FreightWaves • June 30, 2021

How COVID variants could impact container and tanker shipping

More problems loom for importers of Asian containerized goods and tanker slump could last even longer.

FreightWaves • June 28, 2021

No letup yet in dry bulk shipping’s ‘remarkable rally’

Rates for smaller bulkers remain at decade highs with most dry bulk stocks up triple digits since November.

FreightWaves • June 28, 2021

How China became the big winner of the COVID era

A year and a half after COVID emerged in Wuhan, China’s exporters, liners, shipyards and container factories are all booming.

FreightWaves • June 23, 2021

More container ships score ‘astronomical’ $100,000/day rates

There has never been a better time to own container ships and lease them to liners. But some owners are selling ships and cashing out.

FreightWaves • June 21, 2021

Mounting evidence that container crunch will persist until 2022

Americans are spending more on services. Contrary to predictions, this has yet to curb demand for containerized goods.

FreightWaves • June 17, 2021

Rise in trans-Pacific spot rates is relentless — and accelerating

Spot pricing has surged even higher, propelled by carrier rate hikes and China congestion fallout.

FreightWaves • June 15, 2021

20 tons of coke = 40+ years in prison for MSC container-ship crew

Former chief mate of MSC Gayane gets seven years behind bars for lead role in massive 2019 smuggling operation.

FreightWaves • June 14, 2021

Home Depot now has its own ship. That’s an ominous sign

Decision to secure dedicated vessel highlights unprecedented strength of container shipping and risks faced by importers.

FreightWaves • June 11, 2021

Container rates rocket even higher — and there’s no end in sight

Container spot rates spiked again, with new records set. For importers, the worst is yet to come.

FreightWaves • June 10, 2021

What $70+ oil means to container, tanker and dry bulk shipping

Rising fuel costs are yet another woe for containerized cargo shippers, while widening spreads should benefit ships with scrubbers.

FreightWaves • June 9, 2021

Top 10 liners control 85% of market — and they’re not done yet

Consolidation in the liner sector is already extreme. Newbuild orders will further concentrate market power in fewer hands.

FreightWaves • June 8, 2021

Inside container shipping’s COVID-era money-printing machine

Congestion is cutting liner capacity just as freight rates are at all-time highs, incentivizing carriers to buy or charter more ships.

FreightWaves • June 6, 2021

What is the shipping cycle — and can it ever be tamed?

Environmental regs could extend future dry bulk and tanker upside, while consolidation could change curve of container-shipping cycle.

FreightWaves • June 3, 2021

US imports could stall as demand overwhelms trans-Pacific capacity

Retailers at increasing risk of not getting goods from Asia on shelves as ocean transport system hits limit.

FreightWaves • June 2, 2021

Container ship scores ‘off the charts,’ ‘fantasy’ charter rate: $135,000/day

Freight forwarder will pay “absolute historic high” to secure container ship as “people are panicking” amid “out of control” market.

FreightWaves • May 26, 2021

California’s massive container-ship traffic jam is still really jammed

Ships at anchor are unlikely to clear by peak season. Congestion is forcing wide-scale voyage cancellations.

FreightWaves • May 24, 2021

How three Chinese companies cornered global container production

The containers that U.S. shippers need are all built in China, where factories could set a new production record this year.

FreightWaves • May 20, 2021

Video: How to cope with ocean capacity crunch

A fireside chat between Flexport's Nerijus Poskus and FreightWaves senior editor Greg Miller.

FreightWaves • May 19, 2021

How ZIM, a smaller ocean carrier, is blowing away the big boys

ZIM is the liner most exposed to upside from America’s import binge. It’s taking full advantage of the situation.

FreightWaves • May 18, 2021

Time to start prepping for Christmas shipping capacity crunch

With the retail inventory-to-sales ratio still falling, U.S. importers are urged to move fast on their holiday import plans.