Industry News

U.S. Ports Brace for Highest Import Cargo Volume in Almost a Year
Mike Schuler, GCaptain

Import cargo volume at major U.S. container ports is expected to reach its highest level in nearly a year this month as retailers prepare for the winter holidays, the National Retail Federation said Monday.

The resolution of critical labor negotiations means retailers can now focus on upcoming the holiday import season. West Coast ports and United Parcel Service have reached tentative contract agreements, while a Canadian port strike ended with a tentative agreement that was ratified on Friday. Ratification processes are ongoing for the other agreements. Read More...

The Era of Ultracheap Stuff Is Under Threat
Factories across Asia are struggling to attract young workers, which is bad news for Western consumers accustomed to inexpensive goods
Jon Emont, Wall Street Journal

The workplace features floor-to-ceiling windows and a cafe serving matcha tea, as well as free yoga and dance classes. Every month, workers gather at team-building sessions to drink beer, drive go-karts, and go bowling.

This isn’t Google. It’s a garment factory in Vietnam. 

Asia, the world’s factory floor and the source of much of the stuff Americans buy, is running into a big problem: Its young people, by and large, don’t want to work in factories.

That’s why the garment factory is trying to make its manufacturing floor more enticing, and why alarm bells are ringing at Western companies that rely on the region’s inexpensive labor to churn out affordable consumer goods. Read More...