Container shipping rates are rising around the world. Importers and exporters, accustomed to lower container shipping rates post-COVID-19 pandemic, are left wondering how much higher rates will increase as the industry enters peak season shipping. Long Beach, California – The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have shown strong, consistent volume since the beginning of 2024, a surprise not only to the local Southern California drayage community but to freight forwarders, customs brokers, importers, and exports alike. The Port of LA in the first 4 months of 2024 recorded increases in loaded imports handled compared to 2023, while May 2024 recorded a slight decrease in imports of 4.5%. Exports increased for the 12th consecutive month per statistics published by the Port of LA. Rough seas, however, are on the horizon. External forces outside of industry control have begun wreaking havoc on global supply chains that have only recently started to recover post-COVID-19. Red Sea Crisis Houthi fighters in Yemen have attacked cargo vessels in the Red Sea, a vital trade route that connects Asia with Europe, in response to the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Container shipping lines have rerouted their vessels from the Red Sea route, and instead, are routing their vessels around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, increasing transit times for container vessels, and transit times for the shipping containers returning empty to manufacturing hubs in Asia. Increased Import Demand Consumer demand in the United States for cost-effective goods manufactured overseas in Asia has maintained strong levels. Importers are shipping their goods to ports in the U.S. earlier than usual to avoid peak shipping season supply chain strains. The Red Sea crisis, compounded with strong consumer demand, has reduced available space on container vessels, causing importers to pay premium prices on the spot market to get their containers on available vessels. Tariffs on Chinese Products The Biden administration and European government authorities have enacted tariffs on certain goods of Chinese origin, such as EVs, steel, and solar panels. Importers of these products are shipping these products as fast as possible, and paying premiums for space on container vessels, to beat tariff start dates. The strongest storms make the best sailors. Since 2009, Comex Logistics LLC has assisted importers and exporters in the US with their container shipping needs. Contact us at door@comexlogisticsllc.com for any questions related to container shipping or drayage.

2023 import volumes fail to rebound to 2022 and 2021 levels at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Will November and December be any better? Long Beach, California - Despite strong and steady consumer spending throughout 2023, the catalyst needed to bring back optimism and life to the Southern California drayage industry has been absent, and more than likely, will not arrive. October import volumes released by both the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach show a decline compared to the month prior. Locked-in expenses for yard leases, equipment costs, and labor costs secured during the pandemic have saddled many drayage companies with unsustainable debt levels that could lead to many exiting from the industry in 2024 if volume and rates fail to increase or stay steady, especially after Chinese New Year in 2024. Despite a healthy rebound in loaded imports in September, combined October loaded import containers handled at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach declined by 65,779 TEUs (8%) in October to 735,755 TEUS. According to statistics published by the Port of Los Angeles, there are 14,357 trucks in service as of September 2023 at the port. By dividing the number of loaded imports TEUs moved monthly by the number of trucks in service, we can get an idea of the decline of containers available to be moved per in-service drayage truck per month and its impact on drayage companies' long-term sustainability and profitability. As of October 2023, a monthly daily average of 47 loaded import containers were available to be moved per drayage truck in service, compared to a monthly average of 54 loaded import containers in 2022, and a monthly average of 59 loaded import containers per truck in 2021. However, by digging deeper into the numbers, by August of 2022, the monthly loaded import containers available to be moved per drayage truck declined substantially compared to months prior. July 2022 was the last time 60 or more loaded import containers were available to be moved per drayage truck monthly. The traditional peak holiday shipping season never arrived in 2022, with November 2022 – January 2023 averaging only 42 loaded import TEUs available monthly per drayage truck, or about 2 containers per day. Time will tell if November and December of 2023 will bring higher import volumes and holiday cheer to the drayage industry. As January 2024 approaches, new challenges await, such as the eventual transition to zero-emission drayage truck technologies. Read part 1 and part 2.

