2026 Breakbulk and Project Cargo Conference Breakbulk & Project Cargo
showing in late 2025. Still,“ Demand has not disappeared for steel,” he said.“ It’ s been deferred.”
Ruediger said the data center phenomenon, while powerful, is likely a“ fad” that will lose steam in two years, but he also expects cargo demand from industrial gases to begin offsetting slowing data center construction by 2028. He also pointed to strong demand from equipment manufacturers in Europe serving US customers and structural steel produced in Vietnam and Thailand.
Tracie Morris Schaefer
The process of putting a project together and determining whether it’ s viable includes logistics costs, and those are a moving target. How do you price on that basis with the increased costs and volatility?”
That uncertainty has manifested itself in project deferments and delays, Drew said, adding that the signs of import volume declines for project shipments started
“ Today, you would probably look at the next two to three years as a‘ long-term’ strategy.”
As such, he encouraged logistics providers to avoid becoming overly fixated on one sector or source of cargo.“ We don’ t discriminate,” he said.“ We move freight.”
email: carly. fields @ spglobal. com email: eric. johnson @ spglobal. com email: mark. szakonyi @ spglobal. com
Shippers should expect the US to impose new tariffs this year regardless of IEEPA refunds. Tracie Morris Schaefer
US Customs and Border Protection launched Phase 1 of the IEEPA refunds in April, allowing importers of record and licensed customs brokers to file for refunds of tariffs paid between April 2025 and the Supreme Court ruling.
These include“ reciprocal” tariffs ranging from 10 % to 41 % on most goods from nearly all US trading partners, a 40 % additional duty on most imports from Brazil, and secondary tariff orders designed to penalize countries trading with nations such as Russia, Iran or Venezuela.
“ It covers a lot,” Lowe said.“ Make sure you are getting it all. Don’ t limit your refund just to the reciprocal tariffs.”
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She also advised that if project cargo and breakbulk companies are successful in their refund claim, they might find customers knocking on their door for their slice of the refund.“ Figuring out how to deal with that,” is something that logistics specialists in the sector need to keep in mind and be aware of, Lowe said.
“ Customs is not going to come and tell you you’ ve got to reimburse your customer,” she said.“ Ultimately, that’ s a commercial discussion.”
email: carly. fields @ spglobal. com
June 2026 | Journal of Commerce 13