While the transportation industry is one of the more volatile industries, most experts can offer up a detailed 3-month forecast, an approximate 6-month forecast, and a hypothetical 12-month forecast. What many are saying for the remainder of 2021 and even into 2022 is the annual trends we have long witnessed are no longer valid. The question being pondered is, ‘can there be a peak season if the entire industry is already sitting in critical status?” The economy has the throttle set too high in nearly every industry and they all need freight moved. For months we have witnessed a surge in shipping that has remained at the highest level and that surge is expected to remain through all of summer, the fall, and into 2022. If the surge never subsides, how can one measure the peak seasons?

•  Chinese New Year:

            The annual holiday for many Asian countries will come later than it usually does, but even in times for Covid-19 it will have a major impact on manufacturing and production. Any supply chain that includes countries celebrating Chinese New Year will experience a shutdown of some kind during this period. The holiday officially runs from February 11th to February 26^th this year. Shutdowns begin a week before the two-week long holiday and production will return to current levels by the end of February.

Beyond almost every prediction, COVID cases continue to rise as we enter late November, further hindering the economic recovery and reprieve that the logistics industry desperately needs. Even though the economy is trending upward, most companies are still reeling from supply chain disruptions. The coming of Peak Season likely brings a demand increase as much as 50% compared to 2019, which will result in increased rates and transit.

Holiday retail sales crossed the $1 trillion mark for the very first time in 2018, setting a new holiday shopping record. Holiday sales surpassed expectations at a 16.5% year-over-year increase and significantly surpassed the forecast for 4.3-4.8% overall holiday retail growth. This year, 2019, another increase is expected; the size of the increase will have a ripple effect across supply chains. Here are 7 things to look out for concerning shipping during the holiday season.