XPL Advisors
Strategies, market insights & supply chain consulting for 3PLs and brands in North America (www.XPLAdvisors.com)
- The IMMEX (maquiladora) industry in #Mexico continues to have momentum: July 2025 data from INEGI (Mexico's national statistics agency) show the total number of mfg and services firms in this export-oriented sector continues to grow, hitting a high of 6,575 firms - despite USMCA & trade uncertainty
- Useful data on what companies may be impacted by today's executive order increasing the cost of the #H-1B #visa program. For more data visit: www.uscis.gov/tools/report...
- #Automotive: After a tough 1H-2025 due to #tariffs, the #Mexico auto industry is showing some recovery: while in Apr production totals were down -7%, Jan-Aug totals now slightly positive vs YTD 2024 (Toyota at +40.5%!). Honda/Mazda & #European brands still negative (poss. due to low #USMCA content).
- Q2-2025 US Census #Retail #Ecommerce data is out w/ Good & Bad News for #online retailers, #3PLs and the #fulfillment industry: • Good: US online sales hit record $304M, up +1.4% over Q1 and 16.3% of ALL retail sales • Bad: Qrtly sales growth remains <1.5% on average (1/2 the growth of 2010-2021)
- Drewry Shipping Consultant's wkly data on container #shipping costs to US & Europe shows steady decreases in earlier #tariff -induced rate peaks: "Drewry’s World Container Index decreased 3% to $2,350 per 40ft container", w/ spot rates for Shanghai/Los Angeles down -2% and Shanghai/New York down -5%
- Wkly container forecasts from the Ports of #LongBeach & #LosAngeles show decreases in imports thru Aug. (which will ripple through the #logistics industry). VIZION data also shows continued drop in imports from #China - affecting not just LA/LB, but also the Ports of Oakland and #Seattle / Tacoma.
- Beyond the #labordata drama today, the July 2025 ISM® Report On Business® – #Manufacturing PMI® report is also out - also indicating a contracting #employment trend for mfrs, and continued disruption caused by #tariffs. Link to ISM report here: www.ismworld.org/supply-manag...
- Drewry #Shipping Consultants reports that shipping rates for 40' containers from #China continue to fall, w/ rates between #Shanghai- #LosAngeles down -5%, and Shanghai- #NewYork down -7%. "Drewry expects spot rates on this trade lane to continue declining..." #tariffs #logistics #supplychain
- As new trade deal date of "August 1" is floated, West Coast US #seaport container traffic & employment continues to be impacted by Trump Admin #tariff policies. July stats from the Port of #LosAngeles and Northwest Seaport Alliance (Seattle, Tacoma) show import surge fading (after May tariff pause)
- Drewry #SupplyChain Advisors' World Container Index - showing shipping cost btwn major seaports. The July 3 Index shows a -5.7% decrease (as US demand softens), dropping to $2,812 per 40ft container. Looking at route data, only the Shanghai-Rotterdam route is increasing (more China-to-EU #exports).
- The #US Census Bureau released Q1-2025 #ecommerce #retail data showing an estimated $300.2B in quarterly online sales (up +6.1% from the first quarter of 2024). US ecommerce sales in Q1-2025 made up 16.2% of total US retail sales (similar % to the 3 previous quarters). #fulfillment #logistics
- #Automotive #Manufacturing: Heavy-duty vehicle production in #Mexico for April 2025 was down -24.27% YoY (compared to Apr2025); YTD numbers (Jan-Apr) are also down -22.32% compared to the same period in 2024 (15,000+ fewer trucks)! Data not surprising, given #tariff and #USMCA uncertainty...
- The Indeed #Logistics Support job ad index hit 119.2 for the week of May 9. This indicator (a national index of new job postings for logistics positions) has been somewhat neutral lately, hovering at this level since early-March 2025 (despite the 1H-2025 #tariff chaos). #supplychain #ecommerce
- NEW #logistics data: Here it is - the #WestCoast #containercollapse that we've all expected as a result of #Trump #tariffs: Port of #LosAngeles forecast for May 25-31 showing a -54.47% drop (!!) in inbound container TEUs from May 18-24 (to only 47K TEUs!) #supplychain #shipping #transportation
- April 2025 #Mexico #automotive production & #export data is out (INEGI), with a -9.07% drop in mfg and a -10.88% drop in #exports (mostly to the US) compared to March. YTD total production is fairly flat, but exports overall have declined -7.29%, compared to Jan-Apr 2024 (esp. for European brands)
- Weekly stats are out from the Assoc. of American #Railroads showing total #rail traffic for #Mexico down -10.1% & for #Canada essentially flat (+0.2%) YoY(Weeks 1-17). Only #intermodal rail shipments increased YTD, w/ other railcar types signif. down -17.6% YoY in MX and somewhat down in CA (-1.0%).
- #TrumpTariffs: Just a reminder that the US Trade Representative website still has a list of the already-signed, already-in force #FreeTrade Agreements the US has had in place with 20 countries (until recently). USTR website: ustr.gov/trade-agreem...
- #WestCoast US seaports showing major drop in inbound containers from #Asia: current inbound shipping data for Week 19 (May 04-10) at the Port of #LosAngeles showing -43% fewer TEUs scheduled YoY; likely job & economic impacts on drayage & #transportation firms, #3PL & warehousing companies, etc.
- The #TrumpEffect on international #tourism is showing up in Statistics #Canada data with significant declines: in March, the number of Canadian residents returning from the US via air declined by -13.5%, while the number of Canadian visitors to the US via auto fell by -31.9%. Huge economic impacts.
- Starting to see the impacts of #TrumpTariffs on #USMCA trade: #automotive production and #exports from #Mexico showing some declines - particularly European-oriented auto brands (Audi & Volkswagen). Impacts on suppliers from the US, #Canada and Mexico (and the respective jobs) likely too.
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- Not including #USMCA partners #Canada and #Mexico (which were not included on the "Liberation Day" #tariff menu), there were also 15 countries that - according to the USTR website - the US has #FreeTrade agreements with (ratified by the US Congress & Senate, and signed into law) #tariffwar #trade
- Additional details from #TrumpTariff announcement on the #automotive industry - including special mention on #USMCA autos and #autoparts (from #Canada and #Mexico). Link to executive order here: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
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