Trump’s Steel Tariffs, PetroChina Shutdown & Freight Uncertainty
Good morning! ☀️
Today’s vibe? Somewhere between “Are we really doing this again?” and “Larry Gross is confused, so we’re allowed to be too.”
🇺🇸 Trump just slapped a 50% tariff on imported steel and aluminum—because what’s a supply chain without a little price volatility, right?
📦 Even intermodal legend Larry Gross says his 45 years in freight can’t explain this chaos. And frankly, that makes us feel... weirdly comforted?
🛢️ And in global moves: PetroChina is pulling the plug on its mega Dalian refinery (410,000 barrels/day), because why not throw a little crude confusion into the mix?
Let’s dive into the mayhem—because someone’s gotta make sense of this mess. Might as well be us.
“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.”
Trump Doubles Down on Steel Tariffs—And Your Costs Might Be Next
President Trump just slapped a 50% tariff on imported steel and aluminum, aiming to boost U.S. manufacturing. Sure, it’s great PR at a U.S. Steel plant in PA—but for anyone in transportation, logistics, construction, or downstream manufacturing, this is a supply chain curveball.
Steel is in everything—from truck chassis and containers to the equipment we rely on to keep freight moving. Now? Expect higher material costs, delays in procurement, and pricing pain that trickles down fast. And with tariffs being rolled out unpredictably, forecasting just got messier than your inbox on a Monday.
🔥 Hot Take:
This isn’t “America First,” it’s “Everyone Else Pays.” Tariffs might help a few domestic mills, but the rest of us are now paying more to move less. If your margins weren’t tight already… buckle up.
Trade War Whiplash: What It Means for Intermodal & Logistics Professionals
Even intermodal OG Larry Gross says his 45 years in freight can’t explain what’s going on right now—and honestly, same. Between tariff hikes, rushed imports, and yo-yo trade policy, we’re flying blind.
Importers front-loaded freight from China to dodge a 145% tariff, which gave us a temporary container surge. Now? That volume cliff is crashing down on BNSF and UP. A summer “mini surge” might soften the blow (thanks to a rollback to 30%), but the West Coast is still in the blast zone—since over half of its inbound freight is China-made.
Ports are shifting, routes are shifting, and the railroads are holding on for dear life.
Why This Matters:
If you touch freight—rail, truck, warehouse, ports—this volatility is your reality now. Tariff whiplash = unreliable forecasts and squeezed margins.
🔥 Hot Take:
Intermodal isn’t just on shaky tracks—it’s on a geopolitical rollercoaster. Hope your Q3 strategy has seat belts.
Major Refinery Shutdown in China Signals a Bigger Shift 🚨
PetroChina is officially powering down its massive Dalian Petrochemical refinery—yep, the one handling 410,000 barrels a day—by the end of June. The plant’s been winding down since late 2023, and now the final crude unit is getting the ax. Why? After years of pressure (and a few deadly accidents), Dalian city wants this behemoth out of downtown.
This refinery processed a hefty slice of Russian ESPO crude and made up nearly 3% of China’s refining muscle. CNPC says they’re planning a new site on Changxing Island... but no green light yet. Meanwhile, China’s oil demand may have peaked. Between a services-driven economy and the EV surge, the future's looking leaner and greener.
🔥 Hot Take:
China isn’t just closing a refinery—it’s rewriting the global fuel demand playbook. If your supply chain strategy still banks on pre-EV oil flows, buckle up. You’re in for a recalibration.
The Workday Dash is an aggregation of articles regarding the transportation logistics, trucking, and supply chain industries for July 31, 2025, from iLevel Logistics Inc.