This podcast is a new home for anyone with a professional interest in international trade, shipping, procurement, logistics and air cargo. Each episode your host, award-winning journalist Mike King, will be speaking to leading decision-makers, analysts, journalists, operators and shippers to get their take on current freight and logistics markets and the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Latest Episodes

Fractured Trade: How Geopolitics Will Reshape Global Supply Chains in 2026

January 22, 2026 richard 00:49:55 Comments Off

Global trade isn't ending. It's fracturing along geopolitical lines. And it's reshaping supply chains, technology systems, and the entire logistics landscape as we enter 2026. 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...

Air Cargo Unpacked: Launch Episode | Geopolitical Chaos, CNY Outlook & IATA’s 2026 Forecast

January 20, 2026 richard 00:33:21 Comments Off

Co-hosted by award-winning journalist Mike King and air cargo veteran Neel Jones Shah (ex-Delta, United, Flexport) with exclusive TAC Index market intelligence and IATA's 2026 forecast from Brendan Sullivan, Global Head of Cargo. Welcome to the launch episode of Air Cargo Unpacked - your monthly deep dive into air freight...

Geopolitics is #1 Risk: Container Lines Face Consolidation as Trade Blocs Reshape Shipping

January 13, 2026 richard 00:44:36 Comments Off

Container shipping enters 2026 facing a perfect storm: deepening geopolitical fractures, a historic vessel orderbook driving severe overcapacity, and the growing likelihood that services will soon return fully to the Suez Canal. Could this trigger a new wave of consolidation among smaller container lines? For freight buyers, this creates both...

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Board Member, Executive Advisor & Ex-World Economic Forum Director of Supply Chain

Important conversations at a critical moment for global trade.

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CEO, Dimerco Express Group

Such insightful speakers and great content, Mike. You are one of my essential listens!

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Latest Videos

The Freight Buyers' Club

4.9K subscribers

$#MegaShips #Shipping #Geopolitics #SupplyChain #Logistics #TradePolicy #CarrierStrategy #2026 #FreightBuyersClub Container carriers have ordered thousands of mega vessels. But the trade patterns these ships were built for are disappearing. In this extended clip from our 2026 supply chain roundtable, economic historian MarkcLevinson breaks down how geopolitical fracturing is fundamentally reshaping shipping economics, port infrastructure investment, and the future of maritime trade. The Mega Ship Problem Mega ships like 24,000 TEU vessels only make sense on high-volume, long-distance routes. East Asia to Europe was the bet. But trade is fragmenting into regional blocs. Emerging routes like China-Vietnam and China-India have completely different economics. Does it make sense to deploy a 25,000 TEU ship on a route where the vessel spends more time being loaded and discharged than at sea? The answer reshapes everything. The Port Investment Trap Port operators worldwide are investing billions in terminal expansion. But they're betting on trade patterns that are already shifting. You could easily expand a container terminal and find the business goes elsewhere. This structural shift in trade routes creates real risk for long-term capital allocation decisions. The Steel Problem There's another layer: US steel now costs more than twice what it costs in China and nearly twice what it costs in Europe. Steel is the largest input in ship construction. This makes American shipbuilding fundamentally uncompetitive without massive government subsidies. The idea of rebuilding US merchant fleets in Philadelphia or Pascagoula isn't realistic without heavy state support. Carrier Divergence Some carriers continue ordering mega vessels. Others are pivoting to smaller, more flexible ships. This divergence reflects different views on how trade will restructure. Some will win. Many won't. This is what happens when geopolitical strategy collides with capital planning. The industry made massive bets on a trade landscape that's no longer there. Watch the full roundtable episode featuring three leading voices breaking down how geopolitics is reshaping supply chains, shipping strategy, and logistics investment in 2026. https://youtu.be/cBql-YY0jGc ________________________________________ #MegaShips #Shipping #Geopolitics #SupplyChain #Logistics #TradePolicy #CarrierStrategy #PortInfrastructure #Shipbuilding #SteelPrices #2026 #FreightBuyersClub #MaritimeLogistics$