Lower import volumes are forcing Los Angeles and Long Beach area drayage carriers to lower their rates in order to keep their fleets moving. LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA -How low is too low? This question is constantly being asked among members of the local Southern California drayage community. Record profits due to the rush of imports beginning in 2020 allowed carriers to expand their operations, including purchasing and leasing more equipment, such as trucks and chassis, to hiring more drivers and office staff to keep up with demand. Some were able to sign leases for local truck and storage yards, mostly long-term five-to-seven-year agreements at high per square foot cost with the expectation that business would stay strong for the length of their leases. After roughly two years of record imports from China to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in response to the Covid-19 pandemic shortages, commerce has slowed down, and no longer are the streets and local storage yards of the Wilmington, Long Beach, San Pedro neighborhoods of Southern California filled with containers. In fact, many are filled with bare chassis instead of laden containers, a sign that the import boom from China has stalled. The chassis shortage of 2020 has been replaced with the chassis surplus of 2023. Carrier owners are now faced with the reality of having to keep their trucks parked and paying their drivers to stay home due to reduced imports from overseas. Many independent contractors who own their own trucks find themselves out of work due to carriers as carriers prefer keeping their company-owned trucks moving, not outsourcing any extra work. This fall in imports from China has caused transportation costs from goods headed to Los Angeles and Long Beach to spiral downward to the benefit of cargo owners. No longer true are five-figure shipping costs to bring in laden containers. In fact, rates from China to the West Coast have fallen to record lows of $1,100 per container as of March 3, 2023, per Freightos Data. January-February of 2023 alone saw a drop of 21.8% in imports compared to those same dates last year per China’s customs office. Carriers, however, have not been so lucky. While many carriers do have substantial financial reserves to weather this new storm, smaller “mom and pop” carriers do not, worst among them the hundreds if not thousands of independent contractors that are dependent on receiving work from larger trucking companies. Contracts for equipment and facilities near the ports that were executed during the import boom of 2020 are now constraining this critical industry’s growth and long-term sustainability. The asking rate per square foot for industrial real estate in Q4 2022 for facilities located in the harbor area reached a record high of $1.95 per square foot compared to $0.85 per square foot in Q4 2019 according to CBRE. To put this in perspective, a lease for a one-acre facility in Q4 2019 would have cost a carrier $37,026 per month. The same facility in Q4 2022 would lease for $84,942, a difference of $47,916. Cargo owners pressuring for "all-in" rates During the import boom, carriers were able to charge $950 plus $50 chassis fees to deliver containers to certain Inland Empire cities such as Perris, CA. With supply and demand economics on the side of the carriers during this time, cargo owners were left having to pay these rates without much room to negotiate. With conditions now in the benefit of cargo owners, rates have declined 33%, with some paying carriers $650 including the chassis fee (known as the “all-in” rate) to Perris, CA. In some cases, refusing to pay carriers for waiting time at the ports and delivery locations, and other accessorial charges such as storage and prepull fees for containers needing to be pulled the night before for next-day delivery. The drastic decline in rates for carriers and independent contractors alike is an indicator that further leaner months await and has caused them to reconsider their stay in the drayage industry entirely. Down the line, this could spell trouble for future supply chain issues due to a foreseeable absence of drivers and carriers to meet pull and delivery demands.

