The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handled 39 percent of U.S. container imports in 2002, but that figure fell to 32 percent by 2013, according to U.S. census data. They have lost business to competitors at a time when, overall, global trade is booming and imports are rising at all ports, including L.A. and Long Beach. And the ports are losing out to others that can handle larger vessels.

The Stifel Logistics Confidence Index released in May reports the airfreight index increased 2.5 points to 59.5 in May, 3.8 points higher than May 2014 and 10.6 points more than May 2013. This should be good news for air forwarders as they move through the year.