Air and ocean exports

Ocean and air freight markets remain volatile heading into late 2025, with rates swinging week to week. From blank sailings to equipment shortages, importers are facing new levels of uncertainty. In this blog, TOC breaks down what’s driving the instability—and how shippers can protect costs, secure capacity, and turn market volatility into a competitive advantage.

When most people think of air freight, they think of speed — but for manufacturers, it’s much more than that. Air freight delivers uptime, resilience, and confidence, acting as a strategic safety valve for lean operations. In this blog, we explore how air freight supports continuous production, minimizes costly downtime, and strengthens supply chain reliability.

Manufacturers are no longer choosing between global or regional sourcing—they’re finding ways to do both. Learn how blended strategies like dual sourcing and nearshoring are helping automotive leaders achieve cost efficiency and resilience.

Global port investments in deeper berths, automation, rail integration, and greener infrastructure are reshaping ocean shipping by improving reliability, cutting costs, and opening new routing options. For shippers, these changes mean more resilient supply chains, greater sustainability, and the chance to treat ports as strategic nodes rather than just transfer points.

The East–West freight market is entering 2025 with shifting dynamics, from Trans-Pacific volatility to changing Trans-Atlantic flows. Importers need to balance contract and spot strategies, monitor port and canal disruptions, and lean on forwarder insights to keep supply chains resilient and cost-competitive.

Stay ahead of shifting market dynamics with our 2025 Mid-Year Freight Market Recap—covering key trends in truckload and containerized shipping, from rate volatility and capacity shifts to the impact of tariffs and infrastructure investments. Discover what shippers and carriers need to know for the second half of the year.

With Mexico’s strategic role in manufacturing, suppliers and logistics providers need to take measures to understand the complexities involved with inbound flows, from long lead times and cross-border coordination to multimodal transportation and tight production schedules. Let’s explore the specific challenges of coordinating inbound flows from Asia and Europe to Mexico, why these challenges matter, and the best practices for overcoming them.

Supply chain operations are a strategic advantage in today’s competitive market. Manufacturers must efficiently transport materials and products while meeting production schedules and customer expectations. Choosing the right logistics partner, especially one that offers both domestic and international services, is crucial for enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and achieving business goals.

One of the most effective strategies for managing international and domestic logistics in the industrial sector is freight consolidation. This strategy involves combining multiple smaller shipments into a single, more cost-effective load. For inbound-to-manufacturing (I2M), particularly supply chains that cross international borders, freight consolidation can offer greater efficiency, reliability, and visibility. Learn more about the impact and benefits of Freight Consolidation.

Depending on your business needs, partnering with a U.S.-based freight forwarder may be the best option when focused on the North American market. U.S.-based freight forwarders offer a range of benefits, from customs and regulatory expertise to efficient North American coordination. Learn more about the role of a freight forwarder and the pros and cons of using a U.S.-Based Freight Forwarder.