U.S./Mexico Cross Border
Supply Chain News
SoCal Ports Report Sharp Import Declines in May; Expect Rebound over the Summer
The Ports of Los Angeles (POLA) and Long Beach (POLB) in Southern California reported sharp declines in imports in May. For POLA, loaded imports decreased 9% year-over-year for the month, whereas POLB imports decreased 13.4%. Gene Seroka, POLA Executive Director, noted that May represented their lowest monthly cargo output over two years. Many Shippers suspended or cancelled orders following the Trump Administration’s implementation of a 145% tariff on China in April. However, activity has resumed after tariffs were reduced to 30% with a 90-day pause extending until August 12th. Mario Cordero, POLB CEO, stated: “We remain cautiously optimistic that import cargo will rebound at the end of June and into July just in time for the peak shipping season, when retailers stock the shelves with back-to-school supplies and begin preparations for the winter holidays.” Despite recent challenges, both SoCal Ports have shown positive year-to-date performance. In the first 5 months of 2025, POLA processed 4,063,472 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), representing a 4% increase from 2024, whereas POLB processed 4,042,228 TEUs, representing a 17.2% increase from 2024. Read more at gCaptain.
U.S. President Signs Congressional Resolutions Reversing CA Truck Zero-Emissions Regulations
President Trump signed congressional resolutions on June 12, undoing waivers granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Biden Administration, which allowed California to have more stringent emissions standards than national standards. The resolutions, enacted under the Congressional Review Act, affected California regulations regarding the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulation and the Low NOx Omnibus rule. In a phased-in timetable, the CARB ACT regulation includes a provision for 40% of Class 8 Tractors sold in CA to be zero-emission trucks by 2035. Chris Spear, President of the American Trucking Association, stated: “Today, common sense prevailed. We thank President Trump, EPA Administrator [Lee] Zeldin and congressional leadership for taking decisive action to end crippling, detached-from-reality rulemakings that would have imposed devastating economic consequences on American businesses and families,”.
The CA Attorney General and several other States have filed a lawsuit with the U.S. District Court stating that the action was unlawful, unconstitutional, and void. Read more at Transport Topics.
Cushman & Wakefield Announces Sale of 1.15 million SF Logistics Center in Phoenix
Industrial Real Estate Broker Cushman & Wakefield announced the purchase of a 1.15 million SF Logistics Center in the Phoenix Metro region to EQT Real Estate for $128.2 million. The single-tenant facility is fully leased to Logistics Plus, Inc., a global provider of transportation, logistics, and supply chain solutions. The “Sarival Logistics Center” is located in Litchfield Park (Glendale), AZ, along Loop 303, approximately. 25 miles west of Phoenix, minutes from I-10, less than six hours from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Andy Markham, Cushman & Wakefield Executive Vice Chair, stated: “Sarival Logistics Center is a top-tier industrial asset in one of the most active logistics corridors in the Southwest. It pairs high-end design with excellent freeway access, making it a great fit for regional and national distribution.” Read more at AJOT.
BNSF Announces Mexico Cross-Border Quantum Service
U.S. and Mexico Railroads BNSF and GMXT (the parent company of Ferromex), together with U.S. 3PL J.B. Hunt, announced a cross border intermodal rail service for highly service-sensitive freight. The “Quantum de México” service promises a 95% on-time delivery rate on schedules up to one day faster than traditional intermodal service, similar to BNSF’s quantum service launched in the U.S. in 2023.
According to BNSF, intermodal rail captures just 4% of freight moving between the U.S. and Mexico, compared to a 10-12% market share of long-haul truck moves into the U.S. The quantum service will compete with long-haul trucking services, targeting consumer goods, retail shipments, manufactured products, and automotive parts. The service will connect major cities and industrial hubs through the Eagle Pass, TX gateway, including Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, the U.S. West Coast, and eastern destinations, as well as Mexico City, Guadalajara, and Monterrey in Mexico. According to J.B. Hunt, cross-border freight is expected to grow 4-6% annually over the next five years, despite current trade tensions. Read more at trains.com.
Mexico Port at Manzanillo Experiences Congestion after Labor Strike
Mexico’s leading container port, located at Manzanillo, is experiencing congestion and delays, one month after a four-day strike was resolved in mid-May 2025. According to Freight Forwarder Kuehne + Nagel, the port is classified as “heavily disrupted,” with an average vessel waiting time of 1.08 days, congested marine terminals, and high export volumes resulting in rail delays of approximately 72 hours for both imports and exports. Ernesto Hernandez Jr., HEMA Customs Broker, stated: Impacts from delays might be quantified in higher product costs. “[Much] of the cargo being sent directly to Mexico is part of a manufacturing process that will end up in the U.S. as a finished product. Delays and cost increases at these ports will increase the landed costs of products coming into the U.S.”.
The Port of Manzanillo, located on Mexico’s West Coast, is Mexico’s largest container port processing nearly 4 million TEUs in 2024. Last year, the Mexican Government announced a $3 billion expansion plan to expand the Port’s capacity to 10 million TEUs by 2030, which would make Manzanillo the largest container port in Latin America. Read more at the Journal of Commerce and Reuters.
Intermodal Chassis Provider Deploys Smart Chassis Tracking Technology
Direct ChassisLink Inc. (DCLI) announced deployment of smart chassis tracking technology across 50,000 of its 53-foot chassis in its Direct ChassisLink Domestic Pool (DCL53), including locations in the SoCal region.
Partnering with Hoopo, the GPS technology provides real-time monitoring and tracking capability for chassis utilized to transport 53′ intermodal rail containers, including chassis availability, container mount status, automated maintenance planning, and real-time location tracking to reposition equipment faster in response to its customers’ demands. Read more at AJOT.