In this episode of The Freight Buyers' Club, Mike King is joined by two of the most respected voices in the industry:

Lars Jensen, CEO, Vespucci Maritime

Greg Knowler, Europe Editor, Journal of Commerce

Together they cover:

✅ Is the Middle East conflict actually a global shipping crisis — or a regional one?

✅ Container shipping rates: are we heading for a Red Sea-style spike or not?

✅ Bunker fuel shortages in Asia — why availability is becoming a bigger problem than price

✅ Jet fuel shortages and the collapse of air cargo capacity through Gulf hubs

✅ The intermodal alternatives: Saudi Red Sea ports, Khorfakkan, Salalah — and their limits

✅ The danger of escalation: Houthis, Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb and the eastern Mediterranean

✅ What US importers are facing on top of the existing tariff chaos

✅ Why supply chain resilience always loses out to efficiency — and what shippers can do about it

✅ Lars Jensen's forecast for container shipping rates in the weeks ahead

Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, leading Asia-Pacific freight forwarder and logistics provider. https://dimerco.com

#MiddleEastConflict #ContainerShipping #GlobalTrade #SupplyChain #Freight #ShippingCrisis #Hormuz #AirCargo #BunkerFuel #FreightRates #SupplyChainResilience #FreightBuyersClub #LarsJensen #GregKnowler #Dimerco #OceanFreight #Logistics #Intermodal #RedSea #TradeDisruption

Andres breaks down LATAM Cargo's network across North America, Europe and intra-South America, their fleet of 19 Boeing 767 freighters, and why 65% of their cargo is special cargo, dominated by perishables like Chilean salmon, Ecuadorian flowers and Peruvian fruit.

We cover the structural changes hitting e-commerce and de minimis exemptions across Latin America, how LATAM Cargo planned for multiple tariff scenarios without having to implement most of them, and how the Middle East conflict is sending shockwaves through supply chains.

Andres also explains how LATAM Cargo handles fuel surcharge transparency with customers in a volatile pricing environment, and outlines plans for 5 to 7% belly capacity growth in 2026, with a focus on cargo-heavy European routes including Amsterdam and Brussels.

Topics covered:

• IATA World Cargo Symposium 2025 takeaways
• LATAM Cargo fleet and network overview
• Perishables, pharma and lithium battery cargo
• US tariffs, trade war and de minimis changes
• Middle East conflict and supply chain disruption
• Fuel surcharges and price volatility
• LATAM Cargo 2026 growth outlook

This content is brought to you by Dimerco Express Group. Learn more at dimerco.com.

#AirCargo #AirFreight #LATAMCargo #IATAWorldCargoSymposium #FreightBuyersClub #SouthAmericaFreight #Perishables #ColdChain #LogisticsPodcast #FreightPodcast #SupplyChain #Ecommerce #DeMinimis #Tariffs #TradeWar #FuelSurcharge #CargoFleet #FreightMarket #AirCargoIndustry #Dimerco

From clean versus dirty data to the risks of automating AI workflows on unreliable sources, Mike DeAngelis cuts through the sales pitch to give shippers a practical framework for evaluating any logistics tech platform.

LogTech Industry veteran, ex - Maersk, INTTRA, WiseTech Global, p44, FourKites

In this interview:

• Why the sales pitch and the software are often two different things
• What clean data actually means and why it matters for AI
• How to structure a vendor conversation around your use cases, not their features
• Why you should always ask for a live demo, not a PowerPoint
• The importance of getting your actual users in the room
• Why reference customers are one of the most valuable and underused evaluation tools

Whether you are assessing a visibility platform, a TMS, or an AI-driven workflow tool, the framework here applies across the board.

This content was brought to you by Ontegos Cloud, freight forwarder profitability specialists.

#FreightBuyers #LogisticsTech #SupplyChain #FreightProcurement #AI #ShippingTech #FreightBuyersClub

Peter Creeden, MD of MPC International and advisor to the IMO's Port Call Optimization task force, joined Mike King at TPM26 in Long Beach to make the case that shipping's data foundations need to come before any AI investment. From the IMO's new PCO Guide to e-bills of lading, smart contracts, and scope three emissions reporting in Australia, Peter maps out the digital layer cake that has to exist before AI can actually deliver.

If you're a freight buyer evaluating visibility platforms, digital tools, or AI-powered freight systems, this one is required viewing.

Guest: Peter Creeden, MD, MPC International

This content is brought to you by Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/]

#FreightBuyersClub #TPM26 #SupplyChain #ArtificialIntelligence #DigitalTransformation #Shipping #FreightTech #PortCallOptimization #IMO #LogisticsTech #EBillOfLading #Decarbonization #OceanFreight #FreightBuyers #SmartContracts

With Middle East airspace closed, fuel prices up sixty to seventy percent, and tariff policy shifting overnight, Jan explains how United keeps cargo moving when the world keeps throwing curveballs. His model is built on belly capacity, smart partnerships, and access to freighter space rather than ownership of it - a position he defends with characteristic Dutch directness.

On the growth side, Jan talks through United's pharmaceutical business in India, new Southeast Asia services into Vietnam and Thailand, and where he sees opportunity in a market disrupted by both conflict and trade policy chaos.

He also breaks down how United thinks about automation, AI, and the one thing technology still cannot replace: people with a cargo heart.

Thirty-nine years in the industry. Twelve with United. And cargo, he says, is still sexy.

Recorded live at WCS Lima, March 2026.

This episode of the Freight Buyers Club is supported by Dimerco Express Group. https://dimerco.com/

CHAPTERS

00:00 Welcome from WCS Lima

01:00 Five years of disruption: COVID, Ukraine and the Middle East

03:00 Middle East airspace closure: impact, fuel costs and workarounds

05:00 Tariffs: coping when policy changes overnight

07:00 India, pharma and new Southeast Asia routes

09:00 South America: how United serves the region

10:00 The freighter question: why Jan will never own one

11:30 Fleet investment, specialty products and the cool chain

13:00 AI, automation and the 50/25/25 booking model

14:30 Thirty-nine years in the industry and why cargo is still sexy

#AirCargo #FreightBuyers #UnitedCargo #SupplyChain #Logistics #AirFreight #GlobalTrade #FreightMarket #Shipping #CargoIsSexy

This content is proudly supported by Dimerco Express Group, your ideal freight forwarding partner for Transpacific Asia and beyond. Learn more at https://dimerco.com/

#AirCargo #MiddleEastWar #FreightBuyersClub #Rotate #Dimerco #AirCargoNews #SupplyChain #Freight #IATAWCS #Lima2026

Capacity on the Asia-Europe corridor has collapsed by more than 40% on some routes. Charter prices have tripled. Jet fuel has hit levels not seen in years. And ocean shipping is in simultaneous chaos. This episode covers what's happening, why it matters, what freight buyers should do right now, and where this goes next.

Sponsored by Ontegos Cloud — freight forwarder profitability specialists.

Rolf gives his take on the proposed Zim acquisition and what it means for freight buyers, the impact of US and Israeli strikes on Iran and what that means for ships currently stuck in the Persian Gulf, and whether a return to the Suez Canal is now further away than ever.

He also shares his view on the container shipping supply and demand balance, why he sees underlying demand as still strong, and how shippers should think about US inventory levels and the transpacific market heading into the rest of 2026.

This content is supported by Dimerco, a global freight forwarding and logistics network that believes in the value of independent journalism in the freight industry. Find out more at https://dimerco.com/

#TPM26 #ZimDeal #SuezCanal #IranStrikes #ContainerShipping #FreightMarket #HapagLloyd #LogisticsNews #SupplyChain #FreightBuyers

Mike King sits down with Paul Bingham, Director of Transportation Consulting, Economics and Country Risk at S&P Global Market Intelligence, at TPM26 in Long Beach to make sense of it all.

They cover:

• The Iran strikes and what they mean for oil prices, Hormuz and Gulf shipping lanes
• The Supreme Court IEEPA ruling and Trump's Section 122 replacement tariffs
• Tariff refunds: what importers need to know
• Why countries that did deals with Washington are now worse off than those that didn't
• Scorecard on US trade policy: did it work?
• Can freight buyers plan around blanket tariffs?
• The $901 billion US trade deficit: reshaped or just rerouted?
• Where inventories stand heading into 2026
• The outlook for US imports in 2026

This episode is produced with the support of Dimerco Express, a leading freight forwarder and supply chain solutions provider across Asia and beyond. https://dimerco.com/

Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America, joins Mike King for a frank conversation about how one of the world's leading freight forwarders is navigating the uncertainty and what it means for shippers.

They cover the proposed Hapag-Lloyd/ZIM merger and what less competition really means for freight buyers, why shippers are firmly in the driving seat on the Trans-Pacific right now, and how tariff uncertainty is forcing companies into three-tiered contingency strategies rather than long-term capital deployment.

Mark also opens up about freight fraud costing Gebrüder Weiss hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, how sophisticated double-brokering scams are targeting freight forwarders, and what the industry needs to do about it.

Plus an honest account of GW's automation journey, what's working, what's been expensive, and why bad data will kill your AI investment before it starts.

And how a funeral, a few too many drinks, and a South African aunt launched one of North America's most senior freight executives into a career in logistics.

Sponsored by OntegosCloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialist.

Featured: 

Hapag-Lloyd Buys ZIM Explained: Why Freight Buyers Should Care https://youtu.be/4u6wCfwUvc0

Why Great Freight Forwarders Thrive in Chaos | #44 | Freight Buyers Club

https://youtu.be/9yuq3xbkp_c

The Good, The Bad, and the ANC: South Africa’s Logistics on the Brink https://youtu.be/POyM0kHGMeg

Topics covered:

0:00 Introduction — Mike King welcomes Gebrüder Weiss North America CEO Mark McCullough and previews the episode

01:45 Hapag-Lloyd/ZIM Merger — Is carrier consolidation good for freight buyers or just less competition dressed up as efficiency?

03:00 Trans-Pacific Outlook — Excess capacity, blank sailings, depressed rates and what the next 12 to 18 months looks like

05:00 Shippers in the Driver's Seat — Why forwarders like GW actually prefer higher freight rates and what that means for contract season

07:00 Tariffs and Capital Deployment — Why uncertainty is stopping shippers from committing to long-term strategy and the three-tiered contingency approach

11:00 Freight Fraud Revealed — How double-brokering scams cost Gebrüder Weiss $600,000 in a single year and how they work in practice

16:00 Automation and AI at GW — Bots, document splitting, carrier vetting tech and how offshore teams are being upskilled

19:00 The Data Problem — Why bad data killed their AI investment early and what they had to do to fix it

21:30 Clean Data Advice — Mark's blunt advice to any company thinking about AI investment right now

22:00 How Mark Got Into Freight — A funeral, a few white wines and a South African aunt who changed everything

We cover:

• The deal structure and Israel's "golden share" carve-out
• What happens to ZIM's vessel sharing agreement with MSC
• How this strengthens Gemini and shifts alliance dynamics
• Fewer carriers = more blank sailing control
• Who's next? PIL, Wan Hai, HMM as potential targets
• The new M&A model: joint ventures with national stakes

This mini Freight Buyers' Club is brought to you by Ontegos Cloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialist: https://www.ontegoscloud.com

Guest: Nils Roche, Founder of Solvens Advisory Host: Mike King

The freighter capacity crunch is real. In this episode of Air Cargo Unpacked, Mike King and Neel Jones Shah break down UPS retiring its MD-11 fleet, why the aircraft backlog won't normalise until the 2030s, and what it means for air cargo rates.

Plus: Dimerco's Kathy Liu on Chinese New Year from Shanghai, exclusive rate analysis from TAC Index's Neil Wilson, and how de minimis policy changes are reshaping e-commerce flows out of China - with North America down 33% and Europe up 22%.

We also cover Maersk dumping its 767s for 777s on trans-Pacific, and what the new US-India trade deal could mean for air freight demand.

Featuring:

• Mike King, Host & Executive Producer
• Neel Jones Shah, Co-Host (ex-Delta, United, Flexport)
• Kathy Liu, VP Global Sales & Marketing, Dimerco Express Group
• Neil Wilson, Editor, TAC Index

Air Cargo Unpacked is a monthly Freight Buyers' Club production, brought to you by OntegosCloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialist. https://www.ontegos.cloud/

Subscribe for monthly air freight market analysis.

#AirCargoUnpacked #FreightBuyersClub #Logistics #AirFreight #Shipping #CargoCapacity #DeMinimis #ChineseNewYear #TACIndex #Ecommerce #GlobalTrade

00:00 Welcome to Air Cargo Unpacked

01:00 UPS Retires MD-11 Fleet

02:30 10% of Widebody Freighter Capacity at Risk

04:30 Aircraft Backlog Hits 17,000

06:00 Conversion Costs Soaring: $80m for a 777

08:00 Chinese New Year: Kathy Liu from Shanghai

10:00 China Plus One: Southeast Asia Booming

12:00 Neel on CNY: Why This Year Is Different

15:30 TAC Index Rate Analysis with Neil Wilson

17:00 Shanghai Rates Up 9% Year on Year

18:00 Spot vs Contract Rates Explained

21:00 De Minimis: US Down 33%, Europe Up 22%

23:00 E-Commerce Is Like a Raging River

24:30 Maersk Sells 767 Freighters to Amazon

27:00 US-India Trade Deal: Stability Returns

DiBella explains how the FMC is shifting from a reactive referee of commercial disputes to a proactive "consumer protection agency" with the authority to investigate global chokepoints, shadow fleets, foreign policy barriers, and domestic rail bottlenecks affecting American cargo.

Key topics covered:

• Trump's mandate to "resurrect U.S. dominance in the maritime arena"
• The FMC's expanded global enforcement powers under OSRA 2022
• Investigating chokepoints like Suez Canal and Malacca Strait
• Shadow fleet and flags of convenience investigations
• How the FMC can penalize foreign governments that block U.S. cargo
• What shippers should document and when to engage the FMC
• Detention and demurrage protections and enforcement priorities
• Rail and chassis bottlenecks in Middle America
• Why the FMC wants to act before problems escalate

Laura DiBella's background: Former Florida Secretary of Commerce under Governor Ron DeSantis, Executive Director of the Florida Harbor Pilots Association, and President & CEO of Enterprise Florida. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December 2025 and designated FMC Chair by President Trump on January 28, 2026.

This episode is produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. https://dimerco.com/

If you're a freight buyer, shipper, logistics manager, or supply chain professional planning for 2026, this interview is essential listening.

Subscribe to The Freight Buyers' Club for more exclusive interviews and supply chain insights.

Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group.

PART 1: TPM 26 PREVIEW

Mark Szakonyi (Executive Editor, Journal of Commerce) and Lori Fellmer (VP Logistics, BassTech International) break down:

- Transpacific contracting season outlook

- Demand signals and capacity challenges

- How SME shippers are treated in a bearish market

- Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger implications for IPI cargo

- OSRA 2022 effectiveness: detention & demurrage protections

PART 2: EXCLUSIVE FMC CHAIR INTERVIEW

Laura DiBella outlines her vision for the Federal Maritime Commission under Trump's maritime mandate:

- From reactive to proactive enforcement

- Global investigations: Spain, chokepoints (Suez, Malacca Strait), shadow fleets

- "We're now a consumer protection agency" - what this means for shippers

- New enforcement powers: penalties, sanctions, port denial for foreign governments

- Domestic bottlenecks: containers, rail, chassis in Middle America

- When shippers should contact the FMC

KEY QUOTES:

"Action. Always action." - Laura DiBella on what shippers should expect

"We've become more of a consumer protection agency." - On the FMC's evolving mission

ABOUT THE GUESTS:

- Laura DiBella - Chair, Federal Maritime Commission

- Mark Szakonyi - Executive Editor, Journal of Commerce

- Lori Fellmer - VP Logistics & Carrier Management, BassTech International

This episode was produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group - https://dimerco.com/.

