Christmas is coming early this year. And it’s pushing up shipping rates.
A glut of early wholesale orders for everything from holiday decorations to home furniture has propelled maritime shipping costs to four-year highs as a result of tariff uncertainty and the Iran war, with potential repercussions for consumers.
Industry specialists say retailers and importers—especially in the United States—are rushing to book shipments to get ahead of a potential fresh round of U.S. tariffs on scores of countries that’s expected near the end of July.
The surge in demand is boosting seaborne transport prices across the globe….