IA Insights: July 6, 2026

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Biggest News of the Week

• CMA CGM agreed to buy FedEx Supply Chain for $1.4 billion, adding 34 million square feet of warehouse space and 10,000 employees to CEVA Logistics. The move continues the ocean carrier push into end-to-end logistics, warehousing, fulfillment and contract logistics.

Macro: Rates, Diesel, Policy & Trade

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection expanded its tariff refund portal to cover entries awaiting reconciliation, with the first phase accounting for roughly $28.7 billion in refunds. A second phase could come later this month, potentially making about 95% of IEEPA-tariffed entries eligible, though the DOJ appeal means refund timing and eligibility remain uncertain.
  
  
• Even if importers recover some IEEPA tariff payments, new tariff actions could offset the relief. The new Section 301 tariffs of 10% to 12.5% on more than 99% of U.S. imports could turn expected refunds into a wash for some importers.
  
  
• CBP is also preparing stricter data requirements for U.S.-bound postal imports valued at $2,500 or less. Starting July 24, importers will need to provide more detailed merchandise descriptions, 10-digit HTS codes and other shipment-level data, with CBP estimating the change could drive more than $100 million in additional annual duties.
  
  
• The EU’s crackdown on low-value parcel imports officially kicked in, adding a flat 3 euro customs charge per product category and requiring more shipping data. For cross-border e-commerce shippers, the change increases the importance of accurate classification, checkout pricing and local fulfillment strategies.
  
  
• Retail diesel fell for the eighth straight week, with the DOE/EIA benchmark dropping to $4.668 per gallon, but futures and product-market spreads are moving in the opposite direction. Translation: shippers may see near-term fuel surcharge relief, but the broader fuel market is still volatile.

What’s going on with the Strait of Hormuz?

• Iran warned oil tankers to use only approved routes through the Strait of Hormuz or risk a “forceful response,” while the main route reportedly remains closed because of mine-related concerns. Some traffic has resumed on smaller northern and southern routes, but the waterway remains a major watchpoint for energy, bunker fuel, vessel routing and transportation-cost volatility.

Land: Trucking, LTL, Intermodal & Warehousing

• Truckload capacity remains acutely tight, with projections that truckload contract rates could rise 20% year over year by the end of 2026 and spot rates could rise 40%. The capacity squeeze is being driven by small-carrier exits, regulatory pressure, weak equipment replacement and driver availability, all of which are pushing more freight into competing modes.
  
  
• Amazon Freight says larger shipments that previously moved truckload are shifting back toward LTL as shippers look for more flexible options in a rising-rate environment. The company added an LTL service this month, using its pool of 80,000 trailers and 24,000 intermodal containers while building cross-dock capabilities across its network.
  

Sea: Ocean, Ports & Global Freight

• Trans-Pacific spot rates jumped again after July 1 GRIs, with North Asia-West Coast rates reaching $6,967 per FEU and North Asia-East Coast rates reaching $8,433 per FEU. But added West Coast capacity could soften rates after the July 4 holiday, making the next two weeks important for whether another July 15 GRI can stick.
  
  
• Agriculture exporters are asking the FMC to require ocean carriers to directly notify customers of new tariffs, surcharges and rate changes rather than relying on website postings or third-party tariff platforms. The concern: shippers may not see new charges until it is too late to plan.
  
  
• Containers lost at sea nearly tripled in 2025, with 1,478 containers lost out of roughly 280 million transported globally. The World Shipping Council cited weather, ocean conditions and fire-related incidents as key contributors, while new mandatory reporting rules are improving visibility into losses.
  
  
• The Port of Brownsville is now the deepest channel along the Gulf Coast after completing a deepening project that brings its ship channel to 54 feet and main channel to 52 feet. The investment strengthens maritime access for larger liquid, bulk and energy-related vessels as LNG and refinery projects expand in South Texas.
  
  
• SC Ports will pause operations at the Port of Charleston’s Leatherman Terminal beginning August 1 and shift activity to the Wando and North Charleston terminals. The port described the move as a short-term cost-control decision amid trade uncertainty and softer container volumes.

Parcel & Air Cargo

• USPS is working toward end-to-end parcel visibility, including bluetooth devices, bidirectional cameras, stronger scan compliance and near-real-time shipment views.
  
  
• FedEx expects to return its full MD-11 fleet to service before peak season after grounding the aircraft last year following the UPS MD-11 crash. They’ve begun reintroducing aircraft while continuing their broader air-network redesign and fleet modernization plan.
  
  
• Freight forwarders are asking IATA to pause new direct air waybill rules that took effect July 1, arguing the framework could shift liability onto forwarders even when they lack operational control or corresponding insurance coverage. Shippers should watch for differences in how airlines apply the revised framework.

Regulation, Compliance & Risk

• CORCA, the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, is now awaiting Senate action after passing the House. The bill would create a federal coordination center focused on organized retail and supply chain crime, while the debate now centers on whether cargo theft is underreported and how much federal oversight is needed.