Global Freight Forwarding Update - July 2025

July 24, 2025

Global Freight Forwarding Update 

July’s freight landscape continued to normalize as the tariff-driven front-loading window closed and capacity adjustments rippled through air, ocean, and ground markets. While short-term relief emerged with jet fuel prices falling sharply and tender acceptance rates held at record highs, rising input costs, equipment backlogs, and looming tariff deadlines underscored persistent volatility.

Forwarders and shippers leaned into modal diversification and longer-term commitments to avoid client service disruptions. As peak-season demand unfolds into Q3 and Q4, proactive rate negotiations, strategic routing, and leveraging FTZs will be essential to manage cost pressures and capacity constraints. 

International Air Freight News

• CTK growth slowed to 2.2% YoY in May (vs. 5.8% in April) as shipments pulled forward ahead of new tariffs begin to taper off. North America volumes dipped sharply after the de minimis exemption was removed, while Asia-Pacific led growth at 8.2%.
• Available capacity (ACTK) expanded 2.0% YoY with load factors up slightly. Jet fuel costs plunged 18.8% YoY and 4.3% MoM, driving a 2.9% YoY drop in air-freight rates, a first in 2025.
• A backlog of 17,000 undelivered aircraft (about 18% of the active fleet) could take 3–5 years to clear at current production rates, foreshadowing ongoing capacity constraints.

Download Air Freight Update

International Ocean Freight News

• Carriers blanked roughly 175,000 TEUs (≈11% of Asia–US West Coast capacity) in July ahead of the August tariff reset. Yet weak residual demand has kept spot rates under downward pressure despite seasonal peaks.
• Chinese shipbuilding saw new orders fall 68% YoY as looming U.S. port fees drive business toward South Korea (now 30% share). However, global shipyard slots are largely booked into 2027, limiting medium-term fleet growth.
• U.S. reciprocal tariffs, up to 200% on select pharmaceuticals and 100–150% on semiconductors, take effect in August, with limited exemptions. Meanwhile, countermeasures and initiatives like the China–Brazil–Peru railway corridor underscore the need for agile routing.

Download Ocean Freight Update

U.S. Domestic Ground Freight News

• Tender acceptance rates remained in the  high-90%, delivering net cost savings even as incumbent TL rates ticked up. Many shippers shifted freight into intermodal to capture relative pricing advantages.
• June freight shipments were down 2% YoY and flat MoM; dry-van spot rates traded 8–10% below five-year seasonal norms, sustaining strong negotiating power into Q3.
• Despite soft demand, key expenses such as truck/trailer payments (+8.3%), driver benefits (+4.8%), tolls, and insurance premiums (+5.8%) continue to outpace inflation, reinforcing the value of diversified contracts and proactive rate management. 

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Location Spotlight: Denver (CO), USA

Crane Worldwide Logistics is proudly serving Denver, Colorado. Our Denver facility delivers full-service freight forwarding and 3PL solutions across air, ocean, ground, and warehousing. Strategically situated just 10 minutes from Denver International Airport and 14 miles from downtown, our 135,000 sq ft warehouse features 36 ft ceilings, 23 dock doors, and 3 ramps, enabling both high-touch service and high-volume capacity as a TSA-approved Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) and licensed NVOCC.

Located at 18100 E. 40th Avenue, Suite 10, in Aurora, Colorado, only 15 minutes from UP and BNSF rail terminals, our Denver team offers seamless access to interstate highways and regional rail networks, ensuring efficient multimodal transport and rapid distribution across North America.

Looking to optimize your Colorado supply chain or expand your U.S. West operations? Contact Crane Worldwide Logistics Denver today for customized, end-to-end solutions backed by our global network and local expertise. 

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