The Supply Chain Economy with Fexingo: Logistics, Shipping, and Goods Movement

Lucas and Luna examine why US factory output is rising but capacity utilization remains stuck at 76.1%, below the 80% threshold that historically triggers freight growth. They explain the paradox of rising industrial production without corresponding trucking demand — and what it means for the supply chain economy heading into mid-2026.

#CapacityUtilization #IndustrialProduction #Manufacturing #Trucking #SupplyChain #Freight #USEconomy #FactoryOrders #Logistics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Economics #IndustrialSector #ProductionCapacity #FreightDemand #MacroEconomics #FactoryOutput #SupplyChainEconomy

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Episode 42 of The Supply Chain Economy with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna dig into a quiet crisis: empty shipping containers are flooding US ports faster than they can be shipped back to Asia. On June 10, 2026, the US trade deficit stands at -55.9 billion dollars for April, and imports far outpace exports. That imbalance leaves hundreds of thousands of empty containers stacked at ports like Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Savannah — creating congestion, driving up storage costs, and tying up chassis and warehouse space. Lucas explains how the shift to bigger ships and imbalanced trade routes has turned empties into a multi-billion-dollar logistics headache. Luna asks why exporters can't just use them. The answer involves container ownership models, repositioning fees, and a market that pays more for empty boxes than full ones. A case study in how a seemingly mundane object — an empty steel box — can break a port's efficiency.

#EmptyContainers #ContainerImbalance #USPorts #TradeDeficit #Logistics #SupplyChain #Shipping #Freight #PortCongestion #ContainerRepositioning #Exporters #ImportsExports #TradeBalance #Maritime #ChassisCrisis #EconomicIndicators #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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The US trade deficit is shrinking, and that sounds like good news — except for the logistics networks built to handle a one-way flood of imports. In Episode 41 of The Supply Chain Economy, Lucas and Luna dig into the container imbalance that has trucking companies hauling empty boxes back to ports, warehouses sitting full of outbound goods that can't find export customers, and a $55 billion monthly deficit that is actually warping freight rates more than any tariff. With imports topping $4.4 trillion annualized and exports barely clearing $3.5 trillion, the system is optimized for a direction that's slowly reversing. The hosts use fresh April 2026 factory orders and industrial production data to show why the 'container bounce-back' — the empty leg of a container's journey — is now the single biggest cost hidden in the price of everything you buy. No policy prescriptions, just the math behind why your Amazon package costs what it costs.

#USContainerImbalance #TradeDeficit #ShippingLogistics #FreightRates #EmptyMiles #TruckingEconomics #ContainerBounceBack #SupplyChain #IndustrialProduction #FactoryOrders #ImportExport #Logistics #Economics #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #SupplyChainEconomy #ShippingCrisis

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Episode 40 of The Supply Chain Economy with Fexingo. Lucas and Luna dive into the new container shortage hitting U.S. exporters in mid-2026. With imports from China surging — May shipments up 35% year-over-year per fresh data — containers pile up at inland warehouses while export-heavy ports like Oakland run empty. They break down why a 40-foot box that used to cost $1,500 to ship from Asia now costs $2,800, while the return leg to Asia is practically free. The hosts connect the imbalance to the trade deficit widening to over $60 billion in March 2026, and ask whether the container shortage is a logistical problem or a structural export crisis.

#ShippingContainer #ContainerShortage #TradeDeficit #USExports #ChinaImports #SupplyChain #Logistics #FreightRates #OaklandPort #LosAngelesPort #TradeImbalance #Exporters #ContainerImbalance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Economics #SupplyChainEconomy #GlobalTrade

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Episode 39 of The Supply Chain Economy. Lucas and Luna explore the growing container imbalance in global shipping: how the surge of imports into the US is leaving empty containers piling up at ports while exporters face shortages and skyrocketing repositioning costs. They break down the numbers: US imports hit $4.42 trillion in early 2026 while exports lag at $3.53 trillion, creating a trade deficit that forces carriers to ship millions of empty boxes back to Asia. The hosts discuss how this imbalance drives up freight rates for exporters, hurts American manufacturing competitiveness, and why smaller ports are now seeing congestion from empty container storage. They also tie in the recent Iran war's lingering effect on shipping routes and the surprising role of AI-driven logistics startups trying to optimize container repositioning. A must-listen for anyone in logistics, trade, or supply chain management.