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Mega Ships, Mega Risk: Carrier Strategy in an Era of Geopolitical FracturingDescription

$Geopolitics #TradePolicy #SupplyChain #Europe #USPolicy #Tariffs #Bloc #2026 #FreightBuyersClub The US is treating its allies like adversaries. And that's reshaping the Western alliance and global supply chains. In this clip from our 2026 supply chain roundtable, Neil Shearing, Chief Economist at Capital Economics and author of The Fractured Age, examines what happens when the US bloc fractures from within. His thesis is straightforward: we're not seeing deglobalization. We're seeing geopolitical fracturing into competing US and China-led trade blocs. But recent US tariff policy is testing that bloc's stability. Tariff rates on China are significantly higher than on Europe. That sends a message. But threats over Greenland, trade pressure on Canada, and pressure on allies creates real risk: Europe could be pushed toward neutrality or forced to build its own independent path. The problem for Europe is structural. While European economies collectively rival the US in size and exceed China, Europe is a collection of sovereign states that struggle to speak with one voice. It lacks the technological capabilities both the US and China possess. Building independent high-tech supply chains is nearly impossible. So Europe faces a choice: align with the US or become dependent on both superpowers. But here's the real consequence for supply chains: if the Western bloc fractures, companies operating globally face unprecedented complexity. Supply chain decisions become geopolitical decisions. Moving slowly and gradually, before you're forced to move rapidly, becomes essential strategy. Shearing explains why Toyota's measured supply chain reorientation after Fukushima imposed almost zero costs, while European energy supply chains forced to shift rapidly after Ukraine imposed enormous costs. For multinationals, the lesson is clear: identify your geopolitical exposure now and act before policy forces your hand. Watch the full roundtable episode featuring three leading voices on how geopolitics is reshaping supply chains in 2026. Link to Main Episode: Full Episode: "Fractured Trade: How Geopolitics Will Reshape Global Supply Chains in 2026: https://youtu.be/cBql-YY0jGc #geopolitics #TradePolicy #SupplyChain #Europe #USPolicy #Tariffs #Bloc #TransatlanticTensions #2026 #FreightBuyersClub #Logistics$

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Western Supply Chains at Risk: What Happens if the US-Europe Alliance Fractures

#ContainerShipping #Logistics #SupplyChain #OceanFreight
Container line surcharges: James Hookham calls them "the bane of shippers' lives" — and if you manage freight procurement, you know exactly why.
"They thought they were gonna pay X and it comes in at one and a half times X."
Budget overruns nobody planned for. Difficult conversations with finance teams. Excess spend that has to be justified internally while every other supplier cost is predictable and manageable.
But here's what frustrates shippers even more: Where's the pushback by carriers on terminal charges before passing them through?
James explains why surcharges cause embarrassment, how the "soft touch" dynamic works, and why Global Shippers Forum runs a "Surcharge of the Week" competition to track the most creative carrier charges.
If you've ever had to explain an unexpected shipping invoice 50% higher than quoted, this will resonate.
This episode is produced in partnership with Dimerco Express Group, a global 3PL specialising in Asia-Pacific supply chains: https://www.dimerco.com
Full episode: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G7_ccD4nEs]
#FreightBuyers #ShippingCosts #Surcharges #MARITIME #FreightProcurement #CarrierCosts #ShippingIndustry #GlobalTrade #Maritime #Cargo #LogisticsCosts #FreightManagement

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Why Are Container Line Surcharges 'The Bane of Shippers' Lives'?'

