Weekly U.S.–Europe Trade & Logistics Insights
Sharp, weekly insights on U.S.–Europe trade. No fluff, just what you need to know.
Transatlantic trade intelligence, delivered weekly. We track what affects your shipments and cross-border strategy.
Regulatory changes, tariff updates, and customs rules affecting U.S.–Europe trade flows.
Freight rates, capacity trends, trade show logistics, and cross-border shipping updates.
Global supply chain developments and market signals that impact transatlantic commerce.
Robyn Martin writes Crossing Currents. She's a freight coordinator and founder of Rural Logistics, who actively works with coordinating cross-border shipments and trade show logistics between the U.S. and Europe.
This isn't academic theory. It's real-world freight intelligence from someone working in the trenches—coordinating shipments, navigating customs, and solving logistics problems daily.
All freight services are coordinated through licensed and insured carriers.
Global trade is complicated. Tariff announcements are wrapped in jargon. Supply chain news gets buried in 3,000-word think pieces. And you've got shipments to move.
Crossing Currents cuts through that. It's for people who don't have time to scroll trade blogs or decode white papers. Just clear, actionable updates on what's moving (or stuck) between the U.S. and Europe.
Tariff & policy updates – What changed, what it means, and what to do about it
Freight & logistics trends – Shipping delays, rate changes, and supply chain alerts
Trade show insights – Practical logistics advice for coordinators and exhibitors
Market intelligence – Data-driven analysis on trade flows and economic shifts
Delivered weekly. No fluff, no jargon—just what you need to stay sharp.
Issue #12 • April 15, 2025
If you've noticed lead times stretching or rates creeping up on transatlantic shipments, you're not imagining it. Container availability on U.S.–Europe lanes dropped 18% over the past six weeks, driven by a combination of vessel reroutings, port congestion in Hamburg and Rotterdam, and early Q2 demand spikes.
What's happening:
Maersk and MSC both pulled vessels off regular Atlantic loops to handle backlog from Suez diversions
U.S. exports to Europe jumped 12% month-over-month as manufacturers front-loaded ahead of potential tariff changes
German ports are dealing with dock worker strikes that have added 3–5 days to average dwell times
What to do: Book 2–3 weeks earlier than normal if you have Q2 shipments heading east. And if you're shipping exhibition materials for European trade shows, lock in space now—availability for May/June is already tight.
The Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) for transatlantic westbound routes—Europe to U.S. East Coast—rose 9% in March alone. That's the steepest month-over-month increase since last fall.
Why it matters: Rate increases often precede broader capacity constraints. When European exporters pay more to ship westbound, it's a sign that carriers are tightening allocation across both directions. If you ship eastbound from the U.S., expect similar pressure within 4–6 weeks.
What we're watching: The FBX for U.S.–Europe eastbound lanes. If it ticks up more than 6% by mid-May, we'll be in classic "tight market" territory heading into summer trade show season.
If you're shipping exhibition materials to the EU this year, heads up: new digital pre-registration requirements for ATA Carnets went live April 1.
The short version:
All carnet shipments entering the EU now require pre-registration in the EU's Import Control System 2 (ICS2) at least 24 hours before arrival
Missing the deadline can result in delayed customs clearance—bad news when your booth materials are supposed to arrive two days before show open
Most freight forwarders and customs brokers are handling this automatically, but confirm with yours if you're shipping to a show in Germany, France, Italy, or the Netherlands
Pro tip: Add an extra day to your lead time buffer for EU trade shows until your team is fully dialed in on the new process.
U.S. aluminum tariffs extended: The Commerce Department renewed Section 232 tariffs on European aluminum through 2026, keeping duties at 10%. If you ship machinery or automotive parts with aluminum components, factor this into landed cost calculations.
Air freight rates softening (slightly): Transatlantic air cargo rates dropped 4% in March after a strong Q1. Still elevated compared to 2023, but if you've been holding off on urgent air shipments, now's a decent window.
Suez Canal watch: Transit volumes through the Suez increased 7% in the last two weeks—a sign that diversions are easing. That should gradually relieve some Atlantic pressure, but don't expect immediate relief.
EU carbon border tax updates: CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) reporting deadlines are April 30 for Q1 2025. If you import steel, cement, or fertilizers into the EU, make sure your suppliers filed their emissions reports on time—non-compliance can delay clearance.
That's it for this issue. Questions, feedback, or topics you'd like covered? Hit reply—I actually read them.
Robyn Martin
Rural Logistics
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (945) 403-1407
Website: rural-logistics.com
Location: Northeast Texas | Connected to the Dallas–Fort Worth logistics corridor
Connect with us:
Weekly insights on transatlantic trade, freight trends, and cross-border strategy—delivered straight to your inbox.
Thanks for subscribing. You just joined a community of logistics pros, trade show coordinators, and supply chain managers who value clear intel over noise.
You're now on the list for weekly updates on U.S.–Europe trade, freight trends, and cross-border strategy—delivered straight to your inbox.
Each issue of Crossing Currents covers:
No fluff. No dense industry reports. Just what you need to stay sharp.
Want to browse previous newsletters? Head to crossingcurrents.beehiiv.com to check out the archive. You'll find past issues on freight trends, tariff updates, and trade show logistics—all easy to search and reference.
I started Crossing Currents because I was tired of digging through lengthy trade publications to find one useful data point. As a freight coordinator at Rural Logistics, I spend my days moving cargo domestically and across the Atlantic—and I wanted a newsletter that cuts through the noise.
So that's what this is: real-world logistics intel from someone in the trenches. No industry jargon. No filler. Just the updates that matter for your shipments, trade shows, and cross-border strategy.
Glad to have you here.
Founder, Rural Logistics
If you think a colleague, trade show coordinator, or operations manager would find this useful, feel free to forward it their way. The more logistics pros staying informed, the better.
Have a question about the newsletter—or need freight coordination help? Reach out anytime.
Robyn Martin
Rural Logistics
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (945) 403-1407
Website: rural-logistics.com
Location: Northeast Texas | Connected to the Dallas–Fort Worth logistics corridor
"News, context, and actionable pointers—without opinions or commentary."