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U.S. ports reported strong container activity in August as shippers rushed to beat trade policy uncertainties and prepare for the holiday season. The Port of Los Angeles handled nearly 2 million containers across July and August, marking the best two-month stretch in Western Hemisphere history. Still, Executive Director Gene Seroka warned that volumes will likely cool heading into the final quarter, as much of the holiday cargo has already arrived and consumer caution is increasing. At the Port of Long Beach, August was the second-busiest August on record with 901,846 containers, even though the figure slipped 1.3% year over year. CEO Mario Cordero noted an 8.3% year-to-date increase and projected continued momentum thanks to holiday stocking, while also cautioning that trade policy instability could weigh on future performance. Other  ports  saw  mixed  results.  Oakland’s  volume  dipped  0.3%  from  last  year  but  remained  steady  after  a strong July. Seattle and Tacoma, under the Northwest Seaport Alliance, posted an 18.7% annual decline, partly due to tough comparisons with last year’s Canada-driven disruptions. Meanwhile, Houston reported a modest 1% increase in August and 5% growth year to date. The South Carolina Ports Authority reported a sharp 15.6% rise in August, highlighting the impact of its growing rail infrastructure, with 25% of containers now moving by rail. Savannah saw its third-busiest month ever, up 9% to 534,037 containers, supported by new vessel fast-track routing designed to improve scheduling and efficiency. Overall, while container throughput remains solid nationwide, executives across ports agree that economic uncertainty and shifting trade policies could dampen growth in the months ahead.   Source : https://www.ttnews.com/articles/port-container-volumes-remain-strong-during-august

Geely Auto Indonesia has officially started local production in Purwakarta, West Java, marking a significant milestone for the Chinese automaker’s expansion in Southeast Asia. With a production capacity of up to 60 units per day, the plant is expected to cut waiting times while ensuring performance, comfort, and global safety standards.   Source : https://oto.detik.com/mobil-listrik/d-8137494/geely-mulai-produksi-lokal-di-purwakarta

Indonesia booked a USD 5.49 billion trade surplus in August 2025, extending its streak of monthly surpluses to 64 since May 2020, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported. Exports stood at USD 24.96 billion, while imports totaled USD 19.47 billion. The positive balance was fueled by a USD 7.15 billion surplus in non-oil and gas commodities, led by palm oil, mineral fuels, and iron and steel. The United States, India, and the Philippines were the top markets contributing to Indonesia’s surplus, while China, Singapore, and Australia accounted for the largest deficits.   Source : https://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesia-maintains-64month-trade-surplus-us-tops-china-posts-largest-deficit

The U.S. container shipping industry is bracing for one of the steepest downturns in its six-decade history. August data showed only a 0.1% year-over-year rise in inbound container volumes across the ten largest U.S. ports, while outbound traffic dropped 2.6%. This marginal growth came largely from exemptions on goods already in transit when new tariffs took effect on August 7, with many vessels slow-steaming to delay arrival and exploit the loophole. U.S. trade patterns are diverging sharply from global trends. While American volumes stagnate, Far East exports hit record highs in July, up 6.3% from the previous year. He warned that supply chains are  rapidly  adapting,  with  the  U.S.  becoming  a  less  central  player  in  world  trade  as  new  tariffs reshape shipping flows. The National Retail Federation has revised its 2025 forecast, predicting a 3.4% decline in inbound volume for the year. That outlook implies a 15.7% drop in the final four months compared to 2024, with September already expected to fall 10% at the Port of Los Angeles. Early September booking data shows Chinese shipments to the U.S. down by more than a quarter. For an industry that has long grown faster than U.S. GDP, the scale of decline is unprecedented. U.S. now faces a painful trade-off: deeper volume declines may help ease inflation but will also suppress commerce and growth, while limiting declines will support trade but intensify inflationary pressures.   Source : https://gcaptain.com/mccown-u-s-container-imports-face-historic-decline-as-tariff-effects-take-hold

Indonesia and the European Union have signed the Indonesia–EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA), a landmark deal that will eliminate tariffs on more than 98 percent of traded goods. The agreement, signed in Bali by Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic, is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, pending ratification by both sides. The pact marks a historic milestone after negotiations that began in 2016. Once implemented, nearly  90  percent  of  Indonesian  products  will  instantly  enjoy  zero  tariffs  in  the  EU  market, boosting access for key exports such as palm oil, coffee, textiles, fisheries, footwear, electronics, forestry products, and furniture. Indonesia  aims  to  increase  exports  to  the  EU  by  2.5  times  within  five  years,  particularly  in labor-intensive sectors. The agreement also emphasizes support for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the broader labor market, which the government views as critical to sustaining growth. For the EU, the pact strengthens economic ties with Southeast Asia’s largest economy. The EU  is  already  among  Indonesia’s  top  five  sources  of  foreign  investment,  with  bilateral  trade reaching around USD 30 billion, including USD 13 billion in Indonesian exports. With  this  signing,  Indonesia  becomes  the  third  ASEAN  member—after  Singapore  and  Vietnam—to secure a comprehensive trade agreement with the EU, highlighting its growing role in global trade networks.   Source : https://en.antaranews.com/news/381932/indonesia-eu-seal-historic-trade-pact-slashing-98-percent-of-tariffs