Incoterms For international shipments, it is common to hear the freight terms referred to as Incoterms, which define the responsibilities of sellers and buyers for the sale of goods in international transactions. Start Now What are Incoterms? ​ Incoterms, widely-used terms of sale, are a set of 11 internationally recognized rules which define the responsibilities of sellers and buyers. Incoterms specify who is responsible for paying for and managing the shipment, insurance, documentation, customs clearance, and other logistical activities. Ex Works (EXW) : The seller is responsible for packing the products and making the goods available. The cargo is transferred to the buyer while the freight is still at the seller’s site. The buyer is then responsible for exporting, shipping, and importing the cargo to their destination. Free Carrier (FCA): The seller is responsible for transporting the cargo to a defined destination within the seller’s country, usually a shipping terminal. Once the load has arrived at the designated destination, the shipment transfers to the buyer, the buyer then must pay the freight charges and fulfill the importing and delivery process. Depending on the named place, the cargo is either exported by the seller or the buyer. Free Alongside Ship (FAS) : The seller must manage the full export process of the cargo until the goods are alongside the ship or other mode of transport. Once alongside the ship, the risk is transferred to the buyer. The buyer is responsible for loading the cargo onto their desired vessel and shipping the goods to their final destination. Free On Board (FOB) : The seller must manage the full export process of the cargo, and load the products on the ship. Once the cargo has been safely loaded, the products transfer to the buyer. The buyer must pay for the freight costs that transport the goods to their destination and is responsible for all import costs. Cost and Freight (CFR) : The seller is responsible for transporting the cargo to the buyer’s port. Once the goods have arrived at the port, the responsibility transfers to the buyer. The buyer then must unload the cargo and import the goods into the destination country, followed by importing and delivering to the final destination. Cost, Insurance & Freight (CIF) : The seller is responsible for the costs to ship and insure the cargo to the buyers requested port. Once the goods arrive at port, the responsibility of the goods transfers to the buyer. The buyer then must cover the costs to unload, import, and deliver their shipment. CIF requires the seller to purchase freight insurance. Carriage Paid To (CPT) : The seller must ship and unload the cargo from the vessel at the defined place of delivery. Once the goods are unloaded, the cargo transfers to the buyer, who is then responsible for importing and transporting the freight to the final destination. Carriage & Insurance Paid (CIP) : The seller must cover the costs to ship and insure the cargo to the defined place of delivery. The shipment transfers to the buyer after the cargo is unloaded and delivered to the terminal. After the goods are unloaded and delivered to the defined terminal, the shipment transfers to the buyer. The buyer must import and fulfill the remainder of the shipping process to move the goods to the final destination. CIP requires the seller to purchase freight insurance. Delivered at Place (DAP) : The seller must deliver the cargo to the final, defined destination. Once delivered the cargo transfers to the buyer. The buyer must unload the shipment from the truck. The buyer is also responsible for import duty, taxes, and customs clearance. Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU) : The seller must deliver and unload the cargo to the final destination. Once the shipment is successfully unloaded at the buyer’s warehouse, the responsibility transfers to the buyer. The buyer is responsible for import duty, taxes, and customs clearance. Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) : The seller is responsible for delivering the cargo to the final destination, and paying the import duty, taxes, and customs clearance. Once the cargo arrives at the destination, the responsibility transfers to the buyer, who must cover the costs to unload the shipment. DDP is the only Incoterm that requires the seller to pay all duty charges. Selecting an Incoterm for I mporters ​ Selecting the correct Incoterm can be a daunting task. If your objective is to take on as little risk as possible, then DAP, DPU, or DDP is the correct Incoterm to select. The downside to these options is that they're much more expensive for importers/buyers because you will not have control over transportation cos ts. By selecting FOB or EXW, and working with a reputable freight forwarder such as us, we can ensure your cargo arrives to your door reliably, safely and at an affordable cost. ​ Freight on Board (FOB) Why: Under the terms of FOB, the seller clears the goods for export and ensures they are delivered and loaded onto the vessel for transport at the named port of departure (for example, Port of Qingdao, China). The seller assumes all the risk until the container is loaded onto the vessel. The buyer/importer will be responsible for the ocean transportation to the destination, import duties and taxes, and delivery to their door. Ex Works (EXW) Why: Under the terms of EXW, the seller is expected to have the goods ready for collection at the agreed place of delivery (commonly the seller’s factory, mill, plant or warehouse). The buyer is accountable for all subsequent costs and risk, including all export procedures, starting with loading the goods onto a transport vehicle at the seller’s premises. If you're unable to handle export procedures at the country of export, FCA is also an option. Download Need Help with your Imports or Exports? Since 2009 we have been providing container shipping solutions for dry and refrigerated cargo to importers and exporters in Los Angeles, the United States, and around the world. Contact Us