Subscribe to the Freight Buyers' Club for weekly insights on freight buying, carrier negotiations, and supply chain strategy.

The signals are unmistakable. Greenland threats. US-Europe tensions mounting. Trade wars escalating. This is no longer theoretical. Supply chain directors need to understand what's coming and how to prepare.

In this critical roundtable, Mike King brings together three leading voices to break down how US-China competition, tariff volatility, shifting trade blocs, and technology will reshape supply chains right now and through the year ahead.

Neil Shearing is Chief Economist at Capital Economics and author of The Fractured Age. He explains why we're not seeing deglobalization but rather a splintering of the global economy into competing US and China-led blocs. And why this matters far more than simple tariff rates.

Marc Levinson is an economic historian and author of Outside the Box. He challenges the bloc theory with real world examples of trade policy chaos. He reveals why mega-ships may become obsolete, what's really driving trade now (spoiler: AI infrastructure), and why the logistics industry's capital investments could become stranded.

Ashley Skaanild is Principal Advisor Carrier Integration and Transformation at WiseTech Global. He brings operational reality to the macro debate. Drawing on platform data from millions of shipments and a Reuters survey of 450+ supply chain leaders, he shows how companies are actually preparing and where technology sprawl is creating blind spots.

Together, they tackle the questions keeping supply chain directors awake: How do you plan supply chains when policy changes overnight? Can you build resilience without bankrupting operations? What role will technology play in the fractured landscape ahead?

Essential listening for freight buyers, logistics managers, and anyone navigating supply chains, geopolitics, and digital transformation in 2026.

Show note links:

LEANER, SMARTER, FASTER AND MORE CONNECTED: SUPPLY CHAINS EVOLVE TO MEET RISING VOLATILITY AND COST PRESSURES A Reuters Events, Supply Chain white paper in partnership with CargoWise

Download here: https://www.cargowise.com/de-de/news/the-new-supply-chain-playbook-how-leaders-are-responding-to-cost-pressure-and-volatility/

The Fractured Age: How the Return of Geopolitics Will Splinter the Global Economy, by Neil Shearing

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fractured-Age-Geopolitics-Splinter-Economy/dp/1399825720

Outside the Box: How Globalization Changed from Moving Stuff to Spreading Ideas, by Marc Levinson

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outside-Box-Globalization-Changed-Spreading/dp/069119176X

#GeopoliticsTrade #Freight #Technology #LogTech #GlobalTrade #Logistics #Tariffs #2026Outlook #Wisetech #FreightBuyersClub #CapitalEconomics

00:00 – Trade Is Now a Weapon: Why Global Trade Is Fracturing
Trade policy as coercion, resilience costs, AI driving trade growth

01:00 – Welcome to 2026: Geopolitics, Trade Chaos, and Tech Strain
Greenland tariffs, fractured alliances, and why supply chains are under pressure

02:05 – Biggest Surprise of 2025: Tariffs, Allies Hit, and Tech U-Turns
Neil Shearing on Trump tariffs, China, and relaxed chip controls

04:10 – Why Policy Chaos Matters More Than Tariff Levels
Marc Levinson on volatility vs predictable trade costs

05:10 – AI Drove Half of Global Trade Growth Last Year
Why servers, chips, and AI infrastructure now shape trade flows

06:15 – Operational Reality: Red Sea, Alliances, and Schedule Reliability
Ashley Skaanild on shipping chaos and how trade adapts

08:00 – Are We De-Globalising or Splintering Into Trade Blocs?
Neil Shearing explains the US–China bloc thesis

09:30 – Real Supply Chain Shifts: Phones Move From China to Vietnam & India
Hard data on how geopolitics is rewiring sourcing

11:40 – Greenland, Europe, and the Risk of a Broken Transatlantic Alliance
Could the US–Europe relationship fracture?

14:40 – How Do You Plan When Policy Changes Overnight?
Supply chains without a global referee (WTO, UN under strain)

16:10 – Why Flexibility Beats Efficiency in a Fractured World
Toyota, Fukushima, and lessons for multinationals

18:00 – China Plus One Is Now China Plus Three
Marc Levinson on multi-sourcing and rising costs

19:30 – Freight Forwarders as Shock Absorbers
Why volatility is good business for forwarders

21:30 – Why Mega-Ships May Become Obsolete
24,000 TEU vessels vs new regional trade patterns

25:00 – Capital at Risk: Ports, Ships, and Stranded Assets
Marc Levinson on risky long-term logistics investments

28:30 – Geopolitics Is Now the #1 Supply Chain Risk
Reuters survey: policy volatility overtakes operations

31:00 – Resilience Costs Money: Safety Stock, Nearshoring, Trade-Offs
Why “just-in-time” no longer works

34:00 – Technology Sprawl: Too Many Systems, Not Enough Intelligence
Why visibility isn’t enough

38:30 – Why Logistics Tech Hasn’t Had Its ‘Container Moment’
Marc Levinson on standards and data fragmentation

42:00 – 2026 Predictions: Trade Growth, Suez, Freight Rates, and AI
What breaks next — and what probably won’t

47:30 – One Practical Piece of Advice for Supply Chain Directors
Final calls from Neil Shearing, Marc Levinson, and Ashley Skaanild

50:00 – Final Takeaway: Trade Isn’t Ending, It’s Fracturing

#FreightBuying #SupplyChainManagement #TradePolicy #Greenland #TransatlanticTensions #CarrierStrategy #LogisticsIndustry #CapitalEconomics #WiseTechGlobal #FreightBuyersClub #TradeWars #GeopoliticalRisk

Welcome to the launch episode of Air Cargo Unpacked - your monthly deep dive into air freight markets, capacity dynamics, and what actually matters for people who buy air cargo services.

This episode features exclusive data from the Baltic Exchange Air Freight Index, powered by TAC Index.

In this episode:

• Geopolitical chaos and air cargo resilience - Why 2026 kicked off with unprecedented uncertainty, from Greenland tensions to trade wars, yet China posted a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus
• Chinese New Year 2026 impact - How CNY falling 2.5 weeks later than 2025 is impacting markets and what forwarders and carriers should expect in the lead-up and restart
• IATA's 2026 outlook - Brendan Sullivan identifies the three biggest headwinds (capacity constraints, regulatory complexity, economic uncertainty) and three opportunities (digitalization, e-commerce growth, agility as competitive advantage)
• E-commerce shifts post-de minimis - The reality behind Shein and Temu's strategy after US ended the $800 exemption, and where e-commerce flows are redirecting (hint: South America, Europe, Africa)
• MD-11 freighter crisis – with some 60 aircraft grounded, integrators are scrambling for replacement 767 and 747 capacity
• Exclusive TAC Index market data - Neil Wilson breaks down peak season performance, capacity constraints, Taiwan semiconductor boom, and why intra-Asia rates are up 23% year-on-year
• Capacity crunch reality - Why the aircraft delivery backlog means tight capacity, higher yields, and limited flexibility for shippers throughout 2026

Key themes: Air cargo thrives on chaos, but not all chaos is equal. This episode unpacks which disruptions benefit air freight and which threaten growth - plus what the data actually shows about where the market is heading.

Links:

TAC Index: https://www.tacindex.com
Ontegos Cloud: https://www.ontegos.cloud/

Brought to you by Ontegos Cloud - the freight forwarder profitability specialist helping forwarders turn operational effort into economic control. Learn more at ontegoscloud.com

Subscribe and follow for monthly market intelligence, exclusive data, and insights from the people shaping global air cargo.

Timestamps

00:00 Introduction & Welcome to Air Cargo Unpacked

00:30 Geopolitical Chaos: Greenland, Venezuela, Iran & the Red Sea

02:00 China's Record $1.2 Trillion Trade Surplus Explained

04:00 E-commerce as a River: Finding Routes Despite Trade Wars

06:00 Does Air Cargo Thrive on Chaos?

08:00 End of De Minimis: Impact on Shein, Temu & E-commerce Volumes

11:00 2026 Vertical Focus: AI, Semiconductors & Taiwan Trade Deal

14:00 TAC Index Exclusive: Peak Season Analysis & Rate Trends

18:00 Taiwan Strength, MD-11 Groundings & Capacity Constraints

21:00 Chinese New Year Outlook: What to Expect in February

25:00 Aircraft Maintenance & The Aging Freighter Fleet

28:00 IATA's Brendan Sullivan: Top Headwinds & Opportunities for 2026

For freight buyers, this creates both uncertainty and potential negotiating leverage.

In this episode, Mike King speaks with two voices from opposite ends of the shipping spectrum:

James Hookham - Director of the Global Shippers Forum, representing cargo owners worldwide and demanding carriers deliver "solutions, not surcharges"

Robbert van Trooijen - Founder of Inception Partners, former Maersk Regional President across Asia Pacific and Latin America for 15 years

This episode is produced in partnership with Dimerco Express Group, a global 3PL specialising in Asia-Pacific supply chains. If your sourcing or manufacturing runs through Asia, they’re worth a look:
https://www.dimerco.com

KEY INSIGHTS:

✅ Why geopolitics is now the #1 line item on shipper risk lists
✅ How US-China bloc competition forces countries like Indonesia and Panama to choose sides
✅ Suez partial reopening creating port chaos in China and Northern Europe
✅ Historic vessel orderbook (one-third of existing fleet) driving severe overcapacity
✅ "Gap between top 4 carriers and rest widening to uncomfortable size" - consolidation wave predicted
✅ Why Gemini's 90% reliability is great, but will it last and why aren’t other carriers doing better?
✅ How surcharges become carriers' profit protection tool when rates fall
✅ Contract strategy: 60/40 or 70/30 splits recommended, consider index-based deals
✅ Why APM Terminals earns 17% returns while carriers struggle with single digits
✅ Trade deal outcomes (USMCA, US-China, US-EU) will reshape 2026 freight flows

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 - Cold Open: Quote teases from James & Robbert
01:00 - Intro & Sponsor: Dimerco Express Group
02:00 - Guest Introductions: James Hookham & Robbert van Trooijen

ACT 1: GEOPOLITICS & SUPPLY CHAIN VULNERABILITY
03:00 - Is geopolitics the #1 line item on shipper risk lists for 2026?
03:45 - Robbert on "Choke Points" book and economic warfare
04:15 - "The Fractured Age" - Two-bloc world led by US-China
05:00 - Panama's forced choice: Rhetoric vs reality
06:00 - James: Supply chains as targets in great power competition
07:15 - "If you like your job unpredictable... being a freight buyer is the place to be in 2026"
08:00 - WTF acronym: "We got to day three, didn't we Mike?"
09:00 - Overcapacity "might just come to a head in 26"
10:00 - Post-de minimis world: What it means for e-commerce shippers

ACT 2: CONTAINER SHIPPING FUNDAMENTALS
12:45 - Pre-Chinese New Year rate bump: Seasonal or structural?
13:00 - "One third of existing fleet on order" - Historic overcapacity explained
14:00 - Choke points shifting from ocean to landside capacity
15:00 - Port congestion: China, Northern Europe, US infrastructure gaps
16:00 - Chinese port cranes controversy impacting US investments
16:45 - Has reliability actually improved? James' assessment
17:30 - Gemini alliance: Customer service "at the forefront of their thinking"
18:00 - Working capital tied up in inventory: Why reliability matters
19:00 - Gemini reliability: Hub-to-hub vs door-to-door - The crucial distinction
20:00 - "In the upper nineties of door-to-door reliability... that's what allows you to take inventory out"
21:00 - Partnership model: Sharing value creation vs vendor squeeze
22:00 - Why carriers use surcharges: "Complexity sometimes creates an opportunity"
23:00 - The 1.5X problem: "They thought they'd pay X, it comes in at 1.5X"
24:00 - "Shippers are price takers in this market. Always have been."
24:45 - "Where is the pushback by the carrier on the terminal?"
26:00 - "Shippers seen as the soft touch... there's nowhere else to go"
27:00 - "Surcharge of the Week" competition revealed
28:00 - Contract strategy: 60/40 or 70/30 contract-to-spot splits
29:00 - Spreading risk across different alliances
30:00 - Why alliance carriers less likely to blank sailings
31:00 - Index-based contracts: CTS vs Shanghai Freight Index

ADVERT BREAK - 31:30

ACT 3: TRADE POLICY, REGULATION & M&A
32:00 - 2026 as year of trade deal resolutions: USMCA, US-China, US-EU
33:00 - Supreme Court tariff ruling: "White House will just re-legislate"
34:00 - US-China negotiations and rare earth resources
35:00 - Front-loading effect: Stock still being wound down
36:00 - "Check your harmonized tariff code, ignore the tweets"
37:00 - Documentation requirements: The hidden tariff trap
38:00 - M&A outlook: "Not much activity" but conditions changing
38:30 - "Pandemic gave industry cash but not necessarily better ideas"
39:00 - "Gap between top 4 carriers and rest widening to uncomfortable size"
39:30 - Consolidation wave predicted: Smaller carriers must act now
40:00 - APM Terminals 17% ROI: Why carriers investing in ports
41:00 - Post-merger integration: "The secret sauce" challenge
41:30 - "If you pay 10 times EBITDA, you have to deliver that value"

FINAL ACT: GLOBALIZATION & RULES-BASED ORDER
42:00 - Robbert: Still believes in globalization despite rhetoric
42:30 - "60% of global GDP is trade - you can't undo 30 years"
43:00 - James: Rules-based order not dead, but "fraying around the edges"
44:00 - "Can't support 6 billion people growing everything in your backyard"
45:00 - Outro and thanks

RESOURCES MENTIONED: "Choke Points" by Peter Frankopan
"The Fractured Age" by Neal Shearing - https://www.amazon.com/Fractured-Age-Geopolitics-Splinter-Economy/dp/1639366822

ABOUT THE GUESTS:

James Hookham represents cargo owners worldwide through the Global Shippers Forum and advocates for "solutions, not surcharges" from carriers. GSF runs the famous "Surcharge of the Week" competition tracking creative carrier charges.

Robbert van Trooijen spent decades in liner shipping, including 15 years as Maersk Regional President, and now advises clients through Inception Partners on the very market dynamics he once managed from inside.

SUBSCRIBE for freight buying insights, supply chain strategy, and shipping industry analysis from top executives and advocates.

#Geopolitics #ContainerShipping #FreightBuyers #SupplyChain #Logistics #CarrierConsolidation #Suez #FreightProcurement #GlobalTrade #ShippingIndustry #Maritime #OceanFreight #SupplyChainRisk #2026Outlook #FreightStrategy

Bjorn Vang Jensen (EVP Global Head of Ocean at EasySpeed International Logistics) has worn every hat in the freight industry: buyer, forwarder, consultant, and shipping executive. With 38 years of experience including major freight buying roles at electronics and automotive giants, he brings a unique perspective on what's really shaping container markets in 2026.

IN THIS EPISODE WE COVER:

- Venezuela intervention and Greenland threats: What actually impacts freight markets vs. what's just noise
- The 3 big factors shaping freight in 2026: Tariffs, geopolitics, and the Suez Canal return
- Why carriers will drip-feed the Suez reopening (not flood it) — and what that means for Asia-Europe rates
- The 70/30 contract strategy: Why Bjorn's 13-year data analysis shows contract rates beat spot
- Container shipping reliability: Can carriers charge more for it? Should you pay for it?
- China+1 becomes 3+China: The real sourcing trends happening in 2026
- Why geopolitical risk is now "line item #1" in every freight budget (not just a checkbox)

KEY QUOTES:

"For every week you have port problems, it takes a month to dig yourself out."

