JUNE REBOUND AS WEST COAST CONTAINERS BEST EAST, GULF PORTS
In June 2025, U.S. container import volumes experienced a modest rebound, marking a stabilization after May’s sharp decline. The shift in port dynamics was noticeable, with top West Coast ports regaining momentum. Los Angeles experienced a 29.1% increase in volume, adding 103,884 TEUs, while Long Beach saw an 18.8% rise, contributing an additional 58,492 TEUs. Tacoma’s volume increased by 33.3%, highlighting a strong performance on the West Coast. Conversely, most East and Gulf Coast ports reported significant declines. Savannah saw a decrease of 16.9%, and Houston experienced a 15.8% drop in volumes. Overall, the top 10 U.S. ports handled a combined volume showing a 3.1% rise month-over-month. Port delays improved notably in June, particularly at key West Coast ports such as Los Angeles and Long Beach, which saw reductions in congestion by 2.1 and 3.3 days, respectively. This improvement signals an easing of the bottlenecks prevalent in May. East and Gulf Coast ports, while experiencing smaller gains, remained more stable with minimal changes in transit times.
TRUMP FLOATS 50% TARIFF ON COPPER, 200% ON PHARMACEUTICALS
President Donald Trump said he plans to implement a 50% tariff on copper imports and is mulling a 200% levy on imported pharmaceutical products later this year. “Today, we’re doing copper,” Trump said during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday in Washington. “I believe the tariff on copper; we’re going to make it 50%.” The 50% tariff on imported copper and a potential 200% import tax on pharmaceutical products is part of a plan to get companies to move production back to the U.S., Trump administration officials said. “The idea is to bring copper home, bring copper production home,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in an interview on CNBC. Copper is used in everything from consumer electronic devices (including smartphones), electric vehicles, and medical devices, along with components for electric grids and transportation systems, according to the National Mining Association. Copper is imported into the U.S. through a combination of ocean freight, trucking and rail. The majority of copper imports to the U.S. arrive via ocean container ships, often at major ports such as the ports of New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Houston.
DELTA CARGO’S DELIVERDIRECT OFFERS ‘E-COMMERCE DELIVERY AT THE SPEED OF FLIGHT’
In the e-commerce shipping sector, the efficient use of time can significantly impact business success. In an industry where time often equals money, moving goods quickly and reliably is crucial for customer retention and cost optimization. In an effort to address some of the frequent pain points of small parcel shippers, Delta Cargo and SmartKargo have partnered to create Deliver Direct, a practical solution for small parcel shippers. Delta Cargo’s DeliverDirect, powered by SmartKargo, provides “e-commerce delivery at the speed of flight” and is the first offering of its kind by a domestic US airline. Chris Grey, Vice President of Business Development at SmartKargo, previously noted that traditional carriers typically have slower time in transit, sometimes taking as long as seven days for a ground movement. By using Deliver Direct, shippers can inevitably benefit from Delta’s unparalleled operational reliability. Investing in partnerships that prioritize time and cost savings, without compromising quality of service, provides a foundation for effective growth strategies moving forward. The customer remains the driving force in this dynamic landscape, emphasizing the enduring importance of swift and efficient delivery.
FEDEX BUYS WORLD’S FIRST ATR 72-600 PASSENGER-TO-FREIGHTER AIRCRAFT
FedEx will operate the world’s first ATR 72-600 turboprop aircraft to undergo conversion from passenger to freighter configuration after signing a purchase agreement last week. Dublin-based ACIA Aero Leasing said it plans to deliver the converted freighter to FedEx (NYSE: FDX) by December, according to a news release. It’s possible the plane could enter commercial service before the end of the year or in early 2026. Neither company has indicated where the cargo plane will be deployed, but there are several possibilities based on existing business relationships. The last time FedEx acquired a converted freighter — a Boeing 757 — was in 2016. Most of the 757 fleet consists of converted aircraft. FedEx last received a converted ATR freighter — an ATR 72-200 — was in 2011, company spokesman Jonathan Lyons said. ACIA said FedEx will use the ATR 72-600 converted freighter to replace an older aircraft. FedEx has six more ATR’s scheduled for delivery by the end of next year under a pre-existing order. In March, FedEx placed a firm order with Toulouse, France-based ATR for 10 additional ATR 72-600 production freighters, with deliveries scheduled between 2027 and 2029. With a payload of about 10 tons, the ATR 72-600 can carry bulk cargo, five 88-by-108-foot pallets or up to seven smaller LD3 containers.