How to Import Wine from Spain Spain has over 1.2 million hectares (2.9 million acres) planted in wine grapes, making it the most widely planted wine-producing nation, but the second largest producer of wine in the world, behind Italy Talk to an Expert Importing Wine From Spain Before you can stock your store shelves with amazing wine from Spain, you must be aware of the steps that you need to complete before purchasing the wine from your supplier and organizing transportation with us to the US. This includes applying for and receiving an importer's permit from Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. ​ There are four agencies involved in the importation of wine to the US. They are: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) State and Local Laws ​ What does each agency handle? CBP handles the excise taxes and import duties for your shipments once they arrive at the port. FDA requires that a Prior Notice of Imported Foods must be filed before any alcoholic beverages are imported into the US. TTB issues the importer's permit and handles all other requirements for importing bottled alcoholic beverages into the US. You must also comply with your state's importation requirements for alcoholic beverages (California, for example, department of Alcoholic Beverage Control). ​ You can read our more detailed wine import guide here .​ Read our Wine Import Guide Shipping Wine From Spain Once you're all set with the above government agencies, you can focus on the step in the importation process which is shipping your wine via maritime transportation in ocean containers. ​ There are two routes you can take, and they each have their pros and cons. Keep in mind that the ideal shipping temperature for wine is 12-14 degrees Celsius, or 53 - 57 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 50% - 60% to avoid spoiling or altered taste. ​ Dry Containers: The first and least expensive option is shipping wine using dry containers. A dry container has no insulation and offers your cargo no protection from temperature fluctuations and humidity which could alter the taste of your wine or even spoil it, especially when shipping during summer months with high heat. Certain suppliers might offer you the option of using insulated thermal liners inside the container to protect your wine from temperature fluctuations, but in our experience this method is only effective for short shipping transit times and there isn't reliable data proving its effectiveness. ​ Refrigerated "Reefer" Containers: A reefer container is an insulated shipping container with a refrigeration unit that is used to transport cargo that is temperature sensitive such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and beverages. The advantage of using reefer containers for your wine cargo is that it allows us to control the temperature and humidity while it's in transit to your door, no matter the distance, protecting your wine from temperature fluctuations that a dry container cannot. ​ Reefer shipping rates are considerably much higher, usually 2.5 times the price of a dry container. In our experience, however, it is well worth the price, due to the protection it offers your wine from spoiling or accelerated aging. The last thing you need is for your precious Cabernet Sauvignon to arrive aged and spoiled after it's journey over the ocean. ​ Popular Shipping Routes Due to geography, shipping wine from Spain to East Coast ports is faster and less expensive than shipping to West Coast ports. Transit times from Valencia, Spain to Los Angeles usually take 40-50 days, and must traverse the Panama Canal. Transit times to East Coast ports such as New York takes less than 15 days. Barcelona - Los Angeles Barcelona - New York Valencia - Los Angeles Algeciras - New York Algeciras - Los Angeles Our Work 40ft Reefer Container from France with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. 40ft Reefer Container from Australia with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. 40ft Reefer Container from Spain with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. 