Each monthly update we will highlight one trending topic which has an effect on the global ocean freight market.
May brings major shifts in global logistics, with falling container rates due to US trade tariffs and ongoing uncertainty. The Red Sea ceasefire deal offers little reassurance, while congestion in North West Europe forces shipping lines to reroute. With global container throughput expected to decline, carriers face fluctuating demand, and ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp struggle with capacity, reshaping trade flows. In this Market Update, we explore how these shifts may shape capacity, rates, and supply chain decisions moving forward.
CAROZ’s eye opener:
Tariff volatility, regional conflict, and infrastructure strain are no longer isolated disruptions—they are overlapping dynamics reshaping the global logistics landscape. From the US–China trade front to tensions in the Red Sea and operational congestion across North-West European ports, supply chains are being forced to adapt to constant movement in rates, routes, and regulations.
What we’re seeing is not just fluctuation, but fragmentation. Traditional planning assumptions—stable lanes, predictable demand, and cost-driven routing—are under pressure. And while carriers aim to push rates up wherever instability allows, the actual outcome remains highly uncertain. The first signs of rising rates in the SCFI (week 21) suggest a possible shift, but the market’s next move is increasingly difficult to forecast.
From a 4PL viewpoint, the key lies in building a supply chain strategy that doesn’t chase stability—but embraces adaptability. Managing risk, acting on real-time data, and rethinking control not as a reaction, but as a structural capability, is what separates resilience from exposure in this environment.
Want to know more?
Each monthly update we will highlight the developments within the Ocean freight market including the following topics:
In this month’s Market Update:
- Trending topic: Instability across ocean lanes
- Rail & Air | Asia – Europe
- Space & rate developments
- Port developments & congestion
- Schedule reliability
- TEU per operator
- How to mitigate the risks
