🚢 Port Congestion in LA | Diesel Prices Dip | Mexico’s Rail Strike – June 18 Update

1. 📊 Rates & Index Watch

• Container (Shanghai > LA): $2,050/FEU ↘️ 4% from last week

• Diesel Price (US avg.): $3.61/gal ↘️ 2.1%

• Truckload Spot Rate (DAT): $2.16/mi ↔️ flat

2. 🚨 This Week’s Signals

• ⚠️ Mexico Rail Strike Disrupts Auto Exports:
  Auto OEMs including GM and Stellantis have halted freight as union-led strikes block critical railways. Expect parts shortages in US midwest by late June.

• 🛳️ Port of LA Congestion Ticking Up Again:
  Dwell time hits 5.2 days (up from 3.9). Likely tied to the surge in back-to-school inventory pulling by big-box retailers.

• 🇪🇺 EU Customs Regulation Shift:
  The ICS2 regulation now applies to all air cargo into the EU. Non-compliance may delay inbound flights. Shippers advised to double-check IOSS entries.

3. 📦 Featured Tool
Flexport’s Carbon Calculator
New tool to benchmark carbon impact across ocean, air, and rail modes. A strong value-add for firms reporting on Scope 3 emissions.

4. 🧠 Quick Insight: Inventory is the New Risk
We’re seeing an inverse of the 2021 panic-buying era. Brands now avoid excess inventory at all costs. This means more short-term contracts, just-in-time ordering — and greater sensitivity to lead time volatility.

5. 🚚 Job Moves

• Maria Gonzalez → Director of Procurement, Wayfair (ex-Amazon Freight)

• Jake Ramsey → Head of Logistics Ops, Warby Parker

“Enjoying The Freight Desk? Forward this to your Ops lead. Or become a Pro member for early access to rates and forecasts.”