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Global diesel supplies are tightening as disruptions in Russia and the Middle East force buyers to compete for fewer cargoes. The U.S. has become the world's key supplier, with diesel exports hitting a record 1.9 million barrels per day, even as domestic inventories fall to their lowest seasonal level in 30 years.

With harvest season, winter heating demand, and refinery maintenance approaching, analysts warn the supply crunch could drive up freight rates, food prices, and construction costs.

Let's dive into the top news.

Amazon is dramatically expanding its Prime Air drone delivery network, aiming to serve nearly 500 cities and towns by the end of 2026—a sixfold increase from its current footprint.

Key Details: The service will soon launch across metro Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Boise, and Syracuse, adding to operations already running in seven states. Customers can receive millions of eligible items, from groceries to electronics, in as little as 30 minutes, although most deliveries arrive within an hour.

Major Milestone: The expansion marks a major milestone in Amazon's decade-long effort to commercialize drone deliveries. Amazon says it has already delivered hundreds of thousands of packages by drone this year, with drones now capable of carrying more than 60% of its most frequently purchased items weighing under five pounds.

Big Picture: The move also intensifies Amazon's race with Walmart, Wing, and DoorDash to dominate ultra-fast last-mile delivery. Analysts say faster delivery encourages more impulse purchases that might otherwise happen in physical stores, while drones could eventually help Amazon reach rural customers where traditional last-mile logistics are more challenging.

Industrial outdoor storage (IOS) — the lots used to park truck fleets, shipping containers, trailers and heavy equipment — is attracting record investment as logistics infrastructure becomes more valuable.

What’s the deal? Starwood Property Trust and logistics-focused investor Realterm have provided a $672 million loan to refinance a 78-property, 830-acre portfolio spanning 33 U.S. markets, marking one of the largest financings in the sector.

The portfolio is owned by affiliates of Stonemont Financial Group and Cerberus Capital Management, replacing an earlier $486 million loan.

Key Details: Investors including Blackstone have increasingly targeted IOS properties as e-commerce growth and faster delivery expectations make these strategically located storage sites a critical part of freight networks.

According to Newmark, national IOS vacancy stands at just 5%, and rents have climbed 123% since 2020, far outpacing traditional industrial properties.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is turning importer identity verification into an enforcement priority. Beginning September 18, 2026, importers found to have incomplete or inaccurate information on CBP Form 5106 will have their Importer of Record (IOR) numbers immediately voided, preventing them from clearing goods through U.S. customs.

Key Details: The agency says critical details—including the importer's physical address, email, phone number, and tax identification—must belong directly to the importer and cannot use a customs broker, freight forwarder, registered agent, PO box, or other third-party contact information.

Customs brokers filing on behalf of clients must also hold a valid power of attorney and verify all submitted data before filing.

Big Picture: For businesses, the stakes are high. A voided IOR number could immediately halt imports, triggering shipment delays, demurrage charges, and supply chain disruptions until the importer is revalidated.

CBP also warned that false or misleading submissions could expose importers, executives, and customs brokers to civil penalties and liability under U.S. false statement and false claims laws

Landed cost, procurement, and tariffs shape every sourcing decision, yet the data behind them is scattered across ERP systems, broker portals, customs filings, and spreadsheets. 

ClearDock pulls it into one place.

Teams use ClearDock to calculate true landed cost, audit shipments for issues, model tariff exposure before it hits the business, and surface duty refunds and HTS savings that would otherwise slip by. It's a customs expert on your side all year, catching problems and opportunities the moment they surface.

The Port of Los Angeles recorded its second-busiest July on record, handling 960,464 TEUs as importers rushed cargo amid shifting U.S. trade policies.

What’s Happening? Loaded imports reached 499,552 TEUs—8% below last year's record but 6% above the port's five-year July average—highlighting how companies are still frontloading shipments despite a volatile tariff environment.

Multiple Risks: The surge comes as businesses adapt to President Trump's latest tariff regime following the Supreme Court's earlier rejection of country-specific duties. At the same time, supply chains face mounting pressure from elevated freight rates linked to the Iran conflict, congestion at the Panama Canal, and weather disruptions expected from El Niño.

