Goldman Sachs(US:GS) Goldman Sachs·2025-05-20 05:38Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The ongoing impact of tariffs is significantly affecting global freight flows, with a notable shift in sentiment regarding trade with China [1] - A resurgence in trade with China is anticipated, particularly in retail and consumer goods, as shippers prepare for back-to-school and peak season [1] - Trade uncertainty continues to keep shippers in a cautious 'wait and see' mode, particularly regarding the impact of 30% tariffs on demand [4][10] Summary by Sections Weekly Data Observations - Year-over-year (YoY) laden container vessels from China to the US have decreased by -11.1%, showing a sequential increase of approximately 6% from the previous week [15] - TEU imports into the Port of Los Angeles are expected to surge by 16% sequentially next week, but forecasts indicate a potential drop of -41% in vessels two weeks out [4][10] - The report highlights the volatility of weekly data, suggesting that trends should be assessed over a multi-week basis [7] Trade Scenarios for 2025 - Two potential scenarios for 2025 are identified: a surge in pull-forward activity ahead of a 90-day tariff pause, or a slowdown in orders due to uncertainty [8] - The report suggests a shift towards the first scenario, complicating predictions for transport volumes and earnings [9] Container and TEU Trends - TEUs from China to the US have dropped to -7.1% YoY, improving from -17.5% the previous week, indicating a pause in activity after a surge in April [23] - The report notes that container rates remain flat despite expected demand increases from China, possibly due to an oversupply of ships [11] Port Activity and Freight Rates - Planned TEUs into the Port of Los Angeles were down -14% YoY, with forecasts indicating a sharp increase of 57% YoY next week, followed by a drop of -35% [42] - The report indicates that intermodal traffic on the West Coast was up 4% on average, reflecting front-loaded traffic from earlier weeks [51] Inventory and Economic Indicators - The Logistics Managers Index (LMI) shows upstream inventory expansion slowing to 57.6 in April from 58.9 in March, while downstream inventory expansion also slowed significantly [74]