The recent earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown that rocked Japan have aversely affected just about every aspect of life and business on the powerful island nation. Unfortunately, the shipping industry was not the exception, and Japanese air and ocean transporters are facing a multitude of complications in the aftermath of the unprecedented disaster.

There are a handful of shipping lanes in the world as vital as the Suez Canal, which serves as a linchpin for East and West trade. The next shortest route for shippers traveling from Asia to Europe or vice-versa is around Cape Horn at the bottom of Africa, adding a week of time and costs to shipments.

The retail industry is challenged with fluctuating customer demand, ever-changing styles and seasonality, and the need to boost top-line growth through store expansion. A streamlined and efficiently run supply chain is a crucial piece of the puzzle when it comes to keeping overall costs down. As pointed out in World Trade Magazine's article, Timely Ocean Transit for Retailers, inconsistent transit times can drive up total supply chain costs.