#ContainerImbalance #TradeDeficit #USExports #GlobalShipping #SupplyChain #Logistics #EmptyContainers #PortCongestion #FreightRates #TradeBalance #Manufacturing #IranWar #ShippingRoutes #AIinLogistics #ContainerRepositioning #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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In episode 38 of The Supply Chain Economy, Lucas and Luna dig into a puzzle buried in the latest trade data: imports are surging, but exports are barely budging. As of March 2026, the US trade deficit widened to $60.3 billion, driven by a jump in imports of goods and services to $4.42 trillion annualized. Exports are up too, but only to $3.53 trillion — leaving a gap that's reshaping freight flows and warehouse demand. The hosts explore why American exporters are struggling to capture overseas demand, from a strong dollar to shifting global supply chains post-Iran conflict. They also examine how this imbalance is creating opportunities for logistics providers focused on import-heavy corridors like Savannah and Charleston, while exporters in the Midwest face empty containers and rising costs. A sharp, data-driven look at a structural shift that most coverage misses.

#TradeDeficit #USImports #USExports #SupplyChain #Logistics #Freight #TradeBalance #StrongDollar #ExportCompetitiveness #PortSavannah #PortCharleston #MidwestManufacturing #ContainerShipping #GlobalTrade #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #SupplyChainEconomy

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Lucas and Luna dive into a surprising paradox: US factory orders and industrial production are both rising, but capacity utilization sits at just 76.1 percent—well below the 80-plus percent levels that historically trigger serious freight and logistics bottlenecks. They explore why that number matters, what it means for trucking demand and warehouse occupancy, and how the Iran war's disruption of energy and shipping routes is reshaping the gap between output and capacity. With trade deficits widening and imports surging, the hosts ask whether manufacturing is truly rebounding or just running in place with slack capacity.

#CapacityUtilization #IndustrialProduction #SupplyChain #Manufacturing #TradeDeficit #Freight #Trucking #Logistics #Warehousing #IranWar #Imports #FactoryOrders #Economics #Business #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #SupplyChainEconomy #PodcastEpisode

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With US warehousing vacancy at effectively zero and industrial production rising, you'd expect a building boom. But new construction starts are collapsing because of skyrocketing financing costs and uncertainty around the Iran war's impact on trade flows. Lucas breaks down the data: capacity utilization at 76.1 percent, factory orders up to $662.7 billion in April, yet warehouse construction loans are getting pulled. Luna pushes back on whether this is just a lagging indicator or a structural shift. They explore why landlords are hoarding space, how import volumes are shifting to smaller ports, and what happens when retailers can't secure storage for holiday inventory. The episode ends with a prediction about peak-season bottlenecks.

#Warehousing #IndustrialRealEstate #SupplyChain #Freight #Logistics #TradeWar #IranWar #FactoryOrders #IndustrialProduction #CapacityUtilization #ConstructionStarts #PortCongestion #RetailInventory #HolidaySeason #VacancyRates #Economics #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast

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Episode 35 of The Supply Chain Economy dives into why US industrial real estate vacancy rates hit near-zero in 2026 — especially in major inland hubs like Chicago, Dallas, and Atlanta. Lucas and Luna break down the structural forces behind the crunch: the post-Iran War shipping disruption, the surge in imports (imports hit $4.4 trillion in early 2026), and the shift to smaller ports like Savannah and Charleston. They explain how e-commerce giants and third-party logistics firms are pre-leasing warehouses years in advance, driving rents up 15-20% year-over-year. The episode also explores why smaller shippers are being squeezed out of prime space, forcing them to use costly interim storage — and how this adds hidden friction to supply chains, feeding into broader inflation concerns. A timely look at one of the least talked-about bottlenecks in the modern economy.

#SupplyChain #Economics #Warehousing #Logistics #IndustrialRealEstate #USports #Imports #Shipping #Ecommerce #ThirdPartyLogistics #Inflation #IranWar #Freight #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #LogisticsTrends #RealEstate #SupplyChainCrisis

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In this episode of The Supply Chain Economy, Lucas and Luna explore the record-low warehousing vacancy rates across the US in 2026. With industrial production up and factory orders surging, available warehouse space has virtually disappeared. The hosts break down the numbers: capacity utilization at 76.1% and manufacturers' new orders hitting $662.7 billion. They discuss the shift from just-in-time to just-in-case inventory strategies, the impact on smaller businesses, and the rise of speculative warehousing. Plus, they examine how rising import volumes are exacerbating the crunch and what it means for trucking and logistics costs. A must-listen for anyone in supply chain, real estate, or logistics.

#Warehousing #SupplyChain #IndustrialRealEstate #VacancyRate #InventoryManagement #Logistics #Trucking #Freight #Economics #Business #JustInCase #SpeculativeBuilding #PortCongestion #Imports #TradeBalance #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #IndustrialProduction

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