The Supply Chain Economy with Fexingo: Logistics, Shipping, and Goods Movement

Episode 81 of The Supply Chain Economy examines how US Customs and Border Protection is shifting from a paperwork-checking agency to an active supply chain gatekeeper. Lucas and Luna dig into the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program, the new mandatory 24-hour advance cargo rule for air cargo, and how a surge in enforcement actions is causing delays at ports from Los Angeles...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the rise of bonded logistics hubs at US ports. New customs rules allow foreign goods to be stored, repackaged, and re-exported without paying duties, turning ports into value-add centers. With US trade deficit at $55.9 billion in April, these hubs could slash costs for manufacturers. We look at a case study from the Port of Savannah, where a major retailer i...

A critical shortage of DRAM and NAND flash memory is rippling through US supply chains, forcing factories to pause production lines and rethink inventory strategies. Lucas and Luna break down the numbers: manufacturers' new orders jumped to $662 billion in April, industrial production is up, but capacity utilization at 76.2% hides a bottleneck—companies can't get the chips they need. We trace how...

Manufacturers' new orders hit $662.7 billion in April 2026, up 4.8% from the prior month. But a deeper look shows that factories aren't just ordering more — they're holding on to parts longer. Lucas and Luna break down why US manufacturers are hoarding components, from memory chips to specialty steel, and how this behavior is reshaping the entire supply chain. They trace the trend back to the 2021...

Episode 77 of The Supply Chain Economy explores how long-term ocean shipping contracts are reshaping US manufacturing strategy. Lucas and Luna examine a specific case: a Tennessee-based furniture maker that locked in container rates through 2027, then shifted production from Vietnam to Mexico to shorten its supply chain. Using trade balance data showing a $55.9 billion deficit and rising exports,...

Episode 76 of The Supply Chain Economy explores a surprising trend: US warehouses are increasingly installing rooftop solar arrays and battery storage, turning passive logistics real estate into mini power plants. Lucas and Luna dive into the economics behind this shift, from rising industrial electricity rates to the Inflation Reduction Act's investment tax credit. They discuss how companies like...

Episode 75 of The Supply Chain Economy: Lucas and Luna dig into a paradox that's quietly jamming US logistics networks. Despite strong industrial production and rising manufacturers' orders, empty shipping containers are accumulating in inland warehouses at record rates. The episode traces how a mismatch between import-heavy trade flows and export demand is creating a container imbalance that's ra...

Episode 74 of The Supply Chain Economy dives into a quiet revolution: US warehouse operators, squeezed by persistent trucking capacity shortages and rising rates, are increasingly launching their own in-house fleets. Lucas and Luna break down the economics of 'private fleet warehousing' with real data — manufacturers' orders hit 662.7 billion in April, up from 632.6 billion — and explore how this...

This episode dives into the skyrocketing cost of war-risk insurance for tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, following Iran's new warning that ships need its approval to pass. Lucas and Luna unpack how insurance premiums have surged from 0.1% to over 5% of hull value, adding millions to each voyage. They connect this to the broader supply chain: higher freight rates for oil, rerouted vessels a...

On June 24, 2026, headlines report that 35 million barrels of oil are stuck on tankers in the Persian Gulf after Iran deal talks stalled. Lucas and Luna dig into the logistics of why those vessels aren't moving, how the Strait of Hormuz bottleneck reshapes global shipping routes, and what this means for freight rates, insurance premiums, and the tanker market. They tie it to the latest trade data—...

Episode 71 of The Supply Chain Economy zooms in on a single infrastructure choke point: the rail ramp. In April 2026, U.S. manufacturers' new orders hit $662.7 billion, up nearly 5 percent from the prior month. But getting those goods from port to factory floor is increasingly bottlenecked by aging rail infrastructure at the docks. Lucas and Luna examine how one major railroad — BNSF — is effectiv...

US manufacturers' new orders hit $662.7 billion in April 2026, up 4.7% from the prior month. But the story isn't just about volume — it's about where those orders are going. Lucas and Luna examine how a surge in industrial production, running at 102.6 on the index, is reshaping warehousing and logistics patterns far from coastal ports. They look at the case of Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolin...

Episode 69 of The Supply Chain Economy. Lucas and Luna explore how the boom in US warehouse construction is quietly reshaping county-level employment, tax bases, and infrastructure demands. With industrial production at 102.6 and capacity utilisation at 76.2%, they zero in on Inland Empire, California – a region that added over 40 million square feet of warehouse space in the last 12 months alone....

Episode 68 of The Supply Chain Economy with Fexingo explores a structural shift in U.S. freight: the price to move a load is increasingly determined by warehouse space, not just truck capacity. Lucas breaks down how the warehouse vacancy rate hit a record low of 4.2% in May 2026, pushing spot trucking rates up 18% year-over-year. Luna connects it to the broader inventory-stocking trend visible in...

Episode 67 of The Supply Chain Economy examines how rising geopolitical tensions and trade uncertainties are turning US warehouses into long-term storage hubs for critical components. Lucas and Luna analyze May 2026 industrial production data and capacity utilization figures, showing manufacturers are shifting from just-in-time to just-in-case inventory strategies. They discuss the implications fo...

Lucas and Luna drill into a specific logistics shift that’s redrawing the map of goods movement: how major US container ports are expanding on-dock rail capacity to bypass truck congestion and cut inland transit times. Lucas breaks down the numbers: the top five US ports added over 40 percent more on-dock rail lifts since 2023, and the Port of Savannah is now moving more than 30 percent of its con...

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how US manufacturers are bypassing the empty-container crisis by shifting production to Mexico. With US trade data showing a widening deficit but industrial production rising, the hosts dig into the numbers behind the nearshoring boom. They focus on one specific case: how a mid-sized auto parts supplier in Ohio moved its wiring-harness line to Ciudad Juárez,...

The US trade deficit hit $55.9 billion in April 2026. New orders for manufacturers are up 4.8% from a year ago, yet exporters say they're leaving money on the table. Episode 64 of The Supply Chain Economy looks at the hidden friction in trade finance — the letters of credit, the payment delays, the working capital gaps that make it harder for small and mid-sized US exporters to ship goods abroad....

In this episode of The Supply Chain Economy, Lucas and Luna explore a quiet but radical shift in US logistics: the rise of round-the-clock warehouse operations serving as de facto manufacturing floors. With industrial production edging higher and capacity utilisation stuck below 77 percent, more companies are repurposing warehouses for light assembly, kitting, and final-mile customisation. Lucas w...

Episode 62 of The Supply Chain Economy with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna examine a surprising export success story: the United States has become one of the world's largest exporters of waste paper, scrap metal, and plastic scrap. With trade data showing exports of goods and services up to $3.53 trillion, the hosts drill into how recycling commodities are filling empty containers outbound from US ports....

Episode 61 of The Supply Chain Economy dives into the hidden crisis of pallet shortages across US supply chains. Lucas and Luna explore why the humble wooden pallet—not containers or chassis—has become the latest bottleneck, costing shippers billions and delaying everything from food to electronics. They break down the numbers: a 20% shortfall in the US pallet pool, rising repair costs due to lumb...

In episode 60 of The Supply Chain Economy, Lucas and Luna dive into the quiet digital revolution happening at US ports. While headlines focus on trade deficits and tariffs, ports like Savannah and Long Beach are using AI-powered terminal operating systems, optical character recognition, and predictive analytics to slash container dwell times from four days to two. Lucas explains how digitization c...

Lucas and Luna dig into a hidden crisis in the US supply chain: a shortage of wooden pallets. With capacity utilization at 76.2% and industrial production ticking up, demand for pallets is surging — but lumber prices and labor shortages have created a bottleneck. The hosts explain how a simple platform for moving goods is now costing shippers millions, and why the pallet pooling model is under str...

The US trade deficit widened to $55.9 billion in April, driven by a surge in imports that outpaced export growth. Lucas and Luna drill into the structural factors behind the persistent gap—consumer demand, the strong dollar, and shifting global supply chains—and discuss what it means for manufacturers, logistics providers, and the broader economy. They reference the latest industrial production da...

Episode 57 of The Supply Chain Economy digs into the chassis shortage that's crippling US intermodal freight. Lucas and Luna break down how a shortage of the wheeled trailers that haul shipping containers between ports, rails, and warehouses is causing delays, raising costs, and widening the trade deficit. With new orders for manufactured goods up 4.8% in April 2026 and the trade deficit still at...