Karen Thuermer

New Alexandria, United States

Co-Editor at Freight Business Journal North America

Freelance Writer at Freelance

Correspondent, Features Writer at fDi Magazine

Professional writer covering economic development, international trade, logistics, transportation, technology, real estate.

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Articles

Ocean carriers navigate rising geopolitical risk and route disruptions

3 weeks ago | logisticsmgmt.com | Karen Thuermer

The ocean sector has entered turbulent seas once again with major storm clouds looming ahead. Geopolitical tensions ranging from the Red Sea attacks and the war in Ukraine to the U.S. tariffs being used to achieve foreign policy objectives are intensifying global economic instability, shipping disruptions, and cost increases.
3PLs Under Pressure: Growth collides with global logistics disruption

3 weeks ago | logisticsmgmt.com | Karen Thuermer

Since President Trump took office, sweeping import tariffs, temporary pauses, and a reassessment of trade exemptions have added significant uncertainty for global businesses and consumers. The impact is certainly being felt by today’s largest companies that have long-standing trade relationships and supply chains that stretch across multiple countries.
Freight Forwarding’s Next Phase: Managing instability with innovation

1 month ago | logisticsmgmt.com | Karen Thuermer

Post pandemic, the global freight forwarding market continues to normalize with demand for air and seafreight forwarding services remaining soft. London-based freight transportation analyst firm Transport Intelligence (Ti) reported this past July that the global forwarding market was to expand by 1.7% in 2024. This is set against the global economic downturn that contributed to disappointing results in the forwarding market the previous year.
Will air cargo continue to soar in 2025?

2 months ago | logisticsmgmt.com | Karen Thuermer

While it’s uncertain what effect geopolitical events and President Trump’s tariff scheme will have on the air cargo this year, 2024 saw the industry flying high with air cargo demand outpacing capacity worldwide. Willie Walsh, director general of the International Air Transport Association (IATA):“It was a year of profitable growth.
Top 30 Ocean Carriers 2024: Still navigating disruptive seas

Sep 30, 2024 | logisticsmgmt.com | Karen Thuermer

Ocean container shipping continues to navigate rough seas. The Red Sea crisis, port congestion and demand created by an early peak season have resulted in a capacity crunch for carriers and a rise in rates for shippers. Compounding this are geopolitical tensions, regulatory uncertainties related to the upcoming U.S. elections, and persistent disruptions in global trade lanes—it appears to be one thing after another.
Top Freight Forwarders 2024: Preparing for the upturn

Aug 31, 2024 | logisticsmgmt.com | Karen Thuermer

Top Freight Forwarders: The A&A RankingsDespite the notable drop in profits in 2023, Armstrong & Armstrong’s (A&A) list of the Top 25 Global Freight Forwarders for 2023 (see chart on page 62) indicates few changes in rankings compared to 2022. Kuehne + Nagel (K+N) continued to rank No. 1; DHL Global Supply Chain & Forwarding maintained its No. 2 position; DSV its No. 3 ranking; DB Schneker, No. 4; and Sinotrans, No. 5. Nippon Express jumped to No. 6 from No. 8 in 2022.
State of Logistics 2024: Ocean Cargo

Jul 7, 2024 | logisticsmgmt.com | Karen Thuermer

First quarter 2024 financial results show steamship lines losing money two quarters in a row—something that hasn’t happened in five years. The culprit: lower average freight rates in an environment that saw stronger-than-expected world merchandise trade and demand for cargo shipping due to a rebound in consumption and inventory rebuilding following 2023 lows. CMA CGM recorded revenues of $11.8 billion in the first quarter of 2024, a 7% decline from the fourth quarter of 2023.
State of Logistics 2024: Air Cargo

Jul 7, 2024 | logisticsmgmt.com | Karen Thuermer

Global air cargo rates reached new heights in April due to the continuing disruptions to ocean freight services in the Red Sea and the improving—albeit slowly—global economy. The impact of air cargo’s “black swan” event—conflict in the Red Sea disrupting ocean freight services—showed signs of easing in April, but volume growth still registered the fourth straight month of +11% increases in global air freight demand, according to analysis by Xeneta.
State of Logistics 2024: Third-party logistics (3PL)

Jul 7, 2024 | logisticsmgmt.com | Karen Thuermer

Third-party logistics (3PLs) operators are facing multiple challenges, most notably the worldwide economy, exchange rates, and overall higher costs. “Concerns surrounding the economy and its effect on the 3PL market have clearly grown in the past year amid a very challenging economic environment,” comments Nia Hudson, research analyst at Transport Intelligence Ltd. (Ti).
Not out of the woods

Jul 5, 2024 | scmr.com | Karen Thuermer

(Photo: Getty Images) Most global and domestic 3PLs faced huge challenges last year as shippers adjusted to ongoing issues related to inventory optimization and geopolitical risk. To keep pace, the top 3PLs are now amping up their collaboration with carrier partners and implementing as much cutting-edge automation as they can to improve customer service—but will it be enough? Subscribe to our weekly e-mail update Don’t miss out on the best in supply chain.