October Unveils SC Ports’ Resilience Amidst Challenges

Ah, October, the month of twists and turns for South Carolina Ports (SC Ports). It’s like a rollercoaster ride—challenges on one side, triumphs on the other. Let’s dive into this compelling tale of resilience and achievement that SC Ports proudly unfolds.

The Phoenix Rise: Container Volumes Soar

In the container world, it’s a bit like witnessing a phoenix rising from the ashes. Despite facing a 9% year-over-year dip in container volumes, SC Ports showed their mettle. The primary culprit? A significant 27% drop in empty volumes. However, the loaded import and export twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) played their part, displaying only a minor 1% downturn.

Wando Welch Terminal Hits New Heights

Picture this: the Wando Welch Terminal, where history takes a bold leap. In October, it etched its name in the record books by handling a staggering 116,745 pier containers. That’s not just breaking records; it’s shattering them. March 2021’s milestone? A distant memory.

Reflecting on this feat, Byron Miller, SC Ports’ Chief Commercial Officer, exclaimed, “The Southeast is a hot spot for folks and businesses. South Carolina Ports, with its strategic investments, is here to support this growth. We’re the go-to gateway on the U.S. East Coast, offering reliability and a slice of the booming market.”

Beyond Containers: SC Ports’ Diverse Triumphs

But wait, there’s more to this story. SC Ports didn’t stop at containers; they unleashed commendable performances across the board.

Inland Ports: The Heroes of Swift Goods Movement

Enter the rail-served inland ports, with Inland Port Greer taking center stage. In October, it wasn’t just about breaking records; it was about shattering them like glass. Inland Port Greer played its part by handling a record-breaking 17,000 containers, showcasing a jaw-dropping 42% surge compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, Inland Port Dillon wasn’t far behind, flaunting a robust 31% growth and skillfully managing 3,148 containers.

Rail-Served Inland Ports: Efficiency and Sustainability

Why the spotlight on rail-served inland ports? These powerhouses ensure swift access to inland markets, ensuring goods flow seamlessly to and from the Port of Charleston. It’s not just about efficiency; it’s also about being environmentally savvy by choosing the eco-friendly route of transporting more cargo via rail.

The Future Unfolds: SC Ports’ Commitment to Growth

Looking ahead, SC Ports stands firm in its commitment to expand and elevate its infrastructure. The ongoing expansion project at Inland Port Greer, set to double cargo capacity and boost rail capabilities, speaks volumes about this dedication. Simultaneously, the construction of the rail-served Navy Base Intermodal Facility in North Charleston is in full swing, with a grand opening scheduled for 2025. This facility, designed as an additional feeder for the inland ports, will seamlessly cater to both CSX and Norfolk Southern.

“As companies spread their wings, setting up shop in South Carolina and across the Southeast, SC Ports reciprocates by investing in critical port infrastructure. It’s all about fortifying and sustaining this growth,” emphasized Miller.

Amazon, the e-commerce behemoth, recently found itself under the scrutiny of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In an unexpected twist, the FTC’s lawsuit reveals intriguing details about Amazon’s decision to halt new enrollments for its Seller Fulfilled Prime (SFP) program. The move, despite the stellar performance of sellers in the program, raises eyebrows and points to a broader strategy that could impact both sellers and consumers.

Unraveling the Seller Fulfilled Prime Program

Amazon initiated the Seller Fulfilled Prime program in 2015, allowing third-party sellers to independently fulfill Prime-eligible orders. This meant sellers could sport the coveted Prime branding on their products while maintaining control over the fulfillment process. The program garnered success, enrolling approximately 15,000 sellers at its peak.

The FTC’s Allegations

The FTC’s lawsuit, filed in September and recently unredacted, accentuates Amazon’s decision to pause new enrollments in 2019. It argues that such actions coerce sellers into utilizing Amazon’s fulfillment services rather than exploring alternative providers. Sellers in the SFP program, according to the complaint, surpassed Amazon’s delivery estimate requirements more than 95% of the time in 2018, even outperforming orders handled by Amazon’s own fulfillment service.