"70% contract, 30% spot — that's my recommendation for 2026."

"Geopolitical upheaval used to be a checkbox risk. Now it's the #1 bullet point."

ABOUT BJORN VANG JENSEN:
EVP Global Head of Ocean at EasySpeed International Logistics, with previous senior roles as a major freight buyer at global electronics and automotive companies. 38 years in container shipping.

This episode is produced with the support of OntegosCloud — the freight forwarder profitability specialist.

RELATED EPISODE:
We Need to Talk About…Reliability: Container Shipping's Problem Child
https://youtu.be/0B_EsmxkY9Y

Hosted by Mike King, award-winning business journalist specializing in global trade, shipping, and logistics.

https://youtu.be/0B_EsmxkY9Y

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Intro & Guest Introduction
1:00 - Tender Season & What Bjorn's Up To
2:43 - Venezuela & Greenland: Geopolitical Noise vs. Reality
6:57 - The 3 Big Factors Shaping 2026
10:22 - Suez Canal Return Strategy: Chaos or Managed Roll-Out?
14:50 - Carrier Strategy: Capacity, Blanking & Rate Management
18:10 - Container Shipping Reliability: Can You Charge for It?
21:52 - Trans-Pacific Buying Strategy: The 70/30 Rule
23:50 - Asia-Europe Contract Data: Only 2 Windows Where Spot Won
26:00 - Why Relationships Matter in Contract Negotiations
27:00 - Sourcing Trends: China+1 Becomes "3+China"
29:40 - Geopolitical Risk: From Checkbox to Line Item #1
31:00 - Wrap & Final Advice

In this episode, produced with the support of OntegosCloud (https://www.ontegos.cloud/), we break down the latest reliability data from Sea-Intelligence and Xeneta, analyse the widening performance gap between carriers and alliances, and look at how capacity growth, orderbooks, freight rates and potential Suez Canal routing changes could affect service consistency in the months ahead.

Industry experts Nils Roche (Solvens Advisory; ex-CMA CGM, Maersk, PIL) and Kathy Liu (VP Global Sales & Marketing, Dimerco Express Group) share their insights on shipper concerns, possible congestion scenarios, and the risks of renewed market volatility.

In this episode:

• Current global schedule reliability trends
• How much of the improvement is driven by demand versus capacity
• Carrier-by-carrier and alliance reliability performance
• The impact of the Gemini Cooperation (Maersk + Hapag-Lloyd)
• Orderbook growth and what it means for supply/demand
• Red Sea/Suez Canal routing and congestion risks
• How falling rates could trigger blank sailings and reliability deterioration
• What shippers should prepare for in 2026

This is essential viewing for importers, exporters, freight forwarders and supply chain professionals who rely on stable ocean schedules and need clarity on the risks ahead.

#ContainerShipping #OceanFreight #ScheduleReliability #SupplyChain #Logistics #FreightMarket #ShippingIndustry #Maersk #HapagLloyd #SuezCanal

We cover the forces reshaping global trade, why supply chains remain so volatile, and how policy moves out of Washington and Beijing could impact shippers, forwarders, carriers and cargo owners through 2026.

This episode was produced with the support of OntegosCloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialists.

#SupplyChain #Logistics #GlobalTrade #FreightMarket #WSJ

It’s the Freight Buyers’ Club Holiday Special — a festive wrap-up of a year that delivered more plot twists than a Christmas soap marathon. From tariff shocks to China+1 shifts, Red Sea detours, booming Vietnam factories and air cargo refusing to behave “normally”… 2025 kept shippers on their toes and clutching their eggnog.

To make sense of it all, Mike King is joined by a top-tier panel of industry heavyweights:

• Kathy Liu, VP Global Sales & Marketing, Dimerco Express Group
• Nils Roche, Founder, Solvens Advisory (ex PIL-Maersk, CMA CGM)
• Peter Sand, Chief Analyst, Xeneta

Together they break down the winners, losers and big surprises of 2025 — and offer a straight-talking look at what freight buyers must prepare for in 2026. Expect sharp insights, a bit of humour, and just enough holiday spirit to take the edge off another volatile year in global logistics.

In this special we cover:

• Tariffs, Trump and the year’s biggest policy whiplash
• China+1 shifts: what moved, what didn’t and why Vietnam won big
• Air cargo’s strange but spectacular 2025
• Suez, Red Sea and the looming capacity reset
• Carrier behaviour: orderly alliances, chaotic markets
• Contracting for 2026: reliability, risk and when to go short vs long
• Why “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” might be the perfect theme for freight next year

If you're planning your 2026 strategy, pour yourself a holiday drink and plug in — this is your end-of-year sanity check.

Special thanks to Dimerco Express Group for supporting this holiday edition of The Freight Buyers’ Club.

Download Dimerco’s China+1 Logistics Playbook
 Master International Growth

A Legal and Logistical Playbook for Global Expansion Success, with Expert Legal Insight From Addleshaw Goddard

https://dimerco.com/ebooks/global-business-expansion-playbook/

#FreightBuyersClub #2026FreightOutlook #SupplyChain #Logistics #ContainerShipping #SuezCanal #ChinaPlusOne #China1 #Tariffs #AirCargo #VietnamManufacturing #GlobalTrade #FreightRates #Dimerco #ShippingIndustry #SupplyChainStrategy #MaritimeLogistics

In this Freight Buyers Club air cargo special — produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group — Mike King breaks down why the market held up, how shippers and carriers adapted, and what the data really says about the year ahead.

We hear from industry leaders on:
• Why air cargo defied expectations
• The impact of US tariffs and the end of de minimis
• China vs Southeast Asia sourcing shifts
• E-commerce, AI hardware demand and capacity rerouting
• Anchorage and Miami’s record volumes
• The 2026 market outlook: risks, growth drivers and unknowns

Featuring:

Glyn Hughes, Director- General, TIACA

Andrea Nicole Wilson, VP, Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association

Sean Dolan, CEO, Northlink Aviation

Dimitrios “Jimmy” Nares, Section Chief, Cargo Development, Miami International Airport

Brandon Fried, Executive Director, The Airforwarders Association

Jaime Alvarez, Director of Cargo, Copa Airlines

If you want straight-talking analysis on air cargo and global trade, this one’s for you.

Subscribe to Freight Buyers Club for more interviews and explainers.

Reach out to Dimerco Express Group here: https://dimerco.com/

#AirCargo #AirFreight #SupplyChain #Logistics #GlobalTrade #FreightForwarding #EcommerceLogistics #TradePolicy #AviationCargo #CargoAirlines #SupplyChainNews

Schultz explains how Hamburg is managing congestion, the impact of strikes across the Northern Range, and why a potential reopening of the Suez Canal to container traffic could trigger fresh chaos. We also dig into shifting trade flows: Asia booming, the transatlantic lane slumping, and the Baltic region surprising on the upside.

With rail bottlenecks, digitalisation plans, and the uncertainty facing European consumers, Hamburg is preparing for a complex 2026. Schultz lays out what shippers, forwarders, and carriers should expect next.

This episode is sponsored by Ontegos Cloud.

#HamburgPort #ContainerShipping #OceanFreight #SupplyChain #PortCongestion #MegaShips #SuezCanal #ShippingNews

He explains how shifting e-commerce flows, China+1 production, and a new “US+1” consumption trend are reshaping supply chains. We get into freighter tightness, belly shortages, spot-rate behaviour, and why yields look set to hold steady into 2026.

Hughes also gives the inside track on TIACA’s new partnership with a startup incubator, the rise of Middle Eastern hubs, and how regulatory and geopolitical messiness is now baked into global trade.

Plus: why flexibility is air cargo’s secret weapon, which airports to watch, and the one policy change that could transform the industry overnight.

Another straight-talking episode of the Freight Buyers’ Club — sponsored by Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/].

#AirCargo #AirFreight #Logistics #SupplyChain #Freight #TIACA #GlynHughes #EcommerceLogistics #GlobalTrade #FreightBuyersClub #DimercoExpressGroup

⚓ Produced with the kind support of Dimerco Express Group
Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/ERHtDwtarOg

#ContainerShipping #FreightBuyersClub #FreightContracts #FreightRates #ShippingMarket #FreightStrategy #DimercoExpressGroup #SupplyChain #Logistics #TranspacificTrade

Host Mike King has just returned from a fact-finding tour of South Africa to uncover the good, the bad, and the ANC. In this hard-hitting explainer, Mike dives deep into:
How Transnet fell apart under state capture and political cronyism
The catastrophic impact on ports, rail, and exporters
The reforms under new Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips
⚙️ The $7 billion recovery plan — and early signs of genuine progress
How government and industry are finally pulling in the same direction
Why South Africa is now looking East, not West, for trade growth

Featuring insights from South Africa’s leading logistics experts — Peter Besnard, CEO of SAASOA, representing the nation’s ship operators and agents; Jacob van Rensburg, Head of Research and Development at the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF); and Shabnum Dawood, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding South Africa — this episode is essential listening for anyone moving freight in or out of Africa.

️ Presented by Mike King
In partnership with freight forwarding profitability specialists OntegosCloud
Subscribe for straight-talking freight intelligence — without the spin.

Credit: Jacob Zuma by Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp.

#SouthAfrica #Logistics #Transnet #FreightBuyersClub #Shipping #Ports #SupplyChain #AfricaTrade #OntegosCloud #MikeKing #FreightForwarding #Corruption #Ramaphosa

Freight buyers are heading into 2026 facing a container shipping market full of volatility — from emissions uncertainty and patchwork regulation to rate swings and fragile carrier contracts.

In this episode, Mike King gets straight answers from two of the industry’s most experienced voices:

• Mark Chadwick, President of the Global Shippers’ Association, representing some of the world’s biggest cargo owners — from energy and healthcare giants to major manufacturers.
• Chantal McRoberts, Director at Drewry Supply Chain Advisors, who helps global shippers interpret market data and build smarter strategies after years working inside major carriers.

Together, they unpack what’s next for global shipping, how to manage freight risk, and what smart buyers are doing now to secure value, service, and stability for the year ahead.

In this episode:

• How emissions policy deadlock could shape shipping costs and contracts in 2026
• What’s really driving rate swings on Transpacific and Asia–Europe trades
• When to lock in long-term contracts — and when to stay flexible
• The new balance of power between shippers and carriers
• Smart strategies to manage freight risk, surcharges, and service reliability
• What the data says about supply, demand, and rate trends for 2026

If you want to understand the container shipping market outlook for 2026 — and how to plan, contract and negotiate smarter — this episode is for you.

Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/]
More episodes, transcripts, and resources: https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com

CHAPTERS 

00:00 Meet the Guests — Mark Chadwick & Chantal McRoberts 

02:49 IMO MEPC: The Emissions Deadlock 

08:25 Transpacific Market Mayhem 

19:54 Contracting Season — Freight Buyer Strategy 

27:44 Surcharges — The Love–Hate Relationship 

34:05 Global Container Market Analysis 

43:27 Outlook 2026 — Overcapacity, Alliances & Risk 

48.55 Quick-Fire Forecasts 

#ContainerShipping #FreightBuyersClub #ShippingMarket #FreightRates #SupplyChain #Logistics #DimercoExpressGroup #FreightContracts #GlobalTrade #Shippers #MaritimeIndustry #ShippingOutlook2026

Full Description

DHL’s latest Global Connectedness Tracker shows global trade growth at its fastest pace since 2010.
In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, supported by Ontegos Cloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialist, host Mike King speaks with John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, about what’s driving the remarkable rebound in global trade and supply chains in 2025.

They discuss China’s export boom, Africa’s rising influence in international logistics, and why globalisation is far from dead despite tariffs, shifting trade routes, and new supply chain pressures. Pearson explains how DHL is adapting to changing trade lanes, what record trade-lane deviations really mean, and why the world’s buyers and sellers are proving more creative and resilient than ever.

Expect clear insights on:

• The fastest global trade growth in over a decade
• The new trade corridors shaping global logistics
• China’s 26% export surge into Sub-Saharan Africa
• The US retreat from trade vs. global expansion elsewhere
• How DHL is positioning for long-term supply chain growth

The Freight Buyers’ Club — where the people who move the world’s goods talk straight about what’s really happening in global logistics and international trade.

They discuss how DHL is turning innovation into action — applying AI, automation, and digitalisation to make supply chains more resilient, sustainable, and efficient — while navigating the trade and tariff shifts reshaping global freight.

Rainer shares insights on:

• How DHL decides which technologies to pilot and scale
• The impact of robotics and automation on people and performance
• Why “digital by default” is central to DHL’s operations
• How European trade flows are adapting to disruption and nearshoring
• The next wave of technology transforming logistics

️ Hosted by Mike King, The Freight Buyers’ Club
Supported by Ontegos Cloud — the freight forwarder profitability specialist
Recorded at the DHL Innovation Center, Troisdorf, Germany

#FreightBuyersClub #DHL #SupplyChain #Logistics #Trade #Freight #Automation #AIinLogistics #Warehousing #Innovation #LogisticsNews #OntegosCloud

Recorded at Sustainable Logistics LIVE in London, this interview features Mike King, host of The Freight Buyers’ Club, in conversation with John Trenchard, Vice President for Sustainable International Supply Chains at DP World.

They discuss:
• How DP World is making its UK ports among the lowest-carbon in the world
• Practical steps to decarbonise freight and support retailers and shippers
• Real-world emission savings and cost impacts
• Plans to expand these sustainability initiatives globally
• Advice for procurement teams on achieving verified carbon reductions

This interview was produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud. [https://www.ontegos.cloud/]

#DPWorld #SustainableLogistics #SupplyChain #FreightBuyersClub #OntegosCloud #Decarbonisation #GlobalSustainability #Shipping #Ports

This content is produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud. [https://www.ontegos.cloud/]

#DHL #KatjaBusch #Logistics #FreightBuyersClub #AI #Robotics #SupplyChain #Innovation #ontegoscloud

Together they cut through the noise to explain today’s air cargo market outlook:

✈️ Global demand and capacity shifts across major trade lanes

Why air cargo rates are holding up better than many expected

The impact of e-commerce growth, tariffs, and de minimis changes

Which regions and commodities are driving opportunities

How airlines and shippers can pivot for the next peak season

This is essential listening for freight buyers, forwarders, and supply chain professionals who want straight-talking insights into the future of air cargo and air freight.

Episode 53 of the Freight Buyers Club is produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/].

.

In this episode of the Freight Buyers’ Club, recorded at London International Shipping Week and produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud, Mike King speaks with Chris Grieveson, Managing Partner at Wikborg Rein, about the rising threat of container ship fires, the role of misdeclared cargo, and why “cutting corners” on dangerous goods can come back to burn the entire supply chain.

We dive into:

• Why container ship fires are increasing in frequency
• How liability, fraud, and general average affect shippers and forwarders
• What new screening tools and best practices are emerging
• The importance of insurance (and what happens when you don’t have it)

Whether you’re a shipper, forwarder, insurer, or just want to understand the legal and financial fallout from these billion-dollar incidents, this is a must-listen.

Subscribe for more straight-talking insights from the global freight industry.

#Shipping #ContainerFires #FreightForwarding #MaritimeLaw

Key points:

• Ripple effects of US tariff policy on European importers and manufacturers
• Border friction and compliance costs for forwarders
• EU Customs Reform Package and ICS2
• The role of technology and data reuse in trade

#Tariffs #Customs #Europe #Trade #SupplyChain #logistics

• U.S. tariffs, bonds and enforcement
• Europe’s customs reforms and Brexit aftershocks
• Asia’s new trade blocs and China+1 strategies
• The rise of digitalisation and AI in compliance

This is about the future of trade — the risks, the fractures, and the opportunities.

