REBusinessOnline.