Game Changer.

In this week’s Roar: Blank sailings surge, status of the trade war, growth in tech adoption, a revenue hit for air cargo, and new numbers from the ATA.

A sharp drop in U.S.-China trade, driven by escalating tariffs, has led to a surge in blank sailings, exceeding levels seen during the pandemic. Over 80 sailings were canceled in April 2025, surpassing the 51 reported in May 2020. Sea-Intelligence data forecasts a 28% drop in container demand on the Asia–U.S. West Coast route and 42% on the East Coast. Smaller carriers that rely on Chinese exports are facing severe strain, with some at the point of collapse. Empty container stockpiles in China and disrupted supply chains continue to make things worse for global shipping.

After a relatively quiet week of tariff news… where do we stand? It’s hard to say when the rules keep changing and the goalposts keep shifting, here’s where we’re teetering today. The US and China trade tit-for-tat has quickly pushed tariffs levels to 125% on US goods entering China, and 145% for US imports. Canada is looking at 25% tariffs on a variety of imports and has responded with a matching 25% tariffs on U.S. goods. Mexico has yet to announce retaliatory tariffs, and the EU is currently exempt. So the games continue, we’re just not sure about the rules.

Inbound Logistics’ 2025 market research highlights rapid growth in supply chain tech adoption, with 58% of vendors reporting 10%+ sales growth. AI is playing a growing role, with 71% of providers offering AI solutions, up from 50% in 2024. Optimization and data analytics are also trending upward. However, some tools like blockchain and visibility solutions are declining in relevance. Despite all this, the industry remains stuck in the past when it comes to some processes, preferring—or just not able to let go of—the old manual way of doing things. 3PLs, manufacturing, and retail are the top sectors driving adoption.

If the US goes ahead with its decision to end tariff exemptions for low-value shipments from China on top of the 145% tariff, it could mean a $22 billion revenue loss for the air cargo industry over the next three years. The move is expected to negatively impact e-commerce platforms like Temu and Shein, which rely on air freight for direct-to-consumer shipping. The policy shift could also drive up costs and reduce demand for Chinese goods, threatening many small online businesses that depend on affordable shipping options.

The American Trucking Associations’ (ATA) seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index declined by 1.5% in March 2025, following a 2.8% increase in February. ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello points to severe winter weather, reduced retail sales, and ongoing supply chain disruptions as factors. Despite the monthly decrease, the index remains 0.3% higher compared to March 2024, indicating a modest year-over-year improvement. Costello suggests that while the freight market faces challenges, the year-over-year increase reflects some resilience in the trucking sector.

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