$Marc Levinson, renown historian and economist, discusses the U.S. administration's focus on "maritime dominance" and the push to rebuild its merchant marine. He questions the realism and necessity of these goals, especially considering the current geopolitical and economic landscape. This analysis delves into whether the administration's rhetoric aligns with practical shipbuilding capabilities and the broader implications for US naval fleet strategy. This is from the full Freight Buyers' Club episode: Fractured Trade: How Geopolitics Will Reshape Global Supply Chains in 2026 which also features Neil Shearing, Chief Economist at Capital Economics, and Ashley Skaanild, Principal Advisor Carrier Integration and Transformation at WiseTech Global. Listen / Watch Now YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBql-YY0jGc Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fractured-trade-how-geopolitics-will-reshape-global/id1668766055?i=1000746197411 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ZodLHaV9xH6jhJWfCkjYA Full episode + show notes on our website: https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com/podcast/fractured-trade-how-geopolitics-will-reshape-global-supply-chains-in-2026/ #Logistics #SupplyChain #Shipping$

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Can the US Rebuild Its Merchant Fleet? Marc Levinson Says No

#SupplyChain #Geopolitics #Logistics
Geopolitics has jumped from 33% to 74% as the top threat for supply chain leaders in just one year. In this clip from the Freight Buyers' Club, Ashley Skaanild of WiseTech Global breaks down what that shift actually means for how companies operate.
Drawing on a Reuters survey of 450+ supply chain professionals, Ashley explains why regulatory changes (up from 8% to 59%) now worry executives more than transportation disruptions. He reveals how companies are building resilience through multiple suppliers, diversified shipping partners, and technology consolidation.
Key insights:
• Why efficiency-first supply chains are now a liability
• The real cost of technology sprawl (96% say their systems don't work seamlessly)
• How to square the circle between cost control and resilience
• Why more technology isn't the answer, but the right technology is
📺 Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/cBql-YY0jGc
Download the paper here: https://www.cargowise.com/news/the-new-supply-chain-playbook-how-leaders-are-responding-to-cost-pressure-and-volatility/
#Container #shipping #FreightBuyersClub #Technology #Resilience #GlobalTrade

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Why 74% of Supply Chain Leaders Now Fear Geopolitics Most

#AirCargo #FreightRates #MarketAnalysis
TAC Index Editor Neil Wilson breaks down air cargo peak season performance with exclusive data from the Baltic Exchange Air Freight Index - plus early indicators for what's ahead in the market.
WHAT'S COVERED:
• How peak season compared to previous years
• Capacity constraints and their impact on rates
• Regional strengths: Taiwan semiconductors, intra-Asia growth
• MD-11 grounding effects on global capacity
• E-commerce resilience post-de minimis
• Early market signals and what they mean for buyers
This animated data breakdown shows you how to read air cargo market trends and understand what's driving rate dynamics, capacity allocation, and trade lane performance.
ABOUT TAC INDEX: TAC Index is the leading global price reporting agency for air freight rates and serves as the calculating agent for the Baltic Exchange Air Freight Indices. Their data powers market transparency and helps freight buyers, forwarders, and carriers make informed decisions.
🔗 TAC Index: https://www.tacindex.com 🔗 Baltic Exchange: https://www.balticexchange.com 🔗 Baltic Exchange Air Freight Index: https://www.balticexchange.com/en/data-services/market-information0/freight-derivatives/air-freight.html
FEATURED EXPERT: Neil Wilson - Editor, TAC Index
From Air Cargo Unpacked - your monthly deep dive into air freight markets, capacity dynamics, and what actually matters for people who buy air cargo services. Co-hosted by Mike King and Neel Jones Shah (ex-Delta, United, Flexport).
🔗 Ontegos Cloud (Episode Sponsor): https://www.ontegoscloud.com
Produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud - the freight forwarder profitability specialist.
#AirFreight #SupplyChain #Logistics #PeakSeason #CargoMarket #FreightData #TACIndex #BalticExchange #MarketIntelligence #FreightBuyers

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Air Cargo Market Intelligence: Peak Season Analysis & Early Trends

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2026 Air Cargo Forecast: Headwinds & Opportunities Explained by IATA

