Stuart Chirls

Stuart Chirls is a journalist who has covered the full breadth of railroads, intermodal, container shipping, ports, supply chain and logistics for Railway Age, the Journal of Commerce and IANA. He has also staffed at S&P, McGraw-Hill, United Business Media, Advance Media, Tribune Co., The New York Times Co., and worked in supply chain with BASF, the world's largest chemical producer. Reach him at stuartchirls@firecrown.com.
Aug - 2026 -
Stuart Chirls

Customs to fight this growing trade fraud with AI ‘detective border’

A new White House report says transshipments have become a growing target of global scammers.

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17 August
Stuart Chirls

Empty containers a freighted issue for global trade growth

Resilient global trade is not only driving surprising growth, but volumes of ‘disbalanced’ empty containers, too.

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Stuart Chirls

The world’s third-largest shipping line has a new US chief

CMA CGM has promoted a senior executive from its British business to head its North American unit.

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Stuart Chirls

New study: Hormuz just one of many shipping chokepoints

A new study finds that the Strait of Hormuz is just one of many global shipping bottlenecks that can severely disrupt global trade.

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13 August
Stuart Chirls

Yang Ming’s first-half rebound sets up a volatile second half

Yang Ming saw an early peak and higher rates pump earnings, but the outlook for H2 is less certain.

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Stuart Chirls

Top West Coast port sees second-best July on record

The Port of Long Beach posted its second-busiest July as imports staged a surprising surge.

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Stuart Chirls

Battle of the briefs: UP-NS fires back at AGs anti-merger letter

Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern turn to former federal anti-trust officials to refute claims by red state Attorneys General opposing their transcontinental rail merger. 

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Stuart Chirls

Maersk raises 2026 outlook again as earnings surge

Maersk again raised its full-year earnings outlook after Q2 revenue climbed by double digits.  

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12 August
Stuart Chirls

Rail freight stretches lead over 2025

Rail freight on U.S. railroads posted solid weekly gains as intermodal outpaced overall traffic. 

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Stuart Chirls

Mega rail deal under fire: 7 State AGs warn UP-NS merger could drive up shipping costs

Seven GOP Attorneys General are again urging federal regulators to reject the Union Pacific–Norfolk Southern rail merger.

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Stuart Chirls

U.S. container imports surge on China peak season momentum

U.S. container imports improve on a surge in China goods, but volumes trail year-ago levels.

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11 August
Stuart Chirls

New harbor commission president backs Long Beach port plans

The new chief of Long Beach’s Harbor Commission pledged to advance the port’s infrastructure and sustainability goals during his term.

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Stuart Chirls

Trump extends Jones Act waiver; direct effect “pennies per gallon,” say analysts

President Trump again paused the law requiring U.S. ships carry cargo such as gasoline between American ports. But analysts say the effect on retail gas prices has been minimal. 

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Stuart Chirls

Asia-US East Coast box rate hits new high of $9,400

Container rate gains on Asia-U.S. trade lanes are reflecting unexpectedly resilient consumer demand despite inflationary pressures.  

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10 August
Stuart Chirls

After massive Q1 loss, Maersk returns another service to Suez

After profits collapsed in the first quarter – and just days before it reports Q2 earnings – Maersk said it will return another headhaul service to the full Suez Canal-Red Sea route.  “We are pleased to share that Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are announcing a structural change to one of the Gemini services, the AE19 service,” […]

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Stuart Chirls

Sale of major shipping line in U.S. trade on the rocks: Report

Government agencies are lining up to reject the proposed sale of Israeli-flag carrier Zim to Hapag-Lloyd of Germany. 

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Stuart Chirls

AAR launches freight rail research consortium 

Rail industry trade group in research partnership with major universities.

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07 August
Stuart Chirls

Asia ocean line in $135M expansion of US box terminal

Foreign-based investment will boost a Washington state port’s container capacity by nearly 40%.

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Stuart Chirls

Why 47.5 is a scary number for East Coast ports

U.S. East Coast ports could feel the effects of drought complicating shipping from Panama to Europe.

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