• 2:40 US tariff shocks and CBP under strain

• 6:20 Border friction and Brexit lessons

• 11:20 Industry adaptation — volatility, bonds, compliance

• 18:00 Import strategies, warehousing, front-loading

• 23:00 Enforcement challenges and risk management

• 28:20 Transhipment rules explained

• 32:00 De minimis removal and e-commerce impact

• 38:10 Geopolitics reshaping trade — WTO, RCEP, BRICS

• 47:00 Europe’s role — EU customs reforms and regulation

• 58:20 The digital shift and five-year outlook

Guests:

• Cindy Allen – CEO, Trade Force Multiplier and former Executive Director at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• Stephen Tracey – Joint General Manager, Europe, WiseTech Global
• Greg Nichols – SVP Global Customs Solutions, DHL Global Forwarding

• #GlobalTrade #Customs #Tariffs #Transhipment #Trade #supply chain

In this episode of the Freight Buyers’ Club Podcast, produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud [https://www.ontegos.cloud/], Mike King sits down with Hanna Stelzel, Director of Containers at the Port of Rotterdam Authority, to discuss how Europe’s biggest port is navigating container shipping chaos.

We cover:

• Container alliances, service changes & Red Sea reroutings
• ⏱ Delays, hinterland challenges & inland barge disruptions
• Tariffs, trade shifts & global supply chain volatility
• Rotterdam’s push to be the world’s cleanest, most sustainable port by 2050

Whether you’re a shipper, forwarder, or supply chain professional, this deep-dive reveals how Rotterdam is adapting to constant disruption — and what it means for the future of container logistics.

#PortOfRotterdam #ContainerShipping #SupplyChain #FreightBuyersClub #Logistics #Shipping

If you’re a shipper, freight forwarder, or supply chain leader trying to plan for the months ahead, this interview provides practical insight into what’s really happening in the market.

Full episode available on The Freight Buyers’ Club podcast.

#freightrates, #oceanfreight, #airfreight, #ecommercelogistics, #supplychain, #globaltradetensions , #shippingindustry , #asiatrade , #dimerco , #freightbuyersclub Find out more from Dimerco here: https://dimerco.com/

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/] Mike King speaks with:

• Wolfgang Lehmacher – Independent Supply Chain & Logistics Expert
• Renaud Anjoran – Co-founder of Agilian, manufacturing and quality specialist
• Kathy Liu – VP Global Sales & Marketing, Dimerco Express Group

Together they unpack:

• How Asian supply chains are adapting to tariffs, rules and geopolitical shocks
• The reality of China+1 diversification in 2025
• What freight market volatility means for shippers
• Whether technology and AI can finally deliver true resilience

Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more expert insight into the world of global trade and freight.

#supplychains, #freightmarkets, #asiatrade, #chinaplusone, #globaltrade #logistics #container #shipping

00:00 Intro – Forces reshaping global trade

02:00 Guest introductions – Wolfgang Lehmacher, Renaud Anjoran, Kathy Liu

03:00 Kathy Liu on trade uncertainty and shifting flows to SE Asia

06:00 Wolfgang Lehmacher: How SE Asia is adapting to disruption

08:00 Renaud Anjoran: China+1, India tariffs and diversification risks

11:00 India vs China – strengths, weaknesses and realities

12:30 Customs strategy or risk? Tariff engineering & classification

14:00 New US transshipment rules and rules-of-origin checks

15:00 Kathy Liu: How Dimerco advises clients on compliance

16:00 Wolfgang Lehmacher: Are customs the new choke points?

18:00 From WTO to bilateral deals – fragmentation or new rules?

20:00 China, India and shifting trade alliances

21:00 Freight markets update – falling rates, excess capacity

23:00 Southeast Asia demand vs China slowdown

25:00 End of US de minimis exemption – impact on air cargo

27:00 Beyond fashion: publishing & other sectors hit

28:00 Freight market volatility – strategies from Wolfgang & Renaud

30:00 Decarbonisation: barriers, border taxes & US carve-outs

32:00 Is decarbonisation still a priority for manufacturers?

34:00 Shippers’ perspective on green freight choices

35:00 Looking ahead: Renaud’s advice on supply chain visibility

36:00 Wolfgang Lehmacher: Talent + technology + AI in supply chains

38:00 Is AI finally delivering for global trade resilience?

39:00 Kathy Liu: Preparing for more freight volatility

40:00 Outro and thanks

Host Mike King talks with Ken O’Brien, President of the Gemini Shippers Association, about how one of the largest groups of US importers is navigating contracts, tariffs, and capacity challenges.

Ken explains:

• Why Gemini members leaned on long-term contracts instead of chasing volatile spot rates
• How tariff deadlines and Red Sea diversions shaped procurement strategies
• The lessons learned from COVID about not betting against the US consumer
• What the record 29% container ship orderbook means for the market ahead
• How shippers are planning around tariff truce extensions and peak season

Subscribe for more insights from the front lines of global trade:
https://www.youtube.com/@thefreightbuyersclub2866

https://dimerco.com/

#FreightBuyersClub #ContainerShipping #SupplyChain #Tariffs #OceanFreight #Logistics #ShippingNews #Transpacific #ImportExport #Maritime

In this milestone episode, host Mike King is joined by three heavyweight shipper representatives to discuss how the world’s biggest retailers and technology companies are navigating today’s turbulent trade landscape.

• Ken O’Brien, President of Gemini Shippers Association, reveals how major transpacific freight buyers are handling container contracts and tariff uncertainty.
• Jess Dankert, VP Supply Chain at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), shares how America’s biggest retailers are managing inventory flows, holiday shipping, and front-loading strategies.
• Ed Brzytwa, VP International Trade at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), unpacks the legal and policy battles over tariffs, Section 232, and de minimis trade, plus what potential refunds could mean for supply chains.

Topics covered include:

• How shippers are balancing spot rates vs. long-term contracts in 2025
• The impact of tariffs, transshipment rules, and trade wars on supply chain strategies
• Why retail and tech companies are rethinking their sourcing footprint
• The future of global container shipping supply and demand

Whether you’re a BCO, forwarder, or just trying to make sense of the tariff-fuelled chaos in global trade, this episode offers rare insights directly from the people buying freight at scale.

#FreightBuyersClub #OceanFreight #AirCargo #ContainerShipping #Tariffs #TradePolicy #SupplyChain #EcommerceLogistics #RetailSupplyChain #TechSupplyChain #TranspacificTrade #GlobalTrade #Logistics

Guests:

• Brandon Fried – Executive Director, Airforwarders Association
• Neel Jones Shah – Senior Advisor, The Boston Consulting Group & MD at INOA Capital (former EVP at Flexport and Chief Cargo Officer at Delta Air Lines)
• Damian Brett – Editor, Air Cargo News

Discussion highlights:

• What ending de minimis means for cross-border e-commerce flows
• How integrators like DHL, FedEx and UPS are adapting
• Which trade lanes could benefit from shifting volumes
• Deep dive on key air cargo markets including the transatlantic, India, Latin America and Southeast Asia
• The role of Latin America as Chinese e-commerce pivots away from the U.S.
• New tariffs and their impact on high-value, time-sensitive air cargo
• Will peak season 2025 be muted – or surprise to the upside?

Despite being a Trump supporter, Susan shares her growing frustration with trade policy, explains why SMEs like hers weren’t the intended target, and unveils her own profit-sharing tax credit proposal as a way to support American workers and sustain import-reliant businesses.

This is a powerful first-hand account of how logistics, supply chains, and international trade policy collide – and what one business owner is doing to push for change.

Originally featured in Episode 48 of The Freight Buyers’ Club.
️ Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. https://dimerco.com/

#Tariffs #Trump2025 #USImports #TradePolicy #SupplyChain #HomeDecorBusiness #ShippingCosts #FreightBuyersClub #LogisticsPodcast #ContainerShipping #Kalalou #MississippiBusiness #PortLogistics #SmallBusinessTariffs #USChinaTrade #Dimerco #ImportExport #USManufacturing #SupplyChainDisruption #FreightPodcast #SMElogistics

We cover container shipping rate chaos, what exactly TACO means, and a bold SME shipper proposal to refund tariffs for profit-sharing companies.

️ Featured Guests:
● Torsten Hartmann, Senior Director of Trade Management – Transpacific, Hapag-Lloyd
● Edwin Lopez, Managing Editor, Supply Chain Dive (Industry Dive)
● Susan Williams, Founder, Kalalou Inc.

Topics include:
● Transpacific freight rate swings post-tariff
● SME importers facing million-dollar tariff bills
● A $200B US rail merger in the works
● Strategic carrier responses from Hapag-Lloyd
● US policy uncertainty and its impact on global supply chains

Watch more episodes at: https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefreightbuyersclub2866

• 00:00 - Intro: Welcome to the Freight Buyers Club, introduction to the podcast and sponsor Dimerco Express Group
• 00:50 - Mike King’s Introduction: Overview of the episode, discussing US trade policy, container chaos, and upcoming interviews
• 01:50 - Context on US Trade Policy: Discussion of Liberation Day, tariffs, and their impact on trade from Asia to the US
• 03:50 - Transpacific Trade Rollercoaster: Analysis of container shipping market trends since Liberation Day
• 04:50 - Interview with Torsten Hartmann (Hapag-Lloyd): Senior Director of Trade Management – Transpacific discusses regulatory chaos and Gemini network
• 06:00 - Gemini Network Success: Torsten Hartmann explains the 90.9% reliability and operational discipline
• 07:00 - Customer Feedback and Contracts: Impact of reliability on customers and contracting amidst tariff volatility
• 08:00 - Peak Season and Demand: Discussion on front-loading cargo and lower demand scenarios
• 09:50 - Capacity Management: Hapag-Lloyd’s strategy of using smaller ships instead of blank sailings
• 10:50 - Port Congestion Update: Current state of Asian and North American ports
• 11:50 - 2026 Outlook: Torsten Hartmann’s thoughts on future demand and US economy concerns
• 12:00 - Sponsor Message: Dimerco Express Group advertisement
• 13:00 - Interview with Edwin Lopez (Supply Chain Dive): Managing Editor discusses covering tariff chaos
• 14:10 - Real-World Impact on Supply Chains: Edwin Lopez on tariffs, compliance costs, and volatility
• 16:10 - Front-Loading and Domestic Transport: Effects of import surges on trucking and warehousing
• 18:00 - One Big Beautiful Act: Key freight impacts from the July 4th legislation
• 19:50 - De Minimis Exemption Changes: Implications for e-tailers and supply chains by 2027
• 21:50 - Domestic Freight Market: Trucking, warehousing, and intermodal sector challenges
• 23:40 - Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern Merger: Discussion on potential rail consolidation
• 25:50 - Interview with Susan Williams (Kalalou Inc.): Founder and SME importer shares tariff impact on her business
• 27:40 - Tariff Costs for Kalalou Inc.: Susan Williams details $435,000 in 2024 and $445,000 in 2025 tariffs
• 29:10 - Susan’s Frustration as a Trump Supporter: Balancing support for Trump with tariff challenges
• 30:50 - Proposed Solution: Employee Profit Share Tax Credit to offset tariffs
• 33:50 - Economic Benefits of the Plan: Susan Williams explains the win-win for companies, employees, and the economy
• 35:40 - Advocacy Efforts: Susan Williams’ outreach to industry leaders, journalists, and Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
• 37:50 - Call to Action: How others can support Susan Williams’ tariff relief plan
• 38:50 - Outro: Mike wraps up, thanks guests (Torsten Hartmann, Edwin Lopez, Susan Williams), and credits production team and Dimerco Express Group

Joined by:

• John Pearson, CEO, DHL Express
• Kathy Liu, VP Global Sales & Marketing, Dimerco Express Group
• Mark Chadwick, President, Global Shippers Association
• David King, Board Member, The Airforwarders Association

This episode covers the regulatory changes, their impact on capacity, pricing, and logistics strategy – and what freight buyers need to know to stay agile.

Supported by MSC Air Cargo – enabling independent journalism in freight.

#DeMinimis #AirCargo #FreightBuyersClub #EcommerceLogistics #TradePolicy #SupplyChain #LogisticsNews #AirFreight #FreightForwarding #GlobalTrade #DHL #MSC #Dimerco

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, host Mike King speaks to Amadou Diallo, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding for the Middle East and Africa, inside DHL’s massive new EV logistics facility in Dubai.

Diallo reveals how DHL has responded to the Red Sea shipping crisis, is investing across the region, and has turned disruption into competitive advantage.

We cover:

• DHL’s rerouting strategy around the Red Sea and Gulf tensions
• Growth opportunities across Africa and the GCC
• Challenges with customs regulations and talent acquisition
• The role of logistics in driving regional peace and economic growth

Subscribe for more expert interviews from the world of global logistics and supply chain.

#DHL #logistics #redseacrisis #supplychaindisruptions #freightbuyersclub #ShippingNews #shipping #containershipping #globaltrade #AmadouDiallo #DHLForwarding #freightforwarding #aircargo

Standing on-site, Pearson unpacks DHL’s €500 million investment across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, explains why he remains bullish on global trade despite growing protectionism, and dives into the e-commerce boom and the fallout from de minimis regulation changes in the U.S.

Key talking points:
DHL’s €500M strategic play in the Gulf
The real state of global trade amid U.S. retreat
️ How platforms like Temu and Shein are reshaping logistics
Why new de minimis rules are hitting China–US flows
DHL’s long-term view on infrastructure and capacity in MENA

Subscribe to Freight Buyers’ Club for insider interviews from the front lines of global supply chains.
Filmed standing at a major DHL major Dubai logistics hub

#DHL #Logistics #FreightBuyersClub #MikeKing #JohnPearson #GlobalTrade #DeMinimis #Ecommerce #UAE #SaudiArabia #SupplyChain

Discover how freight buyers can strategically manage sourcing decisions, balance air and ocean freight, and adopt nearshoring trends to mitigate risks. Andrea and Vivian also explore how sustainability and ESG goals intersect with today’s fast-moving freight market.

Key topics include:

• Navigating US tariffs and their impact on freight routing and sourcing
• Nearshoring strategies in Asia Pacific and the Americas
• Optimizing air and ocean freight amid market volatility
• Integrating ESG and sustainability into supply chain resilience
• Practical tactics for flexible contracts, inventory, and risk management
• JAS Worldwide’s growth and investment plans in key markets

Whether you’re a logistics leader or freight buyer, this episode offers actionable strategies to stay agile and competitive in uncertain times.

Subscribe and follow The Freight Buyers Club for the latest freight market insights and expert interviews.

https://www.youtube.com/@thefreightbuyersclub2866

https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/

Port congestion details cited in this podcast can be found here: https://www.linerlytica.com/

#FreightStrategies #SupplyChain2025 #LogisticsPodcast #Nearshoring #Sustainability #ESG #FreightBuying #JASWorldwide #SupplyChainResilience #Tariffs #LogisticsManagement

In less than 15 minutes, we explore the key themes shaping global freight markets — including volatile rates, emerging risks, air cargo consolidation, and automation — all through the lens of top industry voices and companies.