$#SupplyChain #RiskManagement #procurement #SupplyChainStrategy #Logistics #geopoliticalrisks #2026outlook #freightbuyersclub Most companies have visibility into their tier one suppliers. But that's where the blind spot ends. In this clip from our 2026 supply chain roundtable, Ashley Skaanild of WiseTech Global reveals why tier two and tier three suppliers are where geopolitical risk actually lives. These are the factories producing the components and materials that determine whether your entire supply chain holds up under pressure. His advice is actionable: look into the multiple tiers of your suppliers, build knowledge into that ecosystem, see where the risk could be, and guard yourself against it. In a fractured trade environment with tariffs, geopolitical tensions, and constant policy shifts, supply chain visibility isn't optional anymore. It's survival. Watch the full roundtable episode to hear from three leading voices breaking down how to plan supply chains in 2026. #SupplyChain #RiskManagement #TierSuppliers #Procurement #SupplyChainStrategy #Logistics #GeopoliticalRisk #2026 #FreightBuyersClub$

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Supply Chain Risk Is Hidden in Tier 2 and Tier 3"

China plus one is already outdated.

Bjorn Vang Jensen, EVP Global Head of Ocean at EasySpeed International Logistics, explains why big freight buyers are quietly flipping the model to two or three plus China. The difference is subtle but brutal. China is no longer the default. It is now the backup.

Not every company can do this, but the ones that can are already reshaping global sourcing and future freight flows.

🎙 From Container Shipping 2026: Venezuela Risk, Red Sea Strategy and Why Spot vs Contract Decides Your Budget
Watch the full episode https://youtu.be/V-ip_A_78kM

Produced with support from OntegosCloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialist
https://www.ontegos.cloud/

Hosted by award-winning journalist Mike King

Hashtags
#ChinaPlusOne #GlobalSourcing #SupplyChain #FreightBuying #OceanFreight #Logistics #GlobalTrade #Manufacturing #Shipping2026 #Geopolitics #ContainerShipping

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China Plus One is Dead | Here's What's Replacing It

$Global trade isn't ending. It's fracturing along geopolitical lines. And it's reshaping supply chains, technology systems, and the entire logistics landscape as we enter 2026. 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/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 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 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 21:30 – Why Mega-Ships May Become Obsolete 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$

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Geopolitics vs Global Trade | The 2026 Reckoning | The Freight Buyers' Club

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Air Cargo Unpacked: Launch Episode | Geopolitical Chaos, CNY Outlook & IATA's 2026 Forecast

No carrier actually wants to go back to Suez.

Bjorn Vang Jensen, EVP Global Head of Ocean at EasySpeed International Logistics, explains how reopening Suez would quietly dump 5 to 10 percent extra capacity into the global container market. Shorter transit times free up ships, and suddenly the industry has more slots than cargo.

Blank sailings cannot fix structural overcapacity, so carriers will try to manage it by sending ships westbound via Suez but routing them back to Asia around Africa to slow things down and protect rates.

🎙 From Container Shipping 2026: Venezuela Risk, Red Sea Strategy and Why Spot vs Contract Decides Your Budget
Watch the full episode https://youtu.be/V-ip_A_78kM

Produced with support from OntegosCloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialist
https://www.ontegos.cloud/

Hosted by award-winning journalist Mike King
#ContainerShipping #SuezCanal #OceanFreight #FreightRates #SupplyChain #Logistics #GlobalTrade #Shipping2026 #Geopolitics #FreightBuying #AsiaEurope #VesselCapac

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Why No Container Lines Want To Go Back To Suez

#containershipping #freight #supplychain
Should you go spot or contract for ocean freight in 2026?

Bjorn Vang Jensen has bought more freight than most people will in a lifetime — and he's analyzed 13 years of rate data to answer this question.

