Roland Prenen

June’s trade data provides the latest glimpse of the magnitude of the tariff shock facing US importers. One chart and one table. Thoughts: •The top chart shows the total calculated duties (on an annualized basis [a.k.a., multiply each value by 12]) for all imports to the USA. June came in at an annualized $283.5 billion. While a slight drop from May, this was because of fewer imports from China, and consequently, less tariffs. China’s annualized calculated duties for June were $84.9 billion versus $112.1 billion for May; in contrast, annualized calculated duties for the rest of the world were $198.5 billion in June versus $178.1 billion in May. •It’s worth emphasizing just how much of a tariff shock we have seen with the rest of the world on a proportionate basis. June 2024 annualized tariffs for the world ex China were just $27.7 billion, which indicates a 7.17x increase (717%!), with the effective tariff rate being 6.9% in June 2025 compared with just 1.1% in June 2024. China’s effective tariff rate, in contrast, was 37.4% in June 2025 versus 11.2% in June 2024. •The table shows the HTS-4 commodities with the most calculated duties (note, these are month, multiply by 12 for annualization). We continue to see a disproportionate impact on motor vehicles and auto parts. Other top categories are furniture, electrical transmission equipment, apparel, medical devices, and unwrought aluminum. Implication: as a reminder, importers pay tariffs. Last June, they were paying $73.6 billion on an annualized basis; this year they are paying 3.85x that amount. That’s less money to invest in new equipment, hire workers, introduce new products, expand operations, etc. #supplychain #shipsandshipping #economics #logistics #transportation #freight

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Every minute of downtime matters, and smart service logistics can make all the difference. In Episode 6 of our Supply Chains. Reimagined series on Service Logistics, John Scherders, CEO of DHL Supply Chain Benelux, takes us through how we're keeping aftermarket operations lean, connected, and future-ready. From real-time inventory tracking to refurb and reverse flows, our goal is simple: keep your field engineers moving and your customers happy. Grateful to the team that brings this to life every day, and to our partners who trust us to keep their operations running smoothly. 👉Take a look at how we’re reimagining service logistics here: https://okt.to/VC8GhL #ServiceLogistics #SupplyChainsReimagined #AftermarketSupport #SparePartsExcellence #ReverseLogistics #DHLSupplyChain #LeanInventory #FieldServiceNetwork

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Today, we’re launching Imagine a World Without Logistics, a bold new campaign exploring what disruption really means for business and how resilient supply chains unlock hidden value.​ ​ Why does this matter? Because supply chains everywhere are under pressure, and the impact goes far beyond moving goods from A to B. When disruption strikes, it affects contracts, customer relationships, and a company’s ability to stay competitive. Supply chains are the difference between reacting and leading.​ ​ And the data backs it up. Our research shows that companies treating logistics as a strategic priority recover faster, reduce risk, and drive stronger performance.​ ​ We’re kicking off with our first two reports, Without Logistics: Automotive Edition and Technology Edition, shining a light on how supply chain strategy is shaping outcomes from production to delivery, and performance to customer experience.​ ​ And this is just the beginning. Over the coming months, stay tuned for insights from all eight of our industry verticals, uncovering where logistics creates value and what comes next.​ ​ Explore the reports here: https://lnkd.in/dGEUBtaF and https://lnkd.in/dAhF38iu ​

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Many supply chain software companies have attempted to replace Excel, but, in my opinion, they have not been very successful. Approximately 60-70% of the global supply chain runs on Excel (my rough estimate, not a scientific study). But why is Excel so embedded in the Supply Chain? Listen to the deep conversation on this topic by me & Serge Bajenov #excel #supplychain

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If this is your last season in China, don’t waste it. This is your best chance to capture the details that make your supply chain work—the BOMs, specs, subcomponents, and tribal knowledge that disappear once the factory stops answering your calls. Too many brands try to move and document at the same time which can multiply mistakes. If changing your geography is on the horizon (or even a possibility), use this season to future-proof. You’ll thank yourself when the next supplier isn’t starting from guesswork. We wrote a short, practical guide for brands asking, “Could you move in a month if you had to?” If the answer is no, it’s worth a read: 📘 https://buff.ly/SnPirmY #supplychain #manufacturing #china #sourcing #operations

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🔑 Procurement in Freight Forwarding: The Hard Truths Nobody Tells You 19 years in procurement have taught me one thing—in freight forwarding, it’s not a process; it’s survival. You don’t learn this in textbooks. You learn it when carriers roll over containers, vendors vanish, shipments miss cut-offs, and boardrooms question every cost you negotiate. Here’s what the battlefield taught me: 🛑 The cheapest rate often costs the most. Reliability > discounts. One missed sailing can wipe out all the “savings.” 💬 Dashboards don’t move cargo. Conversations do. Data is important, but escalation and real-time dialogue save shipments. 🔄 Legal & Finance aren’t enemies. Understand their concerns on liability, cash flow, and compliance—or lose precious time. ⏳One delayed shipment erases years of cost savings in people’s memory. Customers remember service, not spreadsheets. 🤝 Relationships are the strongest insurance in logistics. When vessels skip ports or space vanishes, trust opens doors that contracts can’t. 💡 Excel is still undefeated. Tools evolve, but clean logic and visibility still win in freight procurement. 🎯 Procurement in forwarding is leadership. It’s about risk, resilience, and relationships—not just RFQs and contracts. 👉 What’s the hardest procurement lesson you’ve learned in logistics? #Procurement #FreightForwarding #Logistics #SupplyChainManagement #StrategicSourcing #GlobalTrade #LogisticsLeadership #ProcurementExcellence .

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🔍 When a transport control tower becomes a value engine   A few years ago, with my team we stepped into a manufacturer’s site where inbound supply chain issues were negatively impacting production. What struck us most? Procurement teams were firefighting logistics problems. Visibility was patchy. Warehouses were overloaded with additional overflow sites just in case. No clear view on transport cost. Everyone was reacting. Nobody was steering.   That moment became the trigger. 💡 We designed and deployed a self-funded 4PL transport control tower to regain control — a solution that aligned logistics, suppliers, and transport in one streamlined, proactive system.   Results? - On-time deliveries up - Inventory levels down - Transport cost reduced and under control - Real-time visibility across flows - Tangible gains... with zero upfront investment   The value was so measurable that we launched the project under a gain-share model: “No investment required. The solution pays for itself.”   Today, I believe these models make even more sense when augmented by agentic AI — smarter exception handling, predictive planning, and enhanced responsiveness. 🎯 Have you come across similar challenges in your supply chain? How did you solve them? If you're navigating complexity in a global supply network, I'm happy to share ideas and help you build the next-generation setup.   Let’s connect and talk.   #SupplyChainTransformation #4PL #TransportControlTower #Logistics #ValueCreation #OperationalExcellence #InboundLogistics #LogisticsStrategy #OperationalExcellence #Logistics #Transport

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🚛📋 Regulations are about more than just a formality On a regular basis, Wouter Kamp and his team at FedEx Road network are implementing new rules and regulations. I’m proud of the way they not only implement these changes but make them about more than just a formality. In an article in a tier-one logistics trade magazine Logistiek.nl Wouter unravels the Smart Tachograph 2 (ST2), which recently became mandatory for all cross-border road transport. My takeaway? The ST2 is about regulation, yes. But it’s just as much about road safety, fair competition, and workload. It is an opportunity. Read more in the link in the comments. 

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