40ft Reefer Container from Chile with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. Spanish Wine Facts The mainstream quality wine regions in Spain are referred to as denominaciones de origen protegidas (DOP) (similar to the French Appellations ) and the wine they produce is regulated for quality according to specific laws, and in compliance with European Commission Regulation (CE). ​ DOP – denominación de origen protegida ('protected denomination of origin'), is the mainstay of Spain's wine quality control system. Each region is governed by a consejo regulador, which decides on the boundaries of the region, permitted varietals, maximum yields, limits of alcoholic strength and other quality standards or production limitations pertaining to the zone. As of 2019 there are 96 DOPs that are subdivided into DOCa, DO, VP, and VC. The sub-categories can be called DOP, or they can use the traditional terms of DOCa, DO, VP, and VC. ​ Spanish Labeling Laws Spanish wines are often labeled according to the amount of aging the wine has received. When the label says vino joven ("young wine") or Sin crianza, technically the wines have not been aged at all, but some will have undergone up to a few months oak wood aging. Depending on the producer, some of these wines will be meant to be consumed very young - often within a year of their release. Others will benefit from some time aging in the bottle. For the vintage year (vendimia or cosecha) to appear on the label, a minimum of 85% of the grapes must be from that year's harvest. The three most common aging designations on Spanish wine labels are Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva. ​ Crianza: For Rioja red wines these are aged for 1 year, with at least 6 months in oak barrels. Crianza whites and rosés must be aged for at least 6 months in oak barrels. Reserva: red wines are aged for at least 3 years, with at least 1 year in oak barrels. Reserva whites and rosés must be aged for at least 2 years with at least 6 months in oak. Gran Reserva: wines typically appear in above average vintages with the red wines requiring at least 5 years aging, a minimum of 2 years in oak and a minimum of 3 years in the bottle. Gran Reserva whites and rosés must be aged for at least 4 years with at least 6 months in oak Ship Your Wine from Spain with Us ​ ​ Port of Los Angeles Born We're local to Southern California, and we have first hand knowledge, connections, and experience on how our local Ports of Los Angeles a nd Long Beach operate that non-local or overseas freight forwarders do not have. We are able to leverage these advantages to deliver your containers on-time, safely, and reliably. ​ Door to Door Services Shipping a container from overseas to your door involves many moving parts, from the steamship line that transports your container over the ocean, to the custom agents and transportation companies that handle your cargo at the country of origin and country of destination. We aim to simplify this process by removing the need to work with multiple vendors, saving you time and money. ​ Nationwide Service If you're located outside of Southern California, we can still assist you with our Nationwide Service from all major US Ports such as Savannah, Houston, and New York. Learn More Other Topics Argentina Argentina is one of the top exporters of wine to the USA. Learn about importing wine from Argentina such as Malbec. Australia Australia is one of the largest exporters of wine worldwide. Learn how to import wine from Australia. Chile Chilean wines such as Casillero del Diablo can be found all over store shelves in the USA. Learn more about importing wine from Chile France Learn about importing wine from France, including famous wines such as Champagne and Sauvignon Blanc. Italy Are you importing wine from Italy? Learn how to import wine from Italy successfully with us. Spain Spain is one of the largest producers of wine in the world, and wines from Spain can be found nationwide in the USA. Learn more. Need Help with your Imports or Exports? Since 2009 we have been providing container shipping solutions for dry and refrigerated cargo to importers and exporters in Los Angeles, the United States, and around the world. Contact Us

How to Import Wine from France French wine is produced all throughout France, in quantities between 50 and 60 million hectolitres per year, or 7–8 billion bottles. France is one of the largest wine producers in the world, along with Italian, Spanish, and American wine-producing regions. Talk to an Expert Importing Wine From France Before you can stock your store shelves with amazing wine from France, you must be aware of the steps that you need to complete before purchasing the wine from your supplier and organizing transportation with us to the US. This includes applying for and receiving an importer's permit from Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau. ​ There are four agencies involved in the importation of wine to the US. They are: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) State and Local Laws ​ What does each agency handle? CBP handles the excise taxes and import duties for your shipments once they arrive at the port. FDA requires that a Prior Notice of Imported Foods must be filed before any alcoholic beverages are imported into the US. TTB issues the importer's permit and handles all other requirements for importing bottled alcoholic beverages into the US. You must also comply with your state's importation requirements for alcoholic beverages (California, for example, department of Alcoholic Beverage Control). ​ You can read our more detailed wine import guide here .