Daily intel for cross-border sellers — products, policy, platforms, and the moves that work.
Drewry's World Container Index rose 12% to $3,969 per 40ft on June 18 — its highest in 18 months — led by transpacific and Asia–Europe lanes. Shanghai–New York jumped 15% to $6,769 and Shanghai–Los Angeles 10% to $5,142. Carriers cite peak season plus cargo frontloading ahead of…
Iran's IRGC re-declared the Strait of Hormuz shut on Saturday, June 20, citing alleged ceasefire violations and Israeli strikes in Lebanon (Al Jazeera; CNBC, June 22). Maritime-intelligence firm Windward logged 12 transits Sunday, down from 35 a day earlier, with five of eight in…
A new Japan survey finds over 26% of consumers frequently use generative AI to assist product search, and 54.1% have completed a purchase based on an AI recommendation. Seller insight: AI-assisted discovery is converting to actual purchases in a major market. For cross-border sel…
At the G7 summit, President Trump said the Strait of Hormuz (closed since the February Iran conflict, carrying ~20% of global oil) will "fully reopen" by Friday under a US-Iran memorandum to be signed in Switzerland. Caveat: as of writing, ship-tracking analysts report most vesse…
A new Japan survey finds over 26% of consumers frequently use generative AI to assist product search, and 54.1% have completed a purchase based on an AI recommendation. Seller insight: Agentic/AI-assisted discovery is moving from theory to purchase behavior in a major market. For…