Featured Thought Leaders & Companies:

Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO, Hapag-Lloyd

David Shepherd, CEO, IAG Cargo

Lars Karlsson, Global Head of Trade and Customs Consulting, A.P. Møller-Maersk and former Director of the World Customs Organization (WCO)

Jan Tiedemann, Shipping Analyst at Alphaliner

Sean Dolan, CEO, NorthLink Aviation

Also featuring stories and insight from Qatar Airways Cargo, MASkargo, Xeneta, Drewry, Port of Rotterdam

Key Topics Covered:

Container Shipping: Tariff shocks, rerouting around the Red Sea, and Gemini Cooperation updates
✈️ Air Freight: The IAG-Qatar-MASkargo alliance and what it means for shippers
Robotics & Innovation: What we saw on the floor in Munich (and yes—robot dogs made an appearance)
Trade Policy: How U.S. tariffs, ESG rules, and global politics are rewriting the freight playbook
Market Outlook: Latest data on spot rate trends from Xeneta and Drewry, plus congestion updates from Europe

Whether you're a shipper, forwarder, or just trying to make sense of chaotic markets — this is your strategic briefing on what’s next.

Listen on all major podcast platforms
Watch the full video on YouTube

Supported by: Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/]
Presented by: Mike King
Produced by: The Freight Buyers’ Club

#freight #logistics #shipping #aircargo #supplychain #transportlogistic #munich2025 #robots #globaltrade #tariffs #freightbuyersclub

Lars explains why customs is now central to supply chain strategy, how to handle tariffs and ESG-related compliance risks, and why owning your data is essential. He also shares insights on Maersk’s approach to trade disruption, and how SMEs can mitigate risk through proactive customs management.

#Maersk, #LarsKarlsson, #CustomsStrategy, #TradeCompliance, #Tariffs2025, #SupplyChainRisk, #GlobalTrade, #Logistics2025, #FreightBuyersClub, #WCO, #InternationalTrade, #CustomsConsulting, #ESGCompliance, #TradePolicy, #Transportlogistic

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, recorded at ‘transport logistic’ in Munich, Jan Tiedemann, Senior Shipping Analyst at Alphaliner, breaks down the dramatic growth in the global container fleet, the implications of extended order books, and the impact of shifting shipbuilding trends in China, Korea, and the U.S.

We also explore:

• How carriers are managing supply vs. demand
• Why short-term policy shifts complicate long-term shipbuilding strategy
• Whether U.S. ambitions to revive commercial shipbuilding are realistic

️ Hosted by Mike King
From The Freight Buyers’ Club
Sponsored by Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/]

#ContainerShipping #Alphaliner #JanTiedemann #FreightBuyersClub #ShippingNews #MaritimeLogistics #SupplyChain #TransportLogistic #ShippingIndustry #Shipbuilding

Recorded at Air Cargo Europe in Munich on the day of the announcement, Shepherd breaks down what could become the most powerful alliance in air freight history — offering global reach, truly integrated operations, and a single customer experience across three major carriers.

✈️ What you’ll learn:

• How the Global Cargo Joint Business will work
• What seamless operations mean for shippers & forwarders
• The Q4 2025 rollout plan
• Avios loyalty points for cargo customers
• The humanitarian angle: 1,000 tonnes of free freight for the World Food Programme

Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. [https://dimerco.com/]
#GlobalCargoJointBusiness #IAGCargo #DavidShepherd #QatarCargo #MASkargo #FreightBuyersClub #AirCargo #Logistics #SupplyChain

In this episode, Oliver Gritz, CEO of Ontegos Cloud and former CFO at DHL Express, breaks down why complexity is a freight forwarder's greatest opportunity. He shares how real-time business steering, high-precision billing, and operational data mastery can transform chaos into profit — fast.

Host Mike King and Gritz also dive into:

• Why legacy systems and mindsets are holding freight back
• What Enlightenment philosophy has to do with frontline logistics
• How top performers unlock up to 50% return on capital
• Why "nobody got fired for hiring McKinsey" is killing innovation

For freight leaders chasing transformation (not buzzwords), this one's a must-listen.

#FreightForwarding #LogisticsInnovation #SupplyChainManagement #DigitalTransformation #RealTimeData #BusinessSteering #CashFlowOptimization #BillingEfficiency #OntegosCloud #OliverGritz

We dive deep into how freight buyers can navigate shifting trade policies, build resilient supply chains, and leverage Dimerco’s extensive Asia-Pacific network and technology to stay ahead. Jeffrey also opens up about his leadership approach in managing teams across diverse cultures during times of global uncertainty.

Whether you’re in supply chain management, freight forwarding, or procurement, this episode offers a CEO’s practical guide to thriving in today’s complex trade environment.

Sponsored by Ontegos Cloud [https://www.ontegos.cloud/]

Topics covered:

• China+1 and emerging sourcing regions
• What the US-China tariff truce means for freight buyers
• Nearshoring trends in Latin America
• Dimerco Express Group’s tech-driven logistics solutions
• Leadership insights from Jeffrey Shih’s 30-year career

Guest: Jeffrey Shih, CEO, Dimerco Express Group

#logistics, #supplychain, #freight, #shipping, #trade, #globaltrade, #logisticsmanagement, #freightforwarding #freightbuyersclub #dimerco #ontegoscloud

Designed for C-suite decision-makers and logistics professionals, this explainer breaks down:

• What the new US–China “tariff truce” actually means
• The impact of a 90-day window on transpacific trade volumes and rates – is an early peak season brewing?
• Strategic insights from leaders at the Port of Long Beach, Freightos, and the Global Shippers Association
• SME survival tactics: Logistics veteran John McCauley on stock strategies, FX hedges, and upstream supplier moves
• How Red Sea risk, Suez uncertainty, and global overcapacity could whipsaw container rates

️ Produced with support from Dimerco Express Group. [https://dimerco.com/]

Guests

Mark Chadwick, President, Global Shippers Association

Zvi Schreiber, CEO, Freightos

Dr Noel Hacegaba, COO, Port of Long Beach

John McCauley, BCO Consultant/Former VP Transportation & Logistics, Cargill

Links:

Keith Schwatz linkedin post: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7328539638933897216/

#SupplyChainLeadership, #ExecutiveLogistics, #GlobalTradeStrategy, #ShippingInnovation, #CLevelInsights, #TradePolicyImpact, #containermarket , #MaritimeStrategy, #freightmanagement , #freightbuyersclub #shipping #tariffwars #freight #containershipping #supplychain #supplychainmanagement

Mark unpacks what this means for global supply chains, peak season prep, and freight buying strategy. From the possibility of rising spot rates to contract survival tactics and the risk of further policy shocks, this conversation is essential listening for anyone who moves cargo, buys freight, or needs to understand where the market is headed.

Container chaos, political whiplash, and a whole lot of volume. Buckle up.

#SupplyChain #GlobalTrade #Logistics #Shipping #FreightForwarding #OceanFreight #TradePolicy #FreightMarket #ShippingNews #ContainerShipping #LogisticsPodcast #ImportExport #FreightStrategy #ShippingIndustry #FreightBuyersClub

With blank sailings still biting and cargo volumes recently in freefall, Dr. Hacegaba explains why optimism is returning — and how the port is preparing for a possible early peak season driven by shippers scrambling to front-load goods.

Expect insight on:

• The impact of China accounting for 60% of Long Beach’s volumes
• How close the port came to a 30% YOY drop
• The trickle-down effect on dock workers, truckers, and the local economy
• Whether the supply chain is finally ready for a no-drama surge

A sharp, inside look at what the US-China détente could mean for global logistics.

Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. [https://dimerco.com/]

Big thanks to Dimerco Express Group for supporting independent journalism.

https://dimerco.com/

#Shipping #Logistics #SupplyChain #FreightRates #GlobalTrade #Tariffs #FreightBuyersClub #OceanFreight #USChinaRelations #IndustryInsights

In this episode, host Mike King is joined by John McCauley, BCO consultant, JOC columnist, and former VP of Transportation & Logistics at Cargill, to break down the immediate effects of the US-China tariff truce and what it means for the future of trade.

What we cover:
✔️ The immediate impact of the US–China tariff de-escalation on supply chains
✔️ Why Chinese e-commerce firms are not in the clear
✔️ The strategic shift US importers may face post-truce
✔️ How to manage uncertainty in global sourcing and logistics
✔️ The risks to global trade growth amid inflation and stagflation

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone involved in logistics, global trade, or e-commerce, as we unpack the next steps in this fast-evolving geopolitical story.

Sponsored by Dimerco Express Group, empowering businesses to stay flexible and resilient in the face of trade disruptions. [https://dimerco.com/]

Join the conversation! Let us know your thoughts on the US-China tariff truce in the comments. How will it impact your business and the wider supply chain?

Subscribe for more insights on trade, logistics, and supply chain management from the Freight Buyers' Club Podcast.

Website: https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/

Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-freight-buyers-club/id1668766055

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1mjDlZfKPFAnZwZeTNsiej?si=32a8c867f28845ea

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thefreightbuyersclub2866

#USChina #Tariffs #SupplyChain #FreightBuyersClub #Geopolitics #Logistics #GlobalTrade #Ecommerce #Podcast

We also explore the bigger picture: the ongoing trade disruptions, their impact on container shipping, and what a comprehensive, long-term U.S. shipbuilding strategy might look like. Plus, what the historic IMO emissions deal really means for freight buyers — and why global rules beat a patchwork of regional ones.

This episode was produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud [https://www.ontegos.cloud/]

Topics covered:

• U.S. policy on shipbuilding and China
  • Why new port fees may harm U.S. interests
  • The surprise hit to vehicle carriers
  • Supply chain impacts of geopolitical instability
  • Green fuel rules from 2028 & the cost for shippers
  • What a real U.S. maritime industrial strategy could look like
  • What’s next from the WSC in Washington and at the IMO

As referenced in the discussion. This is Mike’s Explainer on the new IMO rules:

New IMO GHG Emissions Deal = Higher Shipping Costs? | Freight Buyers’ Club Explainer

 https://youtu.be/yT3wHc1H9FQ

We unpack the political, economic, and strategic moves shaping the future of US shipping — and what they mean for freight buyers, port operators, and the global supply chain. From proposed port fees on Chinese-built vessels to international shipyard collaboration, this conversation cuts through the noise with straight talk from two of the smartest minds in maritime.

What’s driving the US pivot back to shipbuilding?
Could new tariffs and policies hit freight buyers hardest?
How are foreign carriers responding behind the scenes?

Featuring:

John McCown, Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Center for Maritime Security

Sal Mercogliano, Maritime Professor and Host, ‘What’s Going On With Shipping’

This is an extended clip from EP4o of The Freight Buyers’ Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. [https://dimerco.com/]

If you're in logistics, shipping, supply chain strategy, or C-suite decision-making, this is essential listening.

KEY TOPICS:

• US maritime policy changes under Biden and Trump
• Freight buyer impact of new China port tariffs
• The CMA CGM–White House deal and its fallout
• How alliances are shifting in response
• Strategic implications for transshipment and port calls

In Part One: Tactical Insights for Shippers & Importers
We’re joined by:
➡️ Cindy Allen, CEO of Trade Force Multiplier & former CBP/FedEx exec
➡️ Peter Sand, Chief Analyst at Xeneta

Topics covered:
✔️ New U.S. tariffs on Chinese imports
✔️ De minimis changes (under $800 rules)
✔️ SME survival strategies amid tariff chaos
✔️ How shipping companies are adapting
✔️ What this means for the Transpac contract season

⚓ In Part Two: The Strategy Behind the Chaos (from 35.00)
We talk to:
➡️ John McCown, maritime veteran, author & former liner exec
➡️ Sal Mercogliano, maritime historian & creator of What’s Going on With Shipping

We dig into:
✔️ The White House plan to rebuild U.S. maritime dominance
✔️ Controversial port fees on Chinese-built vessels
✔️ Shipbuilding policy & Jones Act barriers
✔️ America’s maritime labour crisis
✔️ U.S. rejection of IMO emissions rules
✔️ Section 301 investigations & chokepoint strategy

LINKS & RESOURCES:

Ep. 39 with NRF’s Jon Gold: #39 The White House Kid: Tariff On, Tariff Off https://youtu.be/aIOrTc_v3oY

: Tariffs On, Tariffs Off? Jon Gold (NRF) Explains Retail Supply Chain Chaos https://youtu.be/mHLNTSxmPDA

Executive Order: Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/04/restoring-americas-maritime-dominance/

What do YOU think?
Will these new policies protect American shipping — or choke it? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

️ Listen to Freight Buyers’ Club wherever you get your podcasts.
Subscribe for weekly deep dives into global trade & shipping.
Hit the YouTube bell so you don’t miss what’s next.

Episode in more detail:

00:00 Introduction to the Freight Buyers Club

01:37 Introduction to Today's Two-Part Episode

02:11 Cindy Allen's Background and Expertise

02:35 Discussion on US Tariffs and Trade Policies

03:58 Peter Sand's Analysis on Container Markets

11:04 Impact of Tariffs on US Businesses

19:48 Challenges Faced by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

23:31 Changes in De Minimis Exemptions

28:23 Global Container Shipping Market Trends and US Port Fees

Part 2 (35.00)

36.05 Trump’s Maritime Policies – Pros & Cons

41:53 Executive Order and Maritime Prosperity Zones

42:16 Political Dynamics in US Shipping Policy

43:00 International Collaboration in Shipbuilding

45:09 Chinese Built Ships and US Ports Fees

45:58 US Trade Representative's Revised Plan

47:10 Industry Reactions to New Shipping Fees

55:31 Challenges in US Shipbuilding and Seafarer Pool

01:04:25 US Rejection of IMO Emissions Rules

01:06:12 Federal Maritime Commission's Role and Future

In this episode, host Mike King digs into the chaos surrounding U.S. trade policy, as shippers, retailers, and forwarders scramble to make sense of the White House’s shifting stance on China, exemptions, and trade deals. With tariffs appearing and disappearing overnight, the cost of global sourcing and international supply chains has never been murkier.

Joining Mike to break it down:

• Jon Gold, VP of Supply Chain and Customs Policy, National Retail Federation
• Brandon Fried, Executive Director, The Airforwarders Association

• Key topics include:
  ✅ China tariffs and trade war updates
• ✅What impact the confusion is having on container shipping
  ✅S. import and export uncertainty
  ✅ Retailers’ response to supply chain disruption
  ✅ Impact of ending de minimis on air cargo
  ✅ Why electronics are exempt—but textiles aren’t
  ✅ The 90-day tariff pause (and what it doesn’t cover)
  ✅ Can reshoring really work for U.S. manufacturing?
• This is essential listening for logistics professionals, freight forwarders, importers, exporters, and anyone watching the U.S.–China trade relationship.

Subscribe for more expert insights into freight, trade, and supply chain strategy.
Also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms.

Supported by: Ontegos Cloud [https://www.ontegos.cloud/]

From navigating the new US tariff regime to understanding China's automation advantage, Aditi shares how major shippers are rethinking resilience, rerouting freight, and managing geopolitical uncertainty.

She explains how demand patterns are shifting, where DHL is investing for growth, and why automation—not cheap labour—is now China's competitive edge.

They also discuss front-loading strategies by ocean and air, transpacific volume jitters, and why multi-shoring—not just China Plus One —is here to stay.

This is a sharp, insider look at the freight world’s most strategic market—what’s changing, what’s staying, and what’s next.

This episode was produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud (https://www.ontegos.cloud/).

This episode was produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud (https://www.ontegos.cloud/).

Note: Mike references his YouTube Trump tariff explainer in this podcast. This can be found here: https://youtu.be/cSuHi6BB4mg?si=eT_o_LNc3-UrhDOh

Title: TRUMP’S TRADE WAR EXPLAINED: Shipping & Logistics

#logistics #supplychain #freight #transportation #shipping #cargo #supplychainmanagement #logisticsmanagement #freightforwarding #tradewar #tariffs

This is an edited version of a longer interview with Cindy in EP37.

Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group.  Learn more at dimerco.com.

In Part 1, host Mike King is joined by Greg Knowler (Senior Editor-Europe, Journal of Commerce) and Cindy Allen (CEO & Managing Director, Trade Force Multiplier) to analyse:

• Tariff Day or Liberation Day? What to expect from Trump’s April 2 tariff hikes and why they could be a game-changer for global trade.
• De minimis chaos and e-commerce disruption – How the failed rollout of new U.S. import rules in February created market turmoil, and whether regulators are ready this time.
• Container shipping market outlook – With the Red Sea crisis ongoing and rates fluctuating, what’s driving the latest spot rate trends?
• Trans-Atlantic frontloading and trade retaliation – How businesses are adapting to rising uncertainty, and why U.S.-Europe trade flows are shifting.
• U.S. Customs and policy implementation – Insights from Cindy Allen’s time at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on how government agencies enforce trade policy.
• Freight procurement strategy – How BCOs can navigate unpredictable tariffs, shifting shipping costs, and regulatory uncertainty.

In Part 2, Mike sits down with Robert Van de Weg (CEO, ‘mas’ cargo airline) for an exclusive discussion on the air cargo market, including:

• The freighter and air cargo outlook for 2025 – Will demand and rates continue to soften, or are new disruptions ahead?
• How de minimis and tariff changes are impacting air cargo flows – What shippers and airlines must prepare for.
• Navigating a volatile freight market – Lessons from Robert’s leadership experience at KLM Cargo, Cargolux, Atlas Air, and ECS Group.
• Opportunities and risks for freighter operators in 2025 – How ‘mas’ is planning its fleet expansion amid uncertainty.
• The future of air cargo – What shippers, forwarders, and airlines must do to stay ahead in an unpredictable market.

Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. Learn more at dimerco.com.

Featuring

Cindy Allen, CEO and Managing Director, Trade Force Multiplier

Robert Van De Weg, CEO, ‘mas’ cargo airline

Greg Knowler, Senior Editor-Europe, Journal of Commerce

Mike King, Host and Producer, The Freight Buyers’ Club

Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group.  Learn more at dimerco.com.

Episode in more detail

Part 1 – Greg Knowler and Cindy Allen with Mike King

Chaos at London Heathrow airport (3.28)

Container shipping market outlook and disruptions (6.19)

Cindy Allen: U.S. tariffs, implications and confusion over duties (9.09)

Tariff retaliation vs U.S. (16.25)

Explained: U.S. de minimis regulations and implementation options (18.48)

Is the Trump administration working with CBP and other agencies (26.16)

Post-de minimis, who applies and collects duties? (29.08)

301 hearing and taxing U.S. port calls (33.22)

Liberation Day? Tariff Day? What to expect on 2 April (36.42)

Trans-Atlantic frontloading (39.46)

Global air cargo rates outlook and de minimis impact (40.40)

A new era for trade and advice: Keep Calm And Carry On (44.33)

Part 2 Mike King interviews Robert van de Weg, CEO of Mexican freight operator ‘mas’ (50.46)

Operations, fleet expansion, and ambitions in Robert’s new role (51.25)

The freighter and air cargo outlook in 2025 (56.44)

Tariff wars (59.39)

Succeeding in an age of chaos (1.01.29)

Lessons from KLM Cargo (1.04.14)

Leadership (1.06.55)

What can air cargo do better? (1.08.26)

Crystal ball and a people’s world (1.11.22)

They dive into the evolving liner alliance structures, exploring how MSC’s independent strategy, ONE’s excellence, and Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s Gemini Cooperation are reshaping service offerings. Stephanie also unpacks the pressure mounting on small and mid-sized shippers and forwarders, explaining why the days of smaller players securing rates comparable to BCOs may be over—and what SMEs must do to stay competitive.

The conversation moves to the outlook for transpacific freight negotiations, examining the impact of Red Sea disruptions, market softening, and spot rate volatility. With tariff uncertainty ever present, Stephanie provides crucial insights into how forwarders and importers should structure their contracts to balance MQCs, visibility, and spot market flexibility.

As policy changes threaten to drive up shipping costs, the discussion turns to President Trump’s US shipbuilding push, the controversial $1.5M per-port call fee set to be imposed on Chinese ships, and the geopolitical implications of China’s dominance in vessel construction.

More specifically, can the US realistically rebuild its maritime and manufacturing sectors, or will these policies backfire on American shippers and consumers?

Rounding off the episode, Stephanie and Mike explore the role of technology in driving efficiency across the supply chain, from digitalization to AI-driven logistics solutions. Tune in for a fast-paced, insight-packed discussion on what lies ahead for ocean freight buyers in 2025.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Takeaways from TPM25: What’s changing in container shipping?
• Carrier strategies: MSC, Maersk-Hapag, ONE’s primacy and the future of alliances
• The growing divide between large BCOs and SME freight buyers
• Transpacific rate negotiations: What importers need to know
• Tariff uncertainty and how forwarders are managing the risk
• US shipbuilding ambitions: Reality check or political posturing?
• How tech and AI are reshaping logistics and freight procurement

This episode is sponsored by Ontegos Cloud. Learn more at Ontegos Cloud.

Listen now on all major podcast platforms, YouTube, and http://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com.

Follow The Freight Buyers’ Club and Mike King on LinkedIn for more insights and industry updates!

Sponsored by Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/], this episode provides business leaders, economists, and trade professionals with crucial perspectives on the evolving global trade environment. Don't miss this expert analysis that goes beyond headlines to explore the nuanced reality of international commerce.

They also dive into tariff wars, the container shipping outlook, Suez, and potential US port fees for container lines.

Key Highlights:

Exclusive insights into the massive MSC/BlackRock deal involving Hutchison Ports

Deep dive into the latest Trump administration trade policies and tariffs

Unpacking the potential impacts on transatlantic and global trade

Expert perspectives on shipping uncertainty, port operations, and future market challenges

Timestamps:

0:00 - MSC/Blackrock Hutchison Ports Deal

3:00 - New Tariffs Landscape

5:00 - Trade Uncertainty and Market Volatility

7:00 - Peak Season and Shipping Dynamics

9:00 - Potential US Port Fees and Shipping Implications

Recorded live at #TPM25 in Long Beach on March 4th, this episode provides critical insights for anyone involved in global logistics, shipping, and international trade. Big thanks to Dimerco Express Group for supporting this episode of  @thefreightbuyersclub2866 

https://dimerco.com/

www.thefreightbuyersclub.com

Featuring Lars Jensen, Maritime Expert and CEO of Vespucci Maritime

Host: Mike King

Join host Mike King with two industry powerhouses:

• Bronson Hsieh, former Chairman of Evergreen and Yang Ming Shipping, reveals how smaller carriers can outperform industry giants and shares his outlook on shipping profitability amid market turbulence
• Kathy Liu, VP of Global Sales & Marketing at Dimerco Express Group, unpacks the air freight implications of U.S. policy changes and provides strategic insights for companies eyeing Vietnam as their next manufacturing hub

As the industry prepares for TPM25 in Long Beach in early March, we explore pressing questions about carrier contract negotiations, emerging Asian manufacturing alternatives, and innovative logistics solutions in Southeast Asia.

Discover how leading companies are adapting their e-commerce and container shipping strategies to navigate this new era of global trade.

Presented in partnership with Dimerco Express Group. Learn more at dimerco.com

In this standalone interview from EP34 of the The Freight Buyers' Club (https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/), produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King speaks with maritime law expert Lauren Beagen, ‘The Maritime Professor’, about the top five regulatory and policy issues that could impact freight buyers in 2025:

• Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) Leadership & Powers – With Louis E. Sola as the new FMC Chair, what changes should shippers expect? Will the Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA) remain intact?
• Detention & Demurrage Policy – Ongoing legal battles over pandemic-era charges could reshape D&D regulations.
• Panama & U.S. Policy – The FMC’s role in addressing Chinese influence, corruption, and water level issues at the Panama Canal.
• Container Shipping Alliances & MQCs – How the FMC is scrutinizing carrier agreements and minimum quantity commitments (MQCs) in contracts.
• The SHIPS Act & National Security – U.S. flagged fleet expansion, supply chain security, and scrutiny of Chinese shipping dominance.

Plus, shipbuilding initiatives & eBLs!

Host Mike King speaks with industry veterans Jon Monroe of Jon Monroe Consulting, Mark Szakonyi from Journal of Commerce, and maritime law expert Lauren Beagen to unpack these market dynamics and explore how regulatory changes at the Federal Maritime Commission could impact shipping contracts and detention and demurrage policies.

Guests

Mark Szakonyi, executive editor, Journal of Commerce

Jon Monroe, founder, Jon Monroe Consulting

Lauren Beagen, maritime lawyer and host of ‘By Land and By Sea Podcast’

From navigating tariff wars to embracing what Drejer calls our new state of "permacrisis," the conversation offers unique insights into how global trade has become more resilient amid constant disruption. Drejer shares SGL's distinctive approach to growth and technology, explaining why the company puts people before automation and "customer obsession" ahead of "competition obsession”.

The discussion covers everything from the Red Sea crisis and changing carrier alliances to why logistics has finally "moved into the boardroom" post-COVID. Drejer also offers a refreshingly optimistic take on the future, arguing for a balance between technological advancement and human expertise, while explaining why the industry must adapt to attract and retain younger talent.

https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/

Brought to you by Ontegos Cloud (https://www.ontegos.cloud).

Guest

Neel Jones Shah, former senior executive at Flexport, Delta Airlines and United Cargo. 

Episode in more detail:

Highlights from a fascinating career (1.26)

The evolution of freight buyers (3.49)

Flexport: achievements and mishaps (5.34)

Why is the air forwarding supply chain digital-resistant? (9.13)

Trump’s tariffs will hit e-commerce hard—here’s how (15.00)

Air freight supply vs demand (21.28)

Does tariff uncertainty discourage diversification? (23.00)

Geopolitical risks in 2025 (25.00)

Is a bearish storm looming for air cargo? (28.15)

Winners and losers (31.16)

Why is air cargo so slow? (33.51)

How to make supply chains better for BCOs (36.17)

He also shares actionable advice for shippers: from negotiating freight contracts amid market volatility, to preparing for potential impacts of new tariffs and alliance realignments. This is part 2 from episode 31 of The Freight Buyers' Club (https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/), produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group (https://dimerco.com/).

Full EP links are here: Website: https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/podcast/what-shippers-want-and-how-they-get-it/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ndF5J1fuLrIG8EhXowW1P?si=98fce131dea3461d Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-shippers-want-and-how-they-get-it-with-ttis/id1668766055?i=1000685061106

YouTube: https://youtu.be/T7sxLMcEWF8?si=dee9jCAr9G8zByq9

First, Alan Mctaggart, VP of Global Logistics at Techtronic Industries (TTI), shares invaluable lessons from his 35-year career, including his role in scaling TTI's supply chains as the company grew from $2 billion to over $13 billion in revenue.

Alan provides a behind-the-scenes look at managing complex global supply chains for major brands like Milwaukee Power Tools, AEG, RYOBI, and Hoover, and reveals how TTI tackled freight challenges during disruptions like the pandemic and trade wars. He explains how he balances freight tenders between forwarders and carriers, and how TTI uses long-term and short-term freight contracts.

He also gives freight buyers critical advice about the importance of personal relationships with vendors at all levels, how to benchmark practices against industry competitors to stay ahead, and how to ensure contracts are watertight, including critical success factors like fixed pricing, space allocation, and compensation clauses.

Later, Philip Damas, Managing Director at Drewry Shipping Consultants and head of Drewry Supply Chain Advisors, delivers an in-depth analysis of container shipping markets, current market trends, the supply-demand balance and what the possible reopening of the Suez Canal means for freight rates.

He also shares actionable advice for shippers: from negotiating freight contracts amid market volatility, to preparing for potential impacts of new tariffs and alliance realignments.

Guests

Alan Mctaggart, VP, global logistics, Techtronic Industries

Philip Damas, Drewry managing director and head of Drewry Supply Chain Advisors

With U.S. East and Gulf Coast port strikes potentially disrupting global trade from January 15, President Trump’s upcoming inauguration on January 20 driving regulatory uncertainty, and container shipping alliances set to realign in February, this timely discussion helps listeners prepare for the year ahead.

Robbert draws on decades of leadership experience to explore how carriers and logistics companies are approaching capacity disruptions, geopolitical risks, and shifting U.S. trade policies. He also delves into contracting strategies, M&A trends, and the role of technology in cost reduction and operational efficiency.

Sponsored by Ontegos Cloud, this episode delivers actionable strategies to help you navigate 2025’s early disruptions.

Guest

Robbert van Trooijen, Maersk veteran and founder of Inception Partners LLC

Big thanks to Dimerco Express Group (https://dimerco.com/) for supporting independent journalism.

The full episode is available on all podcast platforms, YouTube and at https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/.

We also discuss the reconfiguration of liner alliances, the Red Sea crisis, and the evolving strategies of major carriers. Whether you're managing supply chain complexities or analysing global trade trends, this episode, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, offers valuable perspectives and expert analysis.

Key Points Covered:

• The geopolitical and economic impacts of Trump's presidency starting in 2025.
• Analysis of US-China trade relations and the potential consequences of new tariffs.
• The Red Sea crisis and its implications for shipping routes and Suez Canal traffic.
• Looming US port strikes in January and their potential disruption to trade.
• Reconfiguration of global liner alliances and their effect on shippers.
• Strategies for freight buyers amid uncertainty in tariffs, alliances, and labour disputes.
• Investments by major carriers in logistics, airlines, and infrastructure.

Guests

Lars Jensen, CEO, Vespucci Maritime

Peter Tirschwell, VP, S&P Global

Guests dissect how a new wave of tariffs under Trump 2.0 could impact global trade, US importers and exporters, and shippers pivoting supply chains to Southeast Asia and Latin America. And we hear how new tariffs threats are being received – and acted upon - in Asia.

This episode, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, also examines air and ocean freight markets heading into 2025, including the pressures of Chinese New Year, a possible US East Coast port shutdown, and potential reforms to the de minimis rules. 

Guests

Paul Bingham, Director, Transportation Consulting, S&P Global Market Intelligence

Cathy Roberson, Founder, Logistics, Trends & Insights

Kathy Liu, VP, Global Sales and Marketing, Dimerco Express Group

Episode in more detail:

DHL freight tragedy – security implications (2.29)

How did the US peak season go? (5.30)

Trump 2.0 – State of the Union (6.30)

New tariffs (8.16)

Economics – Republican v Orthodox (11.26)

January freight market crunch looms (14.19)

Tariffs and Trump: The view from Asia (18.51)

Accelerating China + 1 (19.55)

Frontloading? (21.27)

Reforming de minimis (23.59)

S&P’s view on the China economy (28.33)

Geopolitical trade risk in 2025 (30.52)

Diversification of sourcing (33.26)

US domestic freight recession over? (37.05)

Crony capitalism risk (40.33)

Container shipping outlook (43.07)

Air freight outlook (45.34)

Note:

As cited in the podcast: The Political Economy of Tariff Exemption Grants - https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3963039

As the upcoming U.S. presidential election draws near, we explore what each candidate’s trade policy could mean for global commerce and the technology sector. In this episode, we’re joined by Stephen Olson, a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Futures Council on Trade. With insights from his extensive career as a U.S. trade negotiator and international trade expert, Stephen examines how a Trump or Harris administration might shape tariffs, protectionism, and trade relations with key players like China and Mexico.

