The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) has increased these past few weeks, but has overall experienced a drop of 28% when compared to the same period last year and is now 7% more than average 2019 (pre-pandemic) rates. The following trade routes all experienced an increase...
With a swirling vortex of compounding factors from the Suez and Panama Canal and peak-season surcharges, to the Houthi of the Red Sea through to the general rate increases, there is no doubt that businesses across the globe are being hit with a whirlwind of...
Recent attacks by Yemen-based Houthi forces on commercial ships in the region, followed by retaliatory strikes by U.S. and British warplanes, ships and submarines on Houthi bases, have raised concerns about widening conflicts in the region. As a result, shipping lines are diverting  a growing number...
A shortage of rail cars has resulted in rising rail container dwells across the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, with operators unable to move inbound rail boxes off their marine terminals in a timely manner. Fortunately, at this stage this has not caused...
Whilst businesses may reap the benefits of lower rates, they may also experience a decrease in service levels and vessel schedule reliability as shipping lines adopt measures such as blank sailings and cancelled services in a bid to manage excess capacity. With capacity anticipated to increase...
Excess capacity and weak US import demand has seen freight rates across the Trans-Atlantic fall below pre-pandemic levels, with the spot rate down 57% from the same period in 2019. According to PIERS, total containerised imports from Asia tumbled 21% year over year through August in...
According to maritime consultancy Drewry, reefer container freight rates continue to outperform the dry cargo trade, despite an unprecedented contraction in reefer seaborne trade last year, with the pattern is expected to continue over the next few years. Despite facing adverse factors such as weaker cargo...
There's been substantial commentary around the lack of a perceived peak season in 2023 however given the rapidly changing situation across the ocean's trade routes, how accurate does this claim continue to be? Whilst traditionally the premise of a peak season is based on the volume...
Whilst the latest Drewry World Container Index increased by 1% last week, it has dropped 77% compared with the same week last year. The latest Drewry WCI composite index of $1,763 per 40-foot container is now 83% below the peak of $10,377 in September 2021. The latest...
The global ocean container trades are in a precarious state. Following a period of seesawing freight rates and persistent service failures, ocean carriers and shippers are struggling to achieve some measure of equilibrium. But a flood of new vessel capacity, scheduled to enter service over...