In this clip from Freight Buyers' Club, Bjorn (EVP Global Head of Ocean at EasySpeed International Logistics) reveals his data-backed recommendation: 70% contract, 30% spot.
Here's what the data shows:

✅ Contract rates have been MORE stable than spot rates post-pandemic
✅ On Asia-Europe, spot only beat contracts in TWO brief windows last year (April & October)
✅ Trans-Pacific shows the same pattern: remarkably little volatility in contracts since 2022
✅ "When crisis hits — and there's always one — you know where spot rates are going"

KEY INSIGHTS:

- Why large shippers (100K+ TEU) value predictability over opportunity
- The relationship factor: why contracts matter when capacity gets tight
- When spot makes sense: keeping 30% flexible for opportunities
- How to approach 2026 tenders for Asia-Europe and Trans-Pacific
- Why "there's no year without at least one crisis"

Bjorn's experience spans 38 years as a freight buyer, forwarder, and shipping executive — including major procurement roles at global electronics and automotive companies.

This is essential listening for anyone negotiating ocean freight contracts right now.

🎧 FULL EPISODE: https://youtu.be/V-ip_A_78kM

Produced with the support of OntegosCloud — the freight forwarder profitability specialist. https://www.ontegos.cloud/

#FreightBuying #SpotVsContract #ContainerShipping #FreightRates #SupplyChain #Logistics #OceanFreight #TenderStrategy #FreightBuyersClub

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Spot vs Contract Ocean Freight in 2026: What 13 Years of Data Really Says

Surcharges: the bane of every shipper's life.
James Hookham (Global Shippers Forum) explains why unexpected shipping costs cause so much frustration: "They thought they were gonna pay X and it comes in at one and a half times X."
Budget overruns. Difficult conversations with finance. Excess spend nobody planned for.
This is why freight buyers call surcharges the most embarrassing part of their job.
This episode is produced in partnership with Dimerco Express Group, a global 3PL specialising in Asia-Pacific supply chains: https://www.dimerco.com
Full episode: [LINK]
#ContainerShipping #FreightBuyers #ShippingCosts #Surcharges #Logistics #SupplyChain #FreightProcurement #OceanFreight #ShippingIndustry #CarrierCosts #GlobalTrade #Maritime #FreightManagement #LogisticsCosts #ShippingBudget

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These Surprise Shipping Fees Are Brutal #logistics #painful

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Former Maersk Exec Warns: M&A Wave Coming as Gap Between Carriers Widens

#ContainerShipping #FreightBuyers #ShippingCosts #LogisticsWhy
do container carriers pass cost increases straight to shippers without challenging them? James Hookham, Director of Global Shippers Forum, asks the question every freight buyer is thinking: "Where is the pushback?"
Terminal charges go up → Carriers pass through instantly → Shippers pay. No negotiation, no cost management.
"That's exactly the conversation a shipper would have with any other supplier."
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
Links
Full episode here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G7_ccD4nEs

#ContainerShipping #FreightBuyers #ShippingCosts #Logistics #SupplyChain #OceanFreight #Surcharges #FreightProcurement

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YouTube Video VVVOVE1CZnFjbzV1U1J3VXY5WDdZUHV3Llg4VUM2MXZOcHFB

"Why Don't Carriers Push Back on Their Own Costs?"

$#containershipping #freight #supplychain Container shipping enters 2026 facing a perfect storm: deepening geopolitical fractures, a historic vessel orderbook driving severe overcapacity, and the growing likelihood that services will soon return fully to the Suez Canal. Could this trigger a new wave of consolidation among smaller container lines? 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 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 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 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 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" 24:45 - "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 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 36:00 - "Check your harmonized tariff code, ignore the tweets" 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" 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 Learn more: https://dimerco.com 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$

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YouTube Video VVVOVE1CZnFjbzV1U1J3VXY5WDdZUHV3LjVHN19jY0Q0bkVz

Geopolitics is #1 Risk: Container Lines Face Consolidation as Trade Blocs Reshape Shipping

Geopolitics used to be a footnote. Now it is the headline.

Bjorn Vang Jensen, EVP Global Head of Ocean at EasySpeed International Logistics, explains how 2025 turned geopolitical risk from a theoretical checkbox into the number one factor driving freight budgets, sourcing decisions and supply chain strategy.

Freight buyers are no longer planning for efficiency first. They are planning for disruption first.

🎙 From Container Shipping 2026: Venezuela Risk, