Importers & Exporters Top 100 2024 Cover Story

Outlook for US freight economy remains cloudy despite early import surge

By William B . Cassidy

Spot and contract rates on major ocean trade lanes are rising as US retailers boost their import forecasts for the first half of 2024 and container volumes increase amid shipping diversions and delays . But it ’ s not clear whether current conditions will roll into the second half of the year , especially as imports alone haven ’ t been enough to spark a major shift in either the ocean or surface transportation freight markets .

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