Jaguar Freight | The Weekly Roar – A decrease in N. American transborder shipping, down throughput at the EU’s largest port, diesel prices up, shifting US manufacturing sector, and managing robots in the supply chain.

First, a quick check on tariff news after an eventful week:

• The US and EU have reached a trade deal that imposes a 15% blanket tariff on all EU goods imported into the US. avoiding the previously threatened 30% rate. In return, the EU has pledged hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. investments. The agreement is set to take effect Friday.
• A “massive” deal has been made with Japan. According to a social media post by President Trump, Japan has agreed to invest $550 billion in the US, with 90% of the profits of those deals remaining in the US economy.
• The Trump Administration also co-released a fact sheet regarding a reciprocal trade deal reached with Indonesia.
• Trump announced that his administration reached a trade deal with the Philippines, who agreed to open its market to US goods at zero tariffs. Philippine goods will incur a 19% tariff upon entry into the US market.
• Hearings will begin on July 31 regarding the legality of many of the new tariffs. The ruling will either stop or allow the tariffs in question to be implemented beginning August 1.

The latest data from the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics shows a 4.9% decrease in N. American transborder freight YoY (May 2024 to May 2025). The total transborder freight between the US, Canada, and Mexico reached $132.1 billion across all modes of transportation. The change is more nuanced based on country and mode however. Freight between the US and Canada declined significantly, down 12.7% to $57.6 billion, while trade with Mexico increased by 2.1%, to $74.5 billion. Trucking remained the dominant mode by carrying $86.7 billion in freight, a 4.6% year-over-year decrease. Vessel shipments saw the sharpest drop, falling 18.6% to $8.0 billion, with air freight rising modestly at 4.4% to $4.6 billion. The overall downward trend is attributed to the ongoing trade wars and generally down economic activity in the region.

Throughput at the Port of Rotterdam, which is Europe’s largest port, declined by 4.1% to 211 million tons in the first half of 2025. However, container throughput in TEU rose 2.7%, driven by increased imports from Asia and North America, though tonnage slipped 1% due to more empty boxes. Industrial investment lagged, with closures in the chemical sector raising alarms about job losses. Despite economic headwinds and ongoing congestion in container flows, the port is pushing forward on sustainability initiatives. Financially, the authority saw modest revenue growth and stable interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA), but lower net income as costs increased.

The U.S. average diesel price climbed for the third straight week, rising 5.4¢ to reach $3.812 per gallon, according to a report by the Energy Information Administration for the week ending July 22. The increase follows a modest rise over the week before, underscoring sustained upward pressure on diesel costs. The trend highlights continuing strength in fuel demand and may signal higher operating expenses for sectors relying on diesel, which would most notably be freight carriers and logistics businesses. With this persistent climb, companies may need to revisit transportation and budgeting strategies to manage the rising cost impact.

U.S. manufacturers are facing significant shifts in the second half of 2025, mainly because of ongoing tariffs, a growing trend toward nearshoring, and persistent labor challenges, according to executives. Tariff uncertainty, particularly regarding imports from China, continues to complicate sourcing and cost structures, prompting many companies to consider moving production closer to home. Nearshoring strategies, with Mexico as a favorite, are gaining favor for their potential to boost supply chain resilience and reduce lead times. But finding and retaining skilled labor remains a top concern, with many manufacturers investing in automation and worker training to close workforce gaps and maintain competitiveness.

According to recent research, by 2030, one in 20 supply chain managers will be directly overseeing robots. As automation expands, robots are moving from the factory floor into broader supply chain roles like inventory management, order picking, and last-mile delivery. And the shift is driving the need for new leadership skills focused on collaborating with and managing robotic workforces. Some companies are in the process of retraining existing managers and creating hybrid roles that will combine human oversight with robotics expertise.

For the rest of the week’s top shipping news, check out the article highlights here.

Compliments of Jaguar Freight – a member of the EACCNY.