Long-term Asia–Europe ocean freight contract rates are off to a flying start. Congestion is reducing already strained capacity

High demand and supply chain disruption during the pandemic have led to a shortage of equipment in key export markets. But indicators suggest the problem may ease soon

Less than six weeks before the usual annual shutdown of China’s manufacturing production and the slowdown of the ocean logistics systems that support it, container lines have only cut a small number of services

Severe box backlogs at key South Asian transhipment port appear to be improving, following several weeks of difficulties that have led to service cancellations, cargo rollovers and disruption to supply chains

European shipper and forwarder representatives urge carriers to review their current operational and business practices and return to ‘respecting schedule reliability and service quality, in accordance with contractual terms’

DP World says its UK container terminals ‘are operating effectively despite unprecedented inbound traffic’, saying imports have peaked