Weekly Freight Report: January 9, 2026

This week brought significant developments shaking up the freight landscape, from plummeting manufacturing activity and spiking transpacific rates to a major Supreme Court tariff decision looming on the horizon. Add in severe European weather disruptions and shifting global trade patterns, and shippers have plenty to navigate.

As demand softens and geopolitical uncertainty grows, now is the time to evaluate your supply chain positioning and freight strategy.

Dive into the full update to see what’s driving costs, reshaping capacity, and shifting global trade lanes.

US Manufacturing Activity Drops to Lowest Point of 2025: PM

U.S. manufacturing activity fell to its lowest level of the year in December, with weak demand and tariff uncertainty weighing on the sector. The ISM’s PMI registered 47.9%, signaling continued contraction as new orders remain sluggish

Venezuela Has Oil. What It Lacks Is a Working Supply Chain

Despite holding massive oil reserves, Venezuela’s return to global markets hinges on rebuilding a degraded supply chain. Industry experts estimate $250–300 billion in investment and 5–7 years would be needed to restore production infrastructure.

Major Tariff Case Heads Toward Supreme Court Decision

The U.S. Supreme Court could rule as early as this week on President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. A ruling against the administration could trigger billions in refunds and reshape presidential trade authority.

Soft Volumes to Keep West Coast Ports Congestion

Free in Early 2026
With inflation rising, consumer confidence declining, and unemployment on the rise, U.S. imports from Asia are not expected to see the typical pre-Lunar New Year surge—keeping West Coast ports running smoothly in early 2026.

Air Cargo Demand Grew 4% in 2025, Analysts Forecast Slower 2026 Growth

Global air cargo demand rose 4% in 2025, but analysts expect growth to moderate to 2–3% in 2026. E-commerce headwinds and new customs duties in the EU could further dampen demand.

Brazil Shakes Off Trump Tariffs With Record Exports in 2025

Brazilian exports hit a record $348.7 billion in 2025 despite months of 50% U.S. tariffs on key goods. Increased shipments to China helped offset a 6.6% drop in U.S.-bound exports.

Transpacific Ocean Rates Spike to Start 2026

Transpacific Ocean Rates Spike to Start 2026
Lunar New Year demand and carrier rate increases pushed Asia-to-U.S. West Coast ocean rates up 22% week over week to $2,617 per FEU—now 30% higher than mid-December levels.

Severe Winter Storm Disrupts North Europe Port, Inland Operations

A brutal Arctic blast brought fierce winds and heavy snow to Northern Europe, halting container handling at the Port of Hamburg and Port of Rotterdam while grounding hundreds of flights at Schiphol.

Weekly Freight Report: January 9, 2026

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