Global Supply Chain Update – U.S. Trucking Rates Spike to Start the New Year

January 7, 2026John Kulis

Will the U.S. Take Control of the Panama Canal?

  • One prediction market listed on Kalshi allows traders to speculate on whether President Trump and the U.S. Government will retake control of the Panama Canal. This market traded sideways in a range of 25% to 28% from July 2025 to early January 2026. The odds on the U.S. taking control before January 2029 increased to 38% on 01/05/2026. 

U.S. Trucking Rates

  • The Internet Trucks Spot Average Equipment rate was $2.56 per mile as of 01/02/2026.
  • Trucking rates on a geographical basis increased over the past two weeks. Rates for the West Coast and Mountain Central regions each increased by increased $0.26 per mile, the largest increase among the various regions.

Global Container Rates

  • The composite rate per 40-foot container was $2,213 on 12/25/2025, which is up $31 from 12/18/2025. Global container rates increased over from 12/18/2025 to 12/25/2025. The largest increase was from Shanghai to Genoa which increased $113 to $3,427. The second-largest increase was from Shanghai to Rotterdam, which increased $45 to $2,539.

Suez Canal Crossings 

  • The chart below outlines the 7-day rolling total of container ships, tankers, and bulk carriers traveling South to North through the Suez Canal.
  • The total number of crossings on 01/05/2026 was 78 (compared to 82 on 01/06/2025 and 139 on 01/05/2024).

Panama Canal Crossings 

  • The chart below outlines the 7-day rolling total of container ships, tankers, and bulk carriers traveling South to North through the Panama Canal.
  • The total number of crossings on 01/05/2026 was 85 (compared to 87 on 01/06/2025).

Global Supply Chain Pressure Index 

  • The Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Global Supply Chain Pressure Index (GSCPI) decreased from –0.06 in October 2025 to -0.16 for November 2025.  

Most-Watched Supply Chain Metrics  

  • The chart below is a breakdown of supply chain metrics for December 2025.

 

  • The aggregate index of most-watched supply chain metrics (the black line in the chart below) was 0.30, with zero meaning the supply chain is acting normally.

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