FreightWaves • October 2, 2022

If supply chain crunch is finally easing, why is inflation so high?

Measures of supply chain bottlenecks, cargo transit times, bookings and spot rates are all down, yet inflation remains historically high.

FreightWaves • September 29, 2022

Shipping giant Maersk: ‘Significantly less demand’ but ‘no hard landing’

Supply-demand dynamics that supercharged pandemic-era rates are now “exactly the opposite,” says Maersk CEO Soren Skou.

FreightWaves • September 22, 2022

West Coast ports sink to lowest share of US imports since early 1980s

East and Gulf coast ports handled more volume than ever before in August, pulling far ahead of West Coast rivals.

FreightWaves • September 20, 2022

Red flag: Shipping lines suddenly a lot less interested in renting ships

Container lines are pulling back fast from the ship-leasing market, signaling less confidence in future freight income.

FreightWaves • September 19, 2022

Fall in container spot rates ‘much steeper,’ ‘less orderly’ than expected

Container shipping rates — particularly from Asia to the U.S. — are still falling hard and show no sign of finding a floor.

FreightWaves • September 15, 2022

Imports to Los Angeles, America's largest port, plunged 17% in August

U.S. containerized imports are still near record highs, but not in Los Angeles, where they've fallen sharply.

FreightWaves • September 12, 2022

US imports keep chugging along, still up double digits vs. pre-COVID

Spot container rates for U.S.-bound cargoes are falling fast, yet import numbers at U.S. ports remain near their peak.

FreightWaves • September 9, 2022

Shipping’s China syndrome: Demand sinks across multiple cargo markets

Shipping volumes are weakening in and out of China. Is this a temporary pullback or a sign of more serious trouble ahead?

FreightWaves • September 7, 2022

Cruel summer for container, dry bulk stocks as sun shines on tankers

Container and dry bulk shares soared last year, leaving tanker stocks behind. This pattern has now reversed.

FreightWaves • August 30, 2022

Only 8 ships waiting off Southern California — but 41 off Savannah

California’s container-ship traffic jam is almost gone, replaced by stubbornly high backlogs off the East and Gulf coasts.

FreightWaves • August 22, 2022

The sinking price of ship fuel: Near prewar levels after summer plunge

The cost of marine fuels is down sharply from the wartime peak, except for ‘clean’ LNG, which is getting even more expensive.

FreightWaves • August 21, 2022

Trans-Pacific rates still sinking. Trans-Atlantic rates still peaking

Spot rates on most global shipping routes continue to fall. The trans-Atlantic market is the exception: It’s holding firm near its high.

FreightWaves • August 18, 2022

Despite billions in canceled orders, container imports stay near peak

U.S. imports accelerated in July, with inbound cargo from China reaching a year-to-date high, according to Descartes.

FreightWaves • August 17, 2022

Turning point? Port of LA boss sees imports ‘easing’ lower in August

With East Coast ship queues high, port executive Gene Seroka says: “For cargo owners looking to rechart their course, come to Los Angeles.”

FreightWaves • August 17, 2022

Container line Zim hit by exposure to falling spot rates

Trans-Pacific spot container shipping rates continue to head lower. Zim appears more at risk than some of its rivals.

FreightWaves • August 15, 2022

Five years on Wall Street: Shipping’s exits, arrivals, whales and minnows

The latest shipping company poised to delist has a market cap of $3.9 billion. The latest new entrant’s market cap is under $20 million.

FreightWaves • August 11, 2022

Hapag-Lloyd CEO: US consumer still ‘holding up,’ demand not collapsing

Hapag-Lloyd bookings point to a gradual unwind of the container shipping boom, not a crash.

FreightWaves • August 10, 2022

Tanker shipping stocks pull away from the pack, hitting fresh highs

Tankers stocks are doing great. Dry bulk and container stocks temporarily stopped the bleeding. “Maxim stocks” still underperform.

FreightWaves • August 8, 2022

No precipitous plunge in container shipping rates, just ‘orderly’ decline

Port congestion and voyage cancellations by shipping lines are preventing a steeper slide in spot container freight rates.

FreightWaves • August 3, 2022

Saber-rattling in Taiwan Strait stokes new supply chain threat

Chinese military exercises in the Taiwan Strait will delay shipments. Further escalation could have dramatic supply chain effects.