A closely-watched container price index fell for the fifth consecutive week as lower freight on benchmark ocean routes pressured global rates.
Muted demand marks the trans-Pacific container market post-Lunar New Year as ocean freight rates are easing earlier than usual.
Container rates on a key U.S. route are dropping earlier than expected, suggesting retailer caution caused by trade war uncertainty.
Ocean container rates out of Asia fell by double-digits in the latest week following Chinese New Year.
The Asia-U.S. container market continued its Q4 volatility, with climbing West Coast rates offset by a dip in East Coast prices.
https://www.freightwaves.com/news/us-taking-closer-look-at-ocean-carriers-antitrust-immunity
Shippers have won a reprieve from levies on the United States’ largest trading partners, but tariff threats are boosting frontloading.
Tariffs, taxes, the FTC and food regulations are among the major issues.
“Shifex has tremendous insight and we hope to inspire other freight forwarders to come out, be transparent about pricing and move this industry forward,” said Shifl founder and CEO Shabsie Levy.
U.S. importers now paying three times more per mile than Europeans for transport of Chinese goods.
Although “Containers Don’t Lie,” the story they are telling may not reveal the entire picture.
