US Border Logistics Briefing - April 18, 2026

# Dunvale: Daily Logistics Briefing

Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026

Focus: US Border Operations & Supply Chain Conditions

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Executive Summary

Border crossing wait times remain elevated in the Brownsville and San Ysidro corridors, with passenger wait times reaching 90 minutes at multiple locations. Operationally, significant improvements were noted across several ports, including Nogales and Laredo, which saw wait times drop to near zero over the last 24 hours. Logistics planning must account for widespread severe weather alerts impacting multiple regions.

Top Delays

Current reported wait times indicate sustained congestion in the South Texas corridor:

* Brownsville (BM): 90 minutes (Passenger Standard)

* Brownsville (Gateway): 90 minutes (Passenger Standard)

* San Ysidro: 85 minutes (Passenger Standard)

* El Paso (Ysleta): 70 minutes (Passenger Ready)

Notable Changes

The last 24 hours showed substantial operational improvements at several key crossings:

* Nogales de Concini: Passenger Standard and Passenger Nexus Sentri wait times both dropped to 0 minutes (from 70 and 60 minutes, respectively).

* Del Rio: Both Passenger Ready and Passenger Standard wait times dropped to 0 minutes (from 60 minutes).

* Laredo 2: Passenger Standard wait times decreased by 50 minutes (from 55 to 5 minutes); Passenger Ready dropped to 0 minutes (from 50 minutes).

* Calexico West: Both Pedestrian Standard and Pedestrian Ready wait times dropped by 40 minutes (to 5 minutes).

Trade Policy Context

Recent notices indicate continued activity from U.S. trade bodies:

* Aluminum Containers: The U.S. Department of Commerce issued preliminary affirmative determinations regarding the circumvention of antidumping and countervailing duty orders for disposable aluminum containers from the People's Republic of China, citing both general and Thai-completed goods.

* Steel Products: The Department of Commerce rescinded the administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain cold-rolled steel flat products from the United Kingdom (2024-2025).

* Commodity Investigations: The International Trade Commission provided updates on scheduling the final phase of investigations concerning Oleoresin Paprika from India and certain Crafting Machines.

Aviation & Airport Status

* San Diego International Airport (SAN): Currently reported as CLOSED. The closure notice indicates a service interruption affecting transient general aviation aircraft.

Weather Impact

Multiple severe weather alerts are active across the country, requiring heightened awareness for ground transport:

* Severe Thunderstorm Warnings: Active in the Fort Worth and San Angelo areas until 8:30 AM CDT.

* Flood Warnings: Active in the Marquette, MI, and Kansas City/Pleasant Hill, MO, areas.

* Freeze Watch: Issued for the Lubbock, TX area until 9:00 AM CDT on April 19.

* Storm Warnings: Active in the Anchorage, AK, area through Saturday evening.

* Notable Conditions: Freezing temperatures are reported at Intl Falls (-8.8°C), Pembina (-6.3°C), and Sweetgrass (-3.6°C).

Macro & Economic Context

* Diesel Fuel: US Diesel Retail price is reported at $5.61 (as of 04/13/2026).

* Crude Oil: WTI Crude Oil is priced at $100.72, and Brent Crude Oil is priced at $123.28 (as of 04/13/2026).

* Exchange Rates: The USD/MXN rate is 17.3023, and the USD/CAD rate is 1.3828 (as of 04/10/2026).

* Trade Indicators: The Trade Weighted Dollar index stands at 16.69.

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*Disclaimer: This report is based on data available up to the time of generation and does not constitute professional financial or operational advice.*