In the Northern Hemisphere, summer ends technically on Thursday, September 22. Those of us on the Lower Mainland can already feel cooler nights and see fading annual flowers. In the shipping and logistics industry, fall is the busiest time of the year.
The reason why autumn is so busy is because of consumer spending habits. In North America, shopping increases throughout the summer and peaks right around Christmas. Even in Australia, which is in the Southern Hemisphere, spending peaks in December. In Asia, spending peaks slightly later in January when there is the Chinese New Year.
Spending Habits Vs. Shipping
In order to fulfill the buying needs of customers in November, December, and January, products have to be received at their destination well in advance of those months. That means there is a big uptick in shipping during September, October, and November, worldwide.
Autumn 2022
We have mentioned before in our blog the significant shipping delays that are currently occurring mainly due to COVID-19. The Port of Shanghai was closed for weeks because of a COVID shutdown. Unrelated to COVID, in March of 2021, the Ever Given, one of the largest container ships in existence got stuck in the Suez Canal for a week, the repercussions of which we are still feeling today.
Right now, all major ports are experiencing delays including the Port of Vancouver. In Vancouver, the problems mainly stem from lack of personnel and delays with railroads that transport incoming goods across Canada.
For the 3PL client, what all of this means is this fall season will be very tough for shipping and logistics. Consult with your 3PL provider about possibly sending your products earlier than usual. And prepare for delays. Until all the ports have recovered the right number of employees and COVID-19 is behind us, we will continue to experienced delays, and these days will increase as we approach Christmas. In fact, now would be a good time to outsource your shipping and logistics to professionals like us, and let us use our skill and experience to find the most efficient solutions to your shipping needs
If you need some help with your shipping and logistics and you are experiencing delays, please contact Overseas Container Logistics in Vancouver at (604) 295-8236, and let us help you find the best solution for your shipping needs.
Overseas Container Logistics (OCL) is a 3PL commercial freight-forwarding company based in Richmond, British Columbia.
If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about your transportation and freight needs, give us a call at (604) 295-8236.
