In the intricate dance of global trade, disruptions can have a cascading effect, and recent strikes in both Europe and America have sent shockwaves through the shipping industry. The shipping chaos usually happens before major holidays.
Recently, U.S. parcels have been in trouble again, with a DHL strike causing logistics chaos.
A large number of sellers reported that their packages had arrived in the United States, but were stuck in the dilemma of being delayed in delivery, with “on hold” directly displayed. This situation has been going on for several days.
The situations reported by sellers are different. Some wait for half a month, some wait for a week, some only a few days, and when they arrive at the destination country, they even don’t deliver for a long time.
Some sellers are very anxious to post and ask what happened.
USA DHL Strikes
It is reported that this is due to the warehouse explosion during the peak season and the logistics stranded caused by the DHL strike in the United States, which aggravated the delivery delay.
There is a notice showing that due to the strike wave in the United States, DHL will suspend shipments to U.S. destinations with the three-character code ORD/MDW from now on (if delivered to DHL, it will be intercepted and detained, and will not be picked up for transshipment). Please send it to Please use other channels for shipments here. For shipments scheduled by DHL that have not yet been picked up, scanning will be delayed, and pick-up and transshipment operations are not expected to resume until around December 20. The specific recovery time will be further notified by DHL.
On December 7, local time, approximately 1,100 DHL workers went on strike at the processing center at Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in Cincinnati, USA, due to a deadlock in contract negotiations.
DHL Express operates three major hubs globally—Cincinnati, USA; Leipzig, Germany; and Hong Kong, China. The recent strike unfolded at the Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG) in Cincinnati, which is one of DHL’s key international hubs.
CVG serves as DHL’s primary international hub in the United States, managing an impressive 130 flights daily. Approximately 80% of goods originating from the Americas transit through this airport, handling shipments bound for the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Latin America.
In response to the work stoppage, DHL management conveyed their “disappointment” and affirmed their commitment to engaging in fair negotiations. Anticipating potential disruptions, the company took proactive measures to maintain smooth operations. These included deploying additional staff, redirecting flights to alternative airports, and asserting their readiness for any escalation in the contract dispute.
According to the Teamsters union, the strike persists, with picketing expanding to at least 15 other cities, as confirmed to Air Cargo News.
Currently, the impacted U.S. destination cities fall under three-letter zip codes of ORD/MDW and include 60007-61814 and 46303-46410. Sellers in these areas should closely monitor DHL’s notifications to stay informed about the latest developments concerning their shipments.
European and American logistics delays
At this time of year, December tends to bring about a bit of logistical mayhem in Europe and the United States. It’s almost like a perfect storm, with warehouse explosions, blizzards, strikes, and even conflicts emerging, all conveniently timed around the holiday season!
Presently, in nations like Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium, and Sweden, workers across various sectors are staging strikes to voice their discontent with labor conditions and how they’re treated.
This recent surge of strikes is particularly centered around vital industries such as transportation and healthcare.
As of now, the strikes that sellers should keep a close eye on include:
Faced with such a huge challenge, how should cross-border sellers handle it?
- Plan Ahead for Shipments: Anticipate shipping needs and create stocking plans well in advance.
- Stay in Touch with Logistics Providers: Keep open lines of communication with logistics service providers to stay updated on the latest news and adjust stocking plans accordingly. Kisun Shipping team always keeps our customers updated with the newest logistics news.
- Ensure Ample Inventory: Stock up on inventory ahead of time to prevent running out of stock.
During this crucial sales season, the significance of overseas warehouses cannot be overstated. Particularly during a labor union strike, sellers must recognize the distribution benefits of overseas warehouses to effectively address various unpredictable factors.
Avoiding Logistics Delays
Year-end peak seasons put immense pressure on major logistics companies, leading to congestion issues. Overseas warehouses play a crucial role in alleviating this congestion. By storing goods in the target market ahead of time based on sales forecasts, they enable local deliveries during peak sales periods, significantly reducing delivery times.
Cutting Delivery Costs
Leveraging overseas warehouses allows sellers to minimize shipping expenses. These warehouses typically collaborate with local logistics companies and utilize localized distribution networks, reducing transportation costs and delivery times. Moreover, during peak seasons, when logistics demand surges, overseas warehouses’ localization advantages help avoid cost increases.
Adapting to Unpredictable Factors like Strikes
The use of overseas warehouses facilitates local delivery, not only shortening delivery times but also enhancing the overall shopping experience for customers. Therefore, the localization advantages of overseas warehouses not only meet consumer needs but also elevate customer satisfaction.
Enhancing Customer Satisfaction
Overseas warehouses offer the flexibility to provide personalized services based on merchants’ needs, such as customized packaging and gift options. These value-added services contribute to the competitiveness of merchants and cater to the diverse preferences of consumers.
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