Even as port congestions ease, shippers need to stay prepared for a complicated peak shipping season outlook.
Container shipping networks are now under severe pressure with rising rates, box shortages and mounting port congestion all pointing to a Q3 crunch.
Container shipping markets have stabilized, for now at least. But change is coming, not least because the alliance system is being remade.
With the Suez Canal effectively out of bounds for container shipping, it is not only the Asia-Europe trade that has been thrown into disarray.
Port disruptions might end with potential conclusion of negotiations between ports, carriers, and unions.
Demand growth, however, could trigger market improvement in second half of the year.
Supply chain disruptions could still happen with expected factory closures in China and ongoing port congestions.
Challenges faced by shippers are set to persist at least for the first half of 2023.
A shift in consumer spend from products to services is putting pressure on the balance between capacity and demand.
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