Later, Ed Brzytwa, VP of International Trade at the Consumer Technology Association, weighs in on how potential shifts in U.S. policy could impact the tech industry.

Follow, like, and subscribe to The Freight Buyers Club on your preferred platform, and get more insights and updates at www.thefreightbuyersclub.com.

Guests

Ed Brzytwa, VP of International Trade, Consumer Technology Association 

Stephen Olson, Visiting Fellow, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Yusof Ishak Institute

Host Mike King is talking to (in order of appearance):

Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA

Kathy Liu, Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing, Dimerco Express Group

Peyton Burnett, MD, TAC Index

The conversation covers key issues, including how this strike could impact U.S. industries reliant on imported goods, the ripple effects on global trade, and what shippers can expect in terms of price hikes, surcharges, and operational delays. We also look at the political complexities of the situation, as the government balances union relations with the potential economic fallout of a prolonged shutdown.

From container lines shifting their strategies to shippers racing to move goods ahead of the strike, this episode dissects the likely short- and long-term impacts on U.S. supply chains and global trade flows.

With crucial holiday shipments on the line and industries ranging from retail to agriculture at risk, this episode, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, unpacks the broader impact of this potential strike on global trade and supply chain resilience.

Guests

Michael Angell, Senior Editor, Journal of Commerce

John McCown, Senior Fellow, Center for Maritime Strategy

Paul Page, Bureau Chief, The Wall Street Journal’s Logistics Report

Host Mike King and guests examine the latest trade lane dynamics, with a particular focus on outbound rates from Asia to Europe and the U.S.

The discussion covers the unexpected demand surge this summer, security concerns affecting global supply chains, and the key drivers reshaping the market, including Suez Canal container shipping diversions and e-commerce growth.

Looking ahead to the air freight peak season, the conversation addresses capacity shortages, potential port strikes, and the impact on air freight rates. Broader issues such as U.S.-China tariffs, U.S. Presidential elections, long-term demand growth, and the increasing role of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are also explored.

This episode provides essential analysis and expert perspectives on the challenges and changes facing the air cargo industry in 2025 and beyond, not least the potential capacity crunch.

Mike and his guests conclude by debating whether the current supply-demand balance reflects what we can expect in terms of capacity availability and pricing in 2025, or if the current market is a house of cards, vulnerable to geopolitical and policy changes that could lead to a rates collapse.

Guests

Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA

Kathy Liu, Vice President, Global Sales & Marketing, Dimerco Express Group

Peyton Burnett, MD, TAC Index

Episode in more detail:

Air cargo’s Indian summer (2.31)

Market drivers (3.40)

SE Asia wins (4.48)

Heightened security risk (6.02)

Suez diversions + e-tailers (10.14)

Capacity crunch and charters (13.46)

US dockworker strikes (15.32)

What price peak season rates (17.54)

U.S. tariff threat (22.20)

China+1 challenges and opportunities (30.53)

How to speed up air cargo (35.16)

Air freight’s wish list (41.47)

Supply, demand and rates in 2025 (43.07)

Solid foundations or house of cards? (47.42)

The state of SAF (54.24)

 #SupplyChain #GlobalTrade #Logistics #SportsIndustry #FreightBuyersClub

Torsten provides critical insights on the disruptions in North American freight due to recent rail worker lockouts in Canada and looming dockworker strikes on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts.

We also explore how Hapag-Lloyd is navigating the complex challenges of balancing capacity, demand, and service reliability amidst global market upheavals, not least the Red Sea crisis.

And Torsten outlines the carrier’s high Transpacific service reliability ambitions when its new partnership with Maersk – Gemini Cooperation – begins operations next year.

In the second part (from 30 mins onwards), we shift our focus to the sports industry. Chris Rogers, Head of Supply Chain Research at S&P Global Market Intelligence, joins host Mike King to discuss the surprising decline in sports clothing and equipment demand, despite a summer of high-profile sporting events.

Chris unpacks the latest data, examining trends in U.S. and global demand, the impact of supply chain disruptions, and the shifting landscape of sports product sourcing.

Guests

Torsten Hartmann, Senior Director Trade Management, Transpacific, Hapag Lloyd

Chris Rogers, Head of Supply Chain Research, S&P Global Market Intelligence

Topics covered include:

• What next for container spot and contract freight rates?
• The ongoing Red Sea Crisis and its long-term impact on global shipping routes
• Comparisons with past disruptions such as the Ever Given blockage of the Suez Canal
• The looming threat of strikes by ILA longshoremen at US East and Gulf Coast ports
• The influence of upcoming US elections and threat of tariffs on international trade relations
• Strategies of major carriers like Hapag-Lloyd, MSC and Maersk, and the formation of new alliances
• Predictions for market demand amidst economic volatility and upcoming political elections
• The rapid growth in container shipping capacity and the risks of overcapacity
• The potential for long-term diversions around the Cape of Good Hope and their implications for shippers
• The Federal Maritime Commission’s (FMC) enhanced enforcement powers and what they mean for shippers and carriers

Join us as we explore these critical issues and more, providing you with the knowledge you need to navigate the complexities of the shipping industry. Subscribe to The Freight Buyers' Club on your preferred platform, including YouTube for additional video content, or visit www.thefreightbuyersclub.com.

Mike and guests also discuss whether decoupling the US economy from China's is feasible.
Big thanks to Dimerco Express Group for supporting independent journalism.

#logistics #containers #ports #strikes #podcast #freightmanagement #cargo #redseacrisis #shipping #supplychains #tariffs #trump #tradewar #bidenomics

The conversation starts with the latest on US tariffs and the ongoing trade tensions with China, exploring potential impacts on the US economy and global trade and the feasibility of a total economic decoupling of the US and Chinese economies.

Mike and guests also explore the numerous disruptions that have taken supply chains by surprise in 2024, from freight rate surges to logistical chaos caused by geopolitical events. They also provide insights from the retail sector and offer a broader analysis of how these disruptions are reshaping logistics networks.

They also examine conflicting economic indicators and the debate around restocking strategies, discussing whether the current trends reflect a shift towards 'Just In Case' supply chain management. Are retailers building up safety stocks, or is consumer demand driving the surge in imports?

Finally, they address US domestic freight market dynamics, potential port delays, and the looming threat of union strikes and natural disasters on logistics. They also share thoughts on building resilience in supply chains amid rising costs and ongoing disruptions.

Guests:

Jessica Dankert, Vice President Supply Chain, Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)

Jason Miller, Eli Broad Professor in Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University.

Mike is also joined by Edwin Lopez, Managing Editor of Supply Chain Dive & Trucking Dive, to discuss the supply chain implications of Mexico's recent presidential election, ongoing strikes in Canada, and the relentless nature of global logistics blockages. Additionally, the U.S. crackdown on Chinese e-retailers and its impact on international trade are covered.

Guests

Daniel Maffei, Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission

Edwin Lopez, Managing Editor, Supply Chain Dive & Trucking Dive

In this clip they also discuss the pros and cons of the Gemini Cooperation partnership between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd.

It features insights from Eric Kulisch, Air Cargo and Supply Chain Editor at FreightWaves and American Shipper, and Kathy Liu, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Dimerco Express Group.

They discuss unseasonal demand and rate increases in air cargo, the impact of geopolitical issues like the Red Sea conflict on shipping, the burgeoning role of e-commerce, particularly companies like Shein and Temu, and strategies for navigating the complex logistics and supply chain disruptions facing freight buyers today.

Additionally, the conversation touches on the global economic outlook, strategic shifts in manufacturing to avoid tariffs, and the potential impacts of political and economic changes on the freight industry.

Guests

Kathy Liu, Vice President of Global Sales and Marketing, Dimerco Express Group

Eric Kulisch, Air Cargo and Supply Chain Editor, FreightWaves and American Shipper

In the US market, challenges such as the temporary closure of the port of Baltimore, potential dockworker union actions at Gulf and east coast ports, and low water levels on the Panama Canal add further layers of complexity.

Amidst these dynamics, freight buyers find themselves negotiating transpacific contracts with carriers.

This episode, sponsored by Dimerco Express Group, delves into strategies for effectively categorizing and navigating these turbulent waters, while also pondering the potential container shipping-demand balance under less disruptive circumstances.

Guest

Hua Joo Tan, Founder, LINERLYTICA

From the impact of recent events on supply chains to the shifting dynamics of globalization, in this episode, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, Marc shares valuable insights into the future of trade and logistics.

Mike and Marc also discuss the regionalization of supply chains, the delicate balance between efficiency and risk management, and how to best navigate the complex landscape of global trade in an ever-changing world.

Episode in more detail:

A fractured trading environment (02.18)

Deaton and the merits of globalisation (04.45)

Has trade growth peaked? (09.31)

Products

Technology implications for trade volumes (16.12)

Do we have the right ships and freighters? (18.37)

Container lines as integrators (21.24)

Competitive advantage and geopolitics (24.54)

Sourcing diversification (26.00)

Trade and security policy (29.13)

A new cold war? (32.41)

SMEs and protectionism (35.05)

Net zero or ground zero (38.12)

About Marc Levinson

Marc is an economist, historian, and journalist with a long track record of writing and speaking about economic and business issues.  His book The Box: How the Shipping Container Made the World Smaller and the World Economy Bigger, which explains how a seemingly simple innovation made globalization possible, received many awards. The Great A&P and the Struggle for Small Business in America, which explores the fascinating history of government efforts to crack down on chain stores to protect mom-and-pop retailers, won praise across the ideological spectrum and was published in a second edition in 2019.

His 2016 book, An Extraordinary Time, is an unusual take on the miserable decade of the 1970s, showing how the sudden end of the postwar boom led voters in many countries to choose leaders who promised to cut government down to size — Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, Helmut Kohl, and others. But they couldn’t bring back the good times, because rapid productivity growth, the critical ingredient in higher living standards, is something political leaders can’t deliver.

His most recent project, Outside the Box, presents an unorthodox history of globalization. It shows that the international economic relationships we’ve known since the late 1980s, based on intricate long-distance value chains, are only a stage in the process of globalization — a stage that was waning long before Trump, Brexit, and COVID-19. But he contends that globalization is far from over; rather, it is moving into a stage in which the flow of ideas and services will be much more important than the flow of boxes filled with goods.

From Guyana to Central Asia, the Middle East to the South China Sea and Black Sea, risk stalks trade and threatens supply chain resilience, while the outbreak of conflict is reshaping the logistics landscape.

And we also have a different type of risk in 2024 in the shape of billions of people heading to the polls, not least in the US where Americans are getting ready to elect a new President and trade policy – and the threat of new tariffs on US imports from China and elsewhere - is a key political battleground.

This episode, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, asks what all this means in practical terms for freight markets, the shippers that rely on international supply chains, and those in the business of making trade happen, both now and in the long-term.

Host Mike King and his guests also discuss whether technology and collaboration offer solutions to current supply chain inefficiencies and examine the pros and cons of China+1 options.

This episode also includes updates on ocean and air freight markets and rates, insight into the trans-Pacific contracting season, and more analysis of supply chain disruptions including Red Sea diversions, the threat of strikes at US East Coast ports later this year, and the ongoing closure of large swathes of air space to ‘Western’ airlines.

Guests:

Jon Monroe, President, Jon Monroe Consulting

Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association (AfA)

Episode notes:

‘Rethinking my economics’, Angus Deaton.

https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2024/03/Symposium-Rethinking-Economics-Angus-Deaton

Angus Deaton is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor of Economics and International Affairs, Emeritus, at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs and the Economics Department at Princeton University. He is the 2015 recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences.

Levi Strauss & Co said earlier this year that it had “already shifted some product to go through the West Coast instead of the East Coast". Clearly it is not alone.  The share of US seaborne imports of apparel shipped from Asia to US West Coast ports rose to 59.1% in December 2023, up from 56.7% in December 2022, S&P Global Market Intelligence data shows. In the first 25 days of January, the ratio increased to 64.8%, the highest since October 2022.

As this episode explains, a number of factors are pushing cargo westwards, not least the Red Sea crisis and diversions of container ships around the Cape of Good Hope. Low water on the Panama Canal and the threat of dockworker union action at US Gulf and East Coast ports later this year are also considerations for shippers.

How deep and significant this trend is for container shipping and US ports and supply chain stakeholders will become clearer after the latest round of trans-Pacific annual contracts have been signed and sealed. A lot of those conversations will be taking place at Long Beach, California, in the first week of March when the city hosts TPM24.

As this podcast explores, many shippers will not just be looking at the cost/transit equation, they will also be asking whether West Coast terminals are ready to handle a surge in cargo.

Guests:

Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer, Port of Long Beach

Bjorn Vang Jensen, Executive Director for International Transport, Cummins

Alexander King, Branch Manager for New York and New Jersey, Dimerco Express Group

Jon Gold, VP for Supply Chain and Customs Policy, National Retail Federation

Matt Schrap, CEO, Harbor Trucking Association

Among other topics, they delve into:

• The readiness of US West Coast truckers to cope with for an influx of import cargo due to disruptions in the Red Sea and Panama Canal.

• Whether LA and Long Beach ports have the processes, capacity and labour in place to handle a surge of cargo.

• Actions taken to improve the container return system, which had a significant detrimental impact on chassis supply during the pandemic.
• The advantages and disadvantages of various appointment systems that drayage operators serving western gateway terminals must navigate.
• The sluggish investment in non-diesel trucks despite the availability of subsidies and incentives.

But after the congestion and chaos of the Covid years, host Mike King asks if Long Beach’s terminals and supply chain stakeholders are now fully prepared to smoothly process a box volume demand spike.

• Global economic and trade prospects in 2024
• Asia exports outlook
• Geopolitical risk in 2024
• The slowdown in China
• Freight rates and inflation
• Trade and a Trump Presidency
• Protectionism vs global growth
• China + 1 impact on trade

They discuss what the Gemini Cooperation agreement between Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk means for the remaining THE Alliance container lines – Yang Ming, ONE and HMM – and whether 90% service reliability is a realistic target for the new partnership.

They also analyse the Red Sea crisis and how to plan and adapt to disrupted supply chains. And they discuss what shippers should expect in the lead-in to Chinese New Year factory closures, and what geopolitical conflict and risk means for the future of globalisation, international trade and liner strategy.

More on Bjorn Vang Jensen:

Bjorn has experience of all sides of the freight business. Until just over a year ago, he was one of container shipping’s best analysts as VP Advisory Services for Global Supply Chain at Sea-Intelligence Advisory Services. He’s also been a vessel scheduling manager, a salesperson, a freight forwarder and a 3PL.

On the BCO side of the fence, prior to taking the reins at Cummins, he was global head of logistics at Electrolux for 16 years during which time he was responsible for moving millions of TEU and hundreds of thousands of tons of airfreight.

They also look at the performance of the air freight industry last year, what 2024 has in store for the sector, SAF uptake, and what operators can do better to meet the needs of shippers.

Mike is talking to: Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor, Journal of Commerce Jon Gold, VP for Supply Chain and Customs Policy, National Retail Federation.

The prime cause of these disruptions is attacks on container shipping services by Houthi rebels based in Yemen. These are prompting carriers to divert vessels away from Bab-el-Mandeb, the strait which acts as the gateway to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, a key global artery for trade.

Instead, ships are now steaming to Europe and the US via the Cape of Good Hope, adding weeks on to journey times, and threatening to soak up the liner industry’s excess capacity.

Already container shipping rates are spiralling, even on trades such as the trans-Atlantic and Asia-US West Coast where services are, in theory at least, not being directly affected.

