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Trans-Pacific Shipping: The 2026 Outlook
On demand, Free
The seasonal rush or lack of before factories slow or cease production for two-week long China’ s Lunar New Year celebrations will give the trans-Pacific trade a good barometer on just how depressed Asia import volumes will be for the rest of the years. Analysts forecast Asia import growth in 2026 to be in the very low single-digits to flat compared to last year The materialization of any seasonal rush and how carriers respond with capacity will provide a better sense of first-half demand, reflecting restocking for post-holiday sales and demand for spring wares. While bookings for Asia exports to North America have held up, as measured by maritime visibility provider Vizion and data and analytics company Dun & Bradstreet, the forward-looking demand indicators look lackluster. The National Retail Federation( NRF), in its monthly Global Port Tracker, forecasts the first month-over-month gain in import volumes( January from December) in six months, but noted that year-over-year import volumes would remain negative compared to quite strong import volumes early in 2025 as retailers frontloaded merchandise due to the expectation of higher tariffs. The webcast will provide an outlook on volume demand, ocean reliability and port performance, and annual trans- Pacific service contract negotiations. https:// bit. ly / 4qEIPnY
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CMA CGM backs off plans to resume Suez transits for Asia – Europe services
CMA CGM is scaling back plans to reroute three Asia – Europe services through the Red Sea that were announced just last month, a glaring example of the delicate balancing act facing liners as they chart a return to Suez Canal transits. https:// bit. ly / 4pUnWDL
Risk and Recalibration: The 2026 Breakbulk and Project Cargo Outlook
On demand, Free
As 2025 drew to a close, project cargo and breakbulk freight demand remained stable, with high hopes that a positive pipeline for mining, power generation for data centers, and LNG projects would keep the market busy. But not everything in the outlook is rosy. With falling oil prices threatening to knock a revitalization of oil and petrochemical projects on the head and the long tail of tariff confusion continuing into 2026, uncertainty could drag on all-important project final investment decisions. Engineering, procurement and construction companies speaking with the Journal of Commerce anticipate a busy 2026, but whereas previous years have been laser-focused on planning, the objective now is speed, putting pressure on the supply chain. This build-it-now mentality is forcing shippers to book ship capacity further out to ensure readiness when the go button on a project is pressed. Add to this, pressures on seaborne chokepoints, congestion and that ever-present specter of geopolitics, and it stands to reason that 2026 will continue to see challenges on project timescales and punctuality. This hourlong webcast will take a practical, data-backed look at what 2026 may hold and how your breakbulk and project cargo supply chain can prepare for what is ahead. https:// bit. ly / 4qB9TEy
Ari Ashe / Journal of Commerce
Truckload at tipping point; intermodal still lagging: J. B. Hunt
The US truckload market is“ fragile” enough given the capacity now exiting that a disruption or demand catalyst could quickly send prices higher and mark the end of the freight recession, according to J. B. Hunt. But the US’ largest intermodal provider is not forecasting an inflection just yet. https:// bit. ly / 45SRTgo
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Journal of Commerce( USPS 279 – 060), ISSN 1530-7557, February 2, 2026, Volume 27, Issue No. 2. Journal of Commerce is published monthly( 12 issues a year) by JOC Group Inc., 55 Water St., 39th Floor, New York, N. Y. 10041. Subscription price: $ 595 a year. Periodicals postage paid at New York, N. Y., and additional mailing offices. © All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be copied or reprinted without written permission from the publisher. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Journal of Commerce, Subscription Services Department, 55 Water St., 39th Floor, New York, N. Y. 10041.
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