U.S. job openings slipped in July to 7.18 million, one of the lowest readings since the Covid-19 pandemic reshaped the labor market. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that this was only the second time since late 2020 that job listings fell below 7.2 million, underscoring growing concerns about weakening demand for workers. The figure came in below economists’ forecasts of 7.4 million and marked the weakest level since September 2024, when openings hovered just above 7.1 million. Apart from that brief dip, such numbers were last seen during the height of the pandemic when the U.S. economy was under heavy strain. Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, called the drop “a turning point for the labor market,” noting it reflects yet another crack in employment conditions. She warned the market feels “frozen,” making it harder for people to secure jobs despite months of anecdotal signs pointing to cooling. The latest report adds pressure ahead of two critical data releases: weekly jobless claims due Thursday and the monthly employment report expected Friday. Both will provide deeper insight into whether the slow- down is stabilizing or worsening.

Indonesia ended 2024 with investment realization of USD 95.2 billion, a 20.8 percent increase year on year, with foreign direct investment (FDI) contributing USD 50 billion. In early 2025, total investment hit USD 25.8 billion, half of which came from FDI. Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, and Japan were the leading sources, focusing on metals, power, logistics, and industrial parks—sectors aligned with Indonesia’s down- streaming strategy. China’s  role  is  most  visible  in  nickel  and  EV  supply  chains,  where  it  controls  about  75  percent  of  refining capacity.  Industrial  parks  such  as  Morowali  and  Weda  Bay  showcase  its  dominance,  offering  integrated smelters,  logistics,  and  housing.  While  cost-efficient,  these  projects  face  scrutiny  over  safety  and  environmental issues. The next move for Chinese investors lies in downstream products like cathodes and recycling, especially with stricter traceability requirements in US and EU markets. Indonesia’s booming digital economy, valued at USD 90 billion in 2024, is projected to reach up to USD 360 billion by 2030. With Jakarta’s data center load at 659 MW and Batam rising as a hub, Chinese firms have room to expand through AI-ready campuses, edge computing, and cloud services. The healthcare sector also presents opportunities, with nearly universal BPJS coverage but overstretched facilities, opening the door to hospital PPPs, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and biotech trials. Green energy is another frontier, as Indonesia mandates 42.6 GW of renewables and 10.3 GW of storage in its national plan. Opportunities exist in solar, geothermal, and transmission partnerships, though local-content and ESG compliance are crucial for viability. Infrastructure is also expanding: the Jakarta–Bandung high-speed rail is spurring new projects, while Nusantara has attracted 36 Chinese investment interests totaling nearly USD 4.5 billion, with scope in smart utilities, green construction, and logistics hubs. Looking toward 2030, Indonesia’s future lies in three pillars: industrial parks for heavy industry, renewable and digital infrastructure, and healthcare and urban services. Regulatory changes—including the Positive Investment List, local-content updates, and a 12 percent VAT—will shape outcomes as much as capital and technology. Early movers who adapt to these frameworks are best placed to secure long-term stakes in Southeast Asia’s largest emerging market.   Source : https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/the-future-of-chinese-investment-in-indonesia

DHL has announced it will suspend standard parcel shipments for businesses to the United States, aligning with similar moves by other European postal operators. The suspension comes in response to new U.S. customs rules set to take effect on August 29, when the Trump administration will eliminate the long-standing “de minimis” exemption for international shipments under USD 800. This rule had previously allowed such parcels to enter the U.S. with minimal duties and paperwork. The company stated that August 25 will be the last day it accepts consignments under its standard service. However, its premium DHL Express delivery will remain unaffected. Private customers will still be able to send gifts worth under USD 100 as standard parcels, but these shipments will face stricter inspections to prevent misuse. Earlier in the week, postal groups in Austria, Belgium, and Scandinavia also announced similar suspensions, citing both the end of the exemption and uncertainty over how U.S. authorities will handle customs  clearance  going  forward.  Austrian  Post  emphasized  that  the  new  tightening  measures present “major challenges” for postal companies worldwide. The new rules are expected to disrupt global e-commerce flows, particularly affecting fast-fashion giants like Shein and Temu, whose business models depend on low-value shipments. Industry analysts warn that costs will rise sharply, potentially reshaping the cross-border retail landscape.   Source : https://edition.cnn.com/2025/08/22/business/dhl-us-shipments-de-minimis-intl