Economic headwinds, geopolitical turmoil, low water on the Panama Canal, and the threat of union action at US east coast and Gulf coast ports are also casting a chaotic shadow over shipper supply chains in early 2024. As Mike and guests discuss, all of these factors are driving up risk levels for shippers, changing the focus of supply chain procurement professionals from cutting costs to mitigating disruption.

Guests

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor, Journal of Commerce

Jon Gold, VP for Supply Chain and Customs Policy, National Retail Federation

Episode in more detail:

JOC’s take on the new Suez crisis (2.21)

Freight rates surge contagion (3.39)

The implications of vessel diversion (7.08)

Mitigation strategies for retailers (11.41)

Panama Canal water shortage (13.26)

Are shippers 2024’s biggest losers? (15.13)

China+1 & low-cost vs supply chain resilience (17.35)

Geopolitical risks in 2024 (23.09)

Value chains and democracy vs autocracy (24.44)

The future of globalisation (28.12)

The US elections (30.06)

US east coast dockworker strike threat (34.44)

Retailers shift cargo to West Coast (38.14)

In part 2, Mike interviews Philip Damas, Managing Director of Drewry Shipping Consultants and Head of Drewry’s Supply Chain Advisors practice. They discuss how to plan ocean freight tenders, budgeting for new EC ETS surcharges, how carriers will use blanks to manage supply, and what China+1 means for the global container trade.

Guests

Paul Berger, Logistics & Supply Chain Reporter, The Wall Street Journal

Philip Damas, Managing Director of Drewry Shipping Consultants and Head of Drewry’s Supply Chain Advisors practice

Episode in more detail:

2023 in review (1.56)

ILWU settlement implications (4.47)

Union risk on the eastern seaboard (7.44)

Labour unrest in 2024? (10.25)

Why freight failed to rebound (12.20)

Casualties: Yellow and Convoy (13.48)

Economic outlook and risk (15.32)

‘De-risking’ supply chains (16.58)

2024 trends and stories (20.49)

Drewry: ocean freight tender advice (22.59)

ETS – the new emissions surcharge (25.58)

Container shipping oversupply (30.34)

Shipper risk in 2024 (34.21)

Trans-Pacific outlook (38.26)

What China+1 means for container volumes (41.44)

2024 shipper risks and carrier losses (44.43)

They discuss future container shipping demand and supply, what this means for freight buyers and why everyone in the business of ocean supply chains should understand how new European Commission emissions and competition regulations will impact them.

Kathy Liu, Senior Director, Dimerco Global Sales & Marketing, discusses the view of China + 1 and nearshoring strategies from China’s perspective. And Bronson talks about why the diversification of sourcing strategies globally will transform container shipping and the type of vessels built to meet the needs of what he calls “globalisation with regionalisation”. 

Guests:

Bronson Hsieh, former chairman of Evergreen and Yang Ming container shipping lines

Kathy Liu, Senior Director, Dimerco Global Sales & Marketing

Episode in more detail:

Introducing Bronson Hsieh – container shipping legend (1.29)

US demand upswing (2.41)

Global economic forecast (4.35)

Did container lines over-order (5.45)

Will liner vertical consolidation strategies succeed (9.10)

Geopolitics, globalisation and liner implications (12.03)

Globalisation and regionalisation (13.41)

Did carriers buy the right sized ships? (14.55)

Dimerco positive on China (22.16)

Europe’s Emissions Trading System (25.06)

Will shippers pay? (29.40)

Will China and the FMC follow the EC (36.02)

Implications of exposing to carriers to competition laws (33.07)

What has happened to peak season is the key question examined, but Mike and his guests also discuss inventory levels, global demand and economics, what the decarbonisation of supply chains means for air freight, SAF availability forecasts, and the market for freighters.

Guests

Niall van de Wouw, Chief Airfreight Officer, Xeneta

Eric Kulisch, Supply Chain and Air Cargo Editor, FreightWaves

Professor Yossi Sheffi is the current Director of the Center for Transportation & Logistics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and the author of a new book, “The Magic Conveyor Belt: Supply Chains, AI, and the Future of Work”.

Prof. Sheffi has also advised governments, retailers and manufacturers, and co-founded a string of successful supply chain companies which he successfully sold to companies including Oracle, Manhattan Associates and Ryder.

Mike and Yossi discuss, amongst other things, AI applications in the businesses of freight and logistics, and whether the supply chain industry and its workers should feel threatened by tools such as ChatGPT.

Mike and his guests then deep dive into India’s growing attraction as a global manufacturing hub as OEMs diversify away from China. His guests explain that while India still faces many challenges, it has already succeeded in attracting top-end manufacturers including Tesla, Apple, Asus, Lenovo, and Dell.

India’s young population and sizeable land bank, alongside government investment in logistics infrastructure and programmes to boost manufacturing, will see its share of global manufacturing and exports rise in the future, trends that have major repercussions for global trade flows and freight demand in the years ahead.

Guests

Rajesh Srinivasan, India Country Manager, Dimerco Express Group

Rahul Kapoor, Global Head of Shipping Analytics & Research, S&P Global Commodity Insights

In part 2, Mike speaks to Alberto Villareal, Founder & MD of Nepanoa, about the options available to manufacturers and retailers looking to diversify sourcing risk, particularly if they’re looking at options in Mexico.

Guests: Alberto Villareal, Founder & MD, Nepanoa

Paul Bingham, Director of Supply Chain Transportation Consulting, S&P Global Market Intelligence

Episode in more detail

Part 1 - Paul Bingham, Director of Supply Chain Transportation Consulting, S&P Global Market Intelligence

Global economic and trade forecasts (1.35)

US economy, inflation and a freight recession (5.41)

Exporter outlook (8.14)

Trade and geopolitical risk (12.12)

China: decouple or de-risk? (15.22)

US domestic freight outlook (19.37)

Container lines in focus (22.39)

Part 2 Alberto Villareal, Founder & MD, Nepanoa

Global supply chain risk (30.41)

China+1 options in Asia (33.35)

Impact on Mexican exports and economy (35.37)

Key Mexico regions for FDI (40.19)

Mexican infrastructure (42.39)

Crime: the elephant in the room (47.25)

Labour costs (52.45)

Guests

Jessica Dankert, Vice President Supply Chain, Retail Industry Leaders Association, (RILA)

Jan Tiedemann, Head Analyst, Alphaliner

Episode in more detail

‘Tentative’ agreement reached with US West Coast dockers (2.29)

Retailers rejoice (5.01)

Why west coast has lost some traffic for good (6.36)

Strike on US East Coast? (8.51)

More shipping disruptions looming (10.26)

Non-China sourcing options (12.30)

Crime holds back Mexican sourcing (15.33)

US retailer inventory levels (17.11)

The influence of the expanded Panama Canal locks on West to East drift in US logistics (20.51)

Liner strategy for low water levels in Panama (23.32)

The demise of the trans-Atlantic trade (29.06)

Where will lines deploy all the new ships?

How carriers are cutting out carbon (35.39)

Slow steaming to improve service levels (38.22)

In Part 2, Mike has an exclusive interview with Commissioner Carl Bentzel, one of just five Commissioners on the increasingly powerful Federal Maritime Commission (FMC). They discuss the rapidly changing US approach to regulating international container trade, including the possible removal of anti-trust status from carriers, pending revisions to detention and demurrage rules by the FMC, and the creation of a global, transparent ocean supply chain data hub.

Guests

Lee Klaskow, Senior Freight and Transportation Logistics Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence

Commissioner Carl Bentzel, Federal Maritime Commission

Episode in more detail

Part 1 – Freight market update with Lee Klaskow, Senior Freight and Transportation Logistics Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence.

The Panama Canal’s falling water levels (2.09)

A US recession and a Q3 peak season? (4.30)

Rising costs, balance sheets and M&A (7.40)

Container line strategy (12.32)

Freight market forecasts (15.30)

Part 2 – How the beefed-up Federal Maritime Commission is reshaping global container shipping rules, with Commissioner Carl Bentzel, Federal Maritime Commission.

The FMC: shipping’s judge (20.45)

New powers (23.56)

Detention & Demurrage charges on trial ((28.43)

The Ocean Shipping Antitrust Enforcement Act (33.53)

Ocean carriers drop charges (37.48)

New FMC rules on shipping-carrier contracts? (40.59)

Maritime Transportation Data Initiative (47.00)

Among other topics, they discuss: what next for air freight; the challenges facing integrators’; security regime alignment; US infrastructure; and labour disruptions.

In part 2 of this podcast, produced with the support of the Dimerco Express Group, Mike And Edwin Lopez, Managing Editor of Industry Dive, discuss: Flexport’s purchase of Shopify Logistics; CPKC, the new super railroad which is offering pan-North America services; the bankruptcy of of Bed, Bath & Beyond; the Federal Maritime Commission’s new powers; and the latest detention and demurrage claims against container lines by shippers.

Mike and Edwin also hear more about the deal with Shopify from Parisa Sadrzadeh, Senior Vice President, SMB Product & Technology at Flexport, who has been charged with making the integration work.

Guests

Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association

Parisa Sadrzadeh, SVP, SMB Product & Technology, Flexport

Cathy Roberson, President, Logistics Trends & Insights LLC

Edwin Lopez, Managing Editor, Industry Dive

Episode in more detail:

Part 1 – The Big Air Cargo Debate with Cathy Roberson and Brandon Fried

Where next for air freight? (2.50)

The outlook for air forwarders (10.50)

Challenges for UPS and FedEx (12.09)

Labour the big logistics disruptor (18.00)

Recruitment opportunities (21.22)

Pandemic lessons and US infrastructure (25.29)

Security regime alignment (28.37)

Air cargo in 2024 (30.33)

Part 2 - West coast docker negotiations; Flexport/Shopify analysis/ D&D/ Bed, Bath & Beyond [featuring Flexport’s Parisa Sadrzadeh and Edwin Lopez, Managing Editor, Industry Dive] (36.33)

Flexport deal for Shopify Logistics (39.00)

What the Shopify deal means for shippers (41.11)

Flexport to go global with e-commerce (44.00)

Flexport in competition with integrators and/or Amazon? (45.40)

West coast docker contract negotiations – implications (47.52)

Resolution in sight? (53.51)

CPKC formation (58.30)

Geopolitics and cargo flows (1.01.59)

Bed, Bath & Beyond bankruptcy (1.03.00)

Detention & Demurrage filings and FMC powers (1.06.20)

Pandemic lessons for the US (.109.57)

They discuss US trade policies, inventory levels, freight rate movements and the very significant differences in the nature of US freight demand on the trans-Pacific and trans-Atlantic trades. They also digest how dockworker negotiations on the US West Coast are impacting the trans-Pacific contracting season and discuss why the US has avoided recession, but freight markets have not.

In Part 2 of this podcast, Mike speaks to Singapore-based Neil Johnson, a customs guru and the Co-Founder of TNETS which manages some $200bn of trade each year. They discuss the difficulties manufacturers and other shippers face when they diversify out of China. And conversely, why one US regulatory failure is prompting some US shippers to move back to China. They also look at the pros and cons of China alternatives and look at the latest M&A activity in the logistics market.

Guests:

Judah Levine, Head of Research, Freightos

Neil Johnson, Co-Founder, TNETS

Jason Miller, Interim Chairperson, Department of Supply Chain Management, Michigan State University, Eli Broad College of Business

Episode in more detail:

Part 1 – Jason Miller and Judah Levine

Freight rates up – ocean and air (2.30)

A US recession? No, a freight recession (5.20)

Transpacific vs trans-Atlantic container trade demand (8.28)

US inventory levels (10.50)

Global supply chain disruptions (15.40)

ILWU/PMA dockworker & trans-Pac contracting season (19.42)

Box ship capacity cuts (22.31)

Asia exports and demand predictions (24.47)

Part 2 – Neil Johnson

Seeking non-China alternatives (31.00)

Challenges in SE Asia (35.10)

India options (36.40)

Vietnam’s big benefits (39.11)

Comparing customs regimes (41.12)

Harmonisation challenges (43.24)

US regulations vs US trade policy (45.00)

Logistics M&A – Asia and beyond (48.22)

And by common consent, he made an indelible imprint on both. He was front and centre as Evergreen opened the world's first global east-west, two-way route. He also helped Yang Ming emerge from a difficult financial period, turning losses into profits. He has won accolades from California to Shanghai, including a lifetime achievement award from the Journal of Commerce.

Part 1 of this two-part interview covers the following:

Balance box shipping supply and demand (2.32)

A return to container shipping seasonality? (7.05)

How carriers will cur capacity (9.40)

How this downcycle compares historically (14.16)

Bronson’s career, Evergreen and his fascination with container shipping (15.40)

Saving Yang Ming (19.00)

Current challenges (24.42)

Need some help with freight buying strategies or tips on benchmarking contracts? 

Or perhaps you were pondering what those big beast shippers who invested in their own vessels will do now rates have collapsed?

Well, please listen in, because these are just some of the issues addressed by host Mike King and Bjorn Vang Jensen on this episode of The Freight Buyers' Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group.

Bjorn has experience of all sides of the freight business. Until very recently he was one of container shipping’s best analysts as VP Advisory Services for Global Supply Chain at Sea-Intelligence Advisory Services. He’s also been a vessel scheduling manager, a salesperson, a freight forwarder and a 3PL.

On the BCO side of the fence, he was global head of logistics at Electrolux for 16 years during which time he was responsible for moving millions of TEU and hundreds of thousands of tons of airfreight.

This year he embarked on the next stage of his remarkable career as Executive Director for International Transport at U.S. multinational Cummins, which manufactures and designs a whole range of heavy equipment including engines and generators and is on the cutting edge of alternative fuel systems. 

Host Mike King is joined by Paul Page, Editor of the WSJ Logistics Report, and Jon Gold, VP for Supply Chain and Customs Policy at the National Retail Federation.

They discuss the state of the US economy, world trade forecasts, post-Covid supply chain takeaways, the future of China as the factory of the world and the shift of US trade and industrial activity from west to east.

They also break down what the Covid years means for future relations between carriers and shippers.

Featuring

Mike King, Producer and Host

Paul Page, Editor of the Wall Street Journal’s Logistics Report

Jon Gold, VP for Supply Chain and Customs Policy at the National Retail Federation

Episode in more detail:

THE U.S. ECONOMY AND WORLD TRADE (from 2.05)

Retailer outlook, 2023 import forecasts, inventory levels and e-commerce demand.

THE FUTURE OF CHINA AS THE FACTORY OF THE WORLD (from 12.07)

Sourcing post-Covid, reshoring, friend-shoring, near-shoring, the CHIPS Act and what supply chain diversification means for shipping networks.

U.S. INDUSTRY AND IMPORTS SHIFT FROM WEST COAST TO EAST COAST (from 24.20)

Implications for trade, trucking, rail and air cargo. ILWU vs PMA. East coast dockworker disruption ahead?

THE COST OF SHIPPING (from 33.28)

A boon for retailers and BCOs as freight rates collapse? Contract renegotiations. Carrier and shipper relations hit new nadir; better services ahead?

TAKEAWAYS FROM THE COVID YEARS (from 40.20)

Logistics goes from backroom to boardroom and from the business pages to the front page. Challenges ahead and optimism in the air?

Editing: Karen Ball and Tom Matthews

Contact: info@mkingassociates.com

This podcast is brought to you by your host, Mike King, and produced in partnership with Dimerco Express Group, a global 3PL that specializes in managing logistics to, from and within the Asia-Pacific region.

Please subscribe at the freightbuyersclub.com to receive every episode direct to your email. You can also follow and review this podcast on all major platforms.

If you would like to appear on this podcast you can reach Mike on: mikeking121@gmail.com

The first episode is out during the second week of February so please stay tuned.