Future Outlook: The National Retail Federation expects imports to remain elevated through August, then slow later this year. Retailers accelerated shipments ahead of late-July tariff changes while hedging against continued geopolitical and logistics uncertainty, suggesting supply chain volatility remains far from over.

Warehouse automation is gaining momentum across North America as companies invest heavily to offset rising labor costs, tariffs, and demand for faster deliveries.

Key Numbers: Businesses ordered nearly 18,000 warehouse robots worth $1.2 billion in the first half of 2026, according to the Association for Advancing Automation. Robot orders rose 2% year over year, while spending increased 7%, with total 2025 orders surpassing 36,700 units—the highest level since 2022.

Increased Interest: The investment wave comes despite higher fuel costs and new U.S. tariffs, as logistics operators increasingly view automation as a way to improve productivity and reduce operating expenses.

Third-party logistics giant GXO has invested nearly $1 billion over the past five years to automate its warehouse network, while 92% of companies surveyed by Interact Analysis said they plan to increase automation spending this year.

Big Picture: As labor shortages persist and e-commerce customers continue to expect rapid delivery, warehouse automation is becoming a strategic necessity rather than a competitive advantage.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $7.5 million in new grant funding to strengthen cold-chain infrastructure across the country's emergency food assistance network.

Key Details: The funding, available through the Cold Chain Grants for Emergency Food Assistance (CCG) Program, will help organizations invest in refrigeration, freezers, packaging equipment, and other cold-storage infrastructure needed to distribute fresh, frozen, and minimally processed food.

Rather than funding food banks directly, USDA will award grants to nonprofit organizations, which will administer competitive subgrants. Individual projects can receive up to $200,000 for equipment purchases, installation, and related costs, with recipients required to contribute a 10% cash match. Applications for the program are open until October 1, 2026.

Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison said it is seeking more than $1.5 billion in damages from Panama after the country seized two canal ports that became caught in the crosshairs of U.S.-China tensions.

Key Details: Panama's government seized the Balboa and Cristobal ports in February after the country's Supreme Court ruled that the concession held by CK Hutchison's subsidiary to operate the terminals was unconstitutional.

Caught in Crossfire: CK Hutchison, controlled by the family of Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, last year announced an initial $23 billion agreement to sell its global ports business—including the two Panama terminals—to a consortium led by BlackRock. The transaction has since stalled amid geopolitical tensions and legal disputes involving China, the United States and Panama.

The United States is considering lowering tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum and automobiles as part of a broader trade agreement with Canada, according to news reports.

What’s Happening? The proposal would reduce tariffs on steel and aluminum from 50% to 25%, while the top-line tariff on automobiles could fall from 25% to 15%, although officials cautioned that negotiations are ongoing and the final terms could still change.

Trade Truce: The proposed concessions follow President Donald Trump's decision to pause new 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion worth of Canadian goods just hours before they were set to take effect, giving both sides additional time to finalize a deal.

Canada has made lower tariffs on key sectors—including steel, aluminum, lumber and automobiles—a central demand in the talks, while discussions are also exploring quota-based restrictions for steel imports.

The negotiations also extend to agriculture, with Trump saying Canadian tariffs on U.S. farm products would be eliminated under the agreement. However, Canadian officials insist the country's supply-management system for dairy will remain intact, despite longstanding criticism from Washington.

The Port of New Orleans has received federal approval to build the $1.8 billion Louisiana International Terminal (LIT), clearing the way for construction after five years of planning and environmental review.

Key Details: Designed to accommodate the world's largest container ships, the 55-foot-deep terminal will berth two Neopanamax vessels, each carrying up to 16,000 TEUs. At full build-out, the facility is expected to handle 2 million TEUs annually, although reaching that capacity could take up to 25 years. Ports America and TiL have committed $800 million toward the project.

Interconnected: The new terminal will be built downstream from the existing Port of New Orleans because ultra-large container ships cannot pass beneath the Crescent City Connection Bridge. In addition to deepwater access, the facility will connect directly to every major Class I railroad and the interstate highway network, with support from a new dedicated truck corridor now under state review.