RENO, Nev., June 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ITS Logistics today released the June forecast for the ITS Logistics US Port/Rail Ramp Freight Index. This month, the index reveals increased volumes making their way to North America with reports of trans-shipment delays in Asia, most notably in Singapore. The change signals rising East-to-West freight volumes, while outside of the terminals, empty termination problems persist, especially in Los Angeles/Long Beach. Furthermore, rail gateways for inland point intermodal (IPI) legs of ocean freight will become more congested rapidly as import surges make their way inland.
“Most ports are running at 60 to 75% capacity, suggesting port operations and vessel congestion should operate efficiently,” said Paul Brashier, Vice President of Global Supply Chain for ITS Logistics. “However, with temporary tariff relief boosting Chinese import volumes in the second half of the retail season, there are growing concerns about whether receiving capacity can effectively absorb these volumes.”
Mid-summer typically marks the onset of back-to-school shipping activity, with fall and winter holiday merchandise still in production or on water. However, the April suspension of the Trump administration’s tariffs on Chinese imports prompted many retailers to accelerate orders on inventory for the second half of the year—prompting another frontloading episode that has sent container rates surging even into early June. Last Friday, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) reported a week-over-week increase of nearly 31% across all documented markets. West Coast-bound spot rates rose 58% to $6,243 per 40-foot equivalent unit (FEU), while East …