​ Read our Wine Import Guide Shipping Wine From France Once you're all set with the above government agencies, you can focus on the step in the importation process which is shipping your wine via maritime transportation in ocean containers. ​ There are two routes you can take, and they each have their pros and cons. Keep in mind that the ideal shipping temperature for wine is 12-14 degrees Celsius, or 53 - 57 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 50% - 60% to avoid spoiling or altered taste. ​ Dry Containers: The first and least expensive option is shipping wine using dry containers. A dry container has no insulation and offers your cargo no protection from temperature fluctuations and humidity which could alter the taste of your wine or even spoil it, especially when shipping during summer months with high heat. Certain suppliers might offer you the option of using insulated thermal liners inside the container to protect your wine from temperature fluctuations, but in our experience this method is only effective for short shipping transit times and there isn't reliable data proving its effectiveness. ​ Refrigerated "Reefer" Containers: A reefer container is an insulated shipping container with a refrigeration unit that is used to transport cargo that is temperature sensitive such as fruits, vegetables, meats, and beverages. The advantage of using reefer containers for your wine cargo is that it allows us to control the temperature and humidity while it's in transit to your door, no matter the distance, protecting your wine from temperature fluctuations that a dry container cannot. ​ Reefer shipping rates are considerably much higher, usually 2.5 times the price of a dry container. In our experience, however, it is well worth the price, due to the protection it offers your wine from spoiling or accelerated aging. The last thing you need is for your precious Cabernet Sauvignon to arrive aged and spoiled after it's journey over the ocean. ​ Popular Shipping Routes Due to geography, shipping wine from France to East Coast ports is faster and less expensive than shipping to West Coast ports. Transit times from French ports to Los Angeles usually take 40 days, and must traverse the Panama Canal. Transit times to East Coast ports such as New York take less than 15 days.​ Fos-sur-Mer - New York Fos-sur-Mer - Savannah Le Havre - New York Le Havre - Los Angeles Our Work 40ft Reefer Container from France with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. 40ft Reefer Container from Australia with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. 40ft Reefer Container from Spain with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. 40ft Reefer Container from Chile with Wine Cargo at our Los Angeles yard. France Wine Facts Numerous grape varieties are cultivated in France, including both internationally well-known and obscure local varieties. In fact, most of the so-called "international varieties " are of French origin, or became known and spread because of their cultivation in France. Since French appellation rules generally restrict wines from each region, district or appellation to a small number of allowed grape varieties, there are in principle no varieties that are commonly planted throughout all of France. ​ Most varieties of grape are primarily associated with a certain region, such as Cabernet Sauvignon in Bordeaux and Syrah in Rhône, although there are some varieties that are found in two or more regions, such as Chardonnay in Bourgogne (including Chablis) and Champagne, and Sauvignon Blanc in Loire and Bordeaux. ​ Classification The wine classification system of France was revised in 2006, with a new system fully introduced by 2012. The new system consists of three categories rather than four, since there will be no category corresponding to VDQS from 2012. The new categories are: Vin de France, a table wine category basically replacing Vin de Table, but allowing grape variety and vintage to be indicated on the label. Indication géographique protégée (IGP) , an intermediate category basically replacing Vin de Pays. Appellation d'origine protégée (AOP) , the highest category basically replacing AOC wines. ​ Ship Your Wine from France with Us ​ ​ Port of Los Angeles Born We're local to Southern California, and we have first hand knowledge, connections, and experience on how our local Ports of Los Angeles a nd Long Beach operate that non-local or overseas freight forwarders do not have. We are able to leverage these advantages to deliver your containers on-time, safely, and reliably. ​ Door to Door Services Shipping a container from overseas to your door involves many moving parts, from the steamship line that transports your container over the ocean, to the custom agents and transportation companies that handle your cargo at the country of origin and country of destination. We aim to simplify this process by removing the need to work with multiple vendors, saving you time and money. ​ Nationwide Service If you're located outside of Southern California, we can still assist you with our Nationwide Service from all major US Ports such as Savannah, Houston, and New York. Learn More Other Topics Argentina Argentina is one of the top exporters of wine to the USA. Learn about importing wine from Argentina such as Malbec. Australia Australia is one of the largest exporters of wine worldwide. Learn how to import wine from Australia. Chile Chilean wines such as Casillero del Diablo can be found all over store shelves in the USA. Learn more about importing wine from Chile France Learn about importing wine from France, including famous wines such as Champagne and Sauvignon Blanc. Italy Are you importing wine from Italy? Learn how to import wine from Italy successfully with us. Spain Spain is one of the largest producers of wine in the world, and wines from Spain can be found nationwide in the USA. Learn more. Need Help with your Imports or Exports? Since 2009 we have been providing container shipping solutions for dry and refrigerated cargo to importers and exporters in Los Angeles, the United States, and around the world. Contact Us