Politicians and businesses promised to strengthen and diversify global supply chains in the wake of recent disruptions — yet even if that was possible or desirable, it would be a costly reorganisation of trade lanes built off cheap, efficient logistics

Should shipping be concerned about supply chain fragmentation? Or will the increasing efforts of developed countries to emulate China’s industrial policy be the major challenge for seaborne trade?

Containerised freight supported globalisation by offering cheap, reliable transport. The events of the past two years have shown it to be lacking resilience when most needed

Growing exports of China-made cars together with port congestion in key ro-ro ports have had a knock-on effect in disrupting fixed vessel schedules. This is stretching vessel capacity to the limit, creating significant increases in charter and freight rates