Amazon’s Counterargument

In response to the FTC’s claims, Amazon’s spokesperson, Tim Doyle, contends that the FTC’s portrayal of SFP’s success in 2018 is misleading. Doyle argues that sellers using SFP fell short in delivering within two days, a metric crucial for Prime customers, and performed significantly worse than sellers using Amazon’s Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service.

The Turning Tide: Amazon’s Shift in 2019

The lawsuit reveals a turning point in 2019 when Amazon executives, concerned about the potential growth of alternative fulfillment providers, contemplated shutting down SFP in the United States. This shift came as independent fulfillment providers advertised their ability to help sellers achieve Prime eligibility through SFP. Despite internal debates, Amazon ultimately decided to pause new enrollments.

The Aftermath: Sellers and the SFP Program

Following the enrollment pause, a program waitlist swelled to over 8,000 sellers within six weeks, indicating sustained interest. However, Amazon communicated to existing SFP sellers that it expected them to fulfill orders themselves rather than through independent providers. Consequently, most SFP sellers either departed or were disqualified from the program.

Learning from the Pause

Doyle asserts that Amazon has gained insights and improved the SFP program since the 2019 pause. Enrollment has been reopened, promising an enhanced Seller Fulfilled Prime experience that aligns with customer expectations.

The Dilemma: Prioritizing Exclusion Over Competition

The lawsuit alleges that Amazon knowingly chose to slow overall shipping speeds by closing SFP enrollment, prioritizing the exclusion of rivals and foreclosing competition. This decision, despite its negative impact on shoppers, underscores Amazon’s strategic considerations.

Seller Voices and Amazon’s Response

Notably, some Amazon employees advised against sunsetting the program, emphasizing the elimination of Prime benefits for 115 million items. Suggestions to reopen enrollment with an alternative Prime badge were, however, vetoed.

The Ongoing Impact

As the dust settles, sellers continue to grapple with the aftermath, either adapting to the revised SFP program or seeking alternatives. The Amazon saga prompts reflection on the delicate balance between corporate strategy, competition, and customer experience.

Conclusion: Navigating the Amazonian Waves

The FTC’s lawsuit unveils a complex narrative within the Amazon ecosystem, exposing tensions between the e-commerce giant, third-party sellers, and the pursuit of Prime excellence. As the Seller Fulfilled Prime program undergoes changes, the repercussions echo through the corridors of e-commerce. What lies ahead for Amazon and its sellers remains a question yet to be fully answered.

Walmart revealed its blueprint for the inauguration of its fifth cutting-edge fulfillment center, an expansive 900,000-square-foot establishment nestled in Stockton, California, poised to commence operations in the calendar year 2026. Walmart, with an unwavering focus on enhancing convenience, bolstering availability, and refining precision, has witnessed a substantial surge in the volume of orders designated for next-day dispatch, as articulated by David Guggina, Jennifer McKeehan, and Parvez Musani—three luminary figures in Walmart’s echelons overseeing supply chain logistics, delivery orchestration, and fulfillment strategies—in a recent missive disseminated through the corporate blog.

Collectively amassing a colossal footprint of approximately 1.5 million square feet, the triumvirate of extant next-generation facilities encompasses an expansive array of sought-after commodities, spanning the realms of apparel, playthings, electronics, and beyond.

This commercial behemoth is proactively augmenting the integration of automated technologies within its distribution nexus, a strategic initiative designed to expedite and refine the conveyance of goods to its retail outlets. The company astutely underscores that over 15% of its retail establishments will experience an infusion of inventory from meticulously orchestrated automated distribution hubs during the ongoing fiscal year.

On the 24th of October, in the maritime realm of Helsinki, an intriguing incident unfolded. A Baltic Sea gas pipeline, bearing scars of turmoil, succumbed to the tides. The culprit? A colossal vessel, dragging an anchor of formidable proportions across the mysterious seabed. The cause, however, remains shrouded in uncertainty, a riddle to be unraveled.

Finnish law enforcement, the vigilant custodians of the maritime realm, have taken the helm of this enigmatic investigation. With caution and curiosity, they ponder whether this act was a mere twist of fate or a calculated endeavor. The untamed waves of uncertainty crash upon the shores of their inquiries.

In the wake of their relentless pursuit of truth, investigators unearthed a lost anchor, a relic of the past, hidden in the very location where the pipeline’s vulnerability was exposed on that fateful day of October 8. A question now lingers in the salt-kissed air: did this anchor, a potential artifact of maritime might, belong to a titanic container vessel? The plot thickens as they traverse the depths in search of answers.

As the sands of time erode the boundaries between accident and sabotage, the narrative unfolds. The Balticconnector subsea gas pipeline, along with two fragile Baltic Sea telecoms cables, suffered the consequences of an external mechanical force. It’s a tantalizing puzzle, for within the intricacies of this narrative, the shadow of sabotage looms, entangled with the threads of happenstance. The unpredictable tides of investigation surge forward, uncovering the elusive truth beneath the waves.

Regrettably, a solitary soul has perished, and four others have vanished from a United Kingdom-flagged inland cargo vessel subsequent to a collision with another maritime vessel in the North Sea, just off the German coast on Tuesday. The calamitous encounter unfolded in the region known as the German Bight, positioned approximately 12 nautical miles to the southwest of the island of Helgoland. The key players in this maritime mishap were the venerable M/V Verity, gallantly flying the banner of the United Kingdom, and the esteemed M/V Polsie, a substantial freight carrier proudly registered in the Bahamas.

The M/V Verity, which was entrusted with the presence of seven souls, regrettably met its watery demise as a direct consequence of this unfortunate encounter. Among the brave souls aboard the Verity, one individual has been discovered in a lifeless state, while two fortunate souls have been successfully rescued and promptly transported to a medical facility. As we speak, dedicated search and rescue operations are in full swing, with the solemn intent of locating the remaining four individuals whose whereabouts remain shrouded in uncertainty.

In stark contrast, the M/V Polsie, which was gracefully accommodating a total of twenty-two souls, managed to withstand the tumultuous clash and maintains its buoyant disposition. Furthermore, we can thankfully report that all the individuals aboard the M/V Polsie have emerged from this harrowing ordeal unscathed.

The bustling Port of Los Angeles recorded a remarkable surge in the handling of laden import containers during the month of September. The statistics revealed a substantial 14% increase when compared to the corresponding period in the preceding year, with an impressive total of 392,608 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) processed. This surge in activity strongly implies a resurgence in inventories, spurred by resurging consumer demands.

When evaluating the broader scope of September volumes at the terminals of the Port of Los Angeles, a year-on-year growth of 5.4% is evident, culminating in a total of 748,440 TEUs handled. However, when assessing the performance over a nine-month duration, a noticeable deficit emerges. The terminals processed a total of 6,398,126 TEUs during this period, representing a substantial decline of 18.6% when compared to the exceptional figures witnessed during the first three quarters of 2022. This stark contrast underscores the economic challenges and fluctuations experienced in recent times.

1. Check your Amazon registered mailbox for recent emails with the suffix @amazon.com or @sell.amazon.com

2. Banner prompt path at the top of the seller platform promotion report page

Seller Central > Advertising > Flash Deals > Create New Promotion

US site: https://sellercentral.amazon.com/merchandising-new/create

European station: https://sellercentral-europe.amazon.com/merchandising-new/create

Amazon officially opened the DXX1 delivery station, which is its largest last-mile distribution center in Latin America. It is located in the Mexican capital “Mexico City” and covers an area of more than 30,000 square meters, equivalent to the size of six football fields. Since Amazon first launched in Mexico in 2015, it has invested up to 52 billion pesos ($3 billion) to compete with platforms such as Mercado in Latin America’s second-largest economy. Mexico City and the surrounding area are home to approximately 22 million people, making it one of the largest urban centers in Latin America

In August this year, the number of seller visits to TikTokShop Vietnam Station reached 7.2 million. This is an increase of 1.3 million compared to 5.9 million in June this year. The growth rate is very strong. Compared with the seller-side visits of other sites, in August this year, the seller-side visits of TikTokShop’s Thailand site were 3.1 million, the seller-side visits of the Malaysian site were 1.7 million, the seller-side visits of the Philippines site were 1.1 million, and the Singapore site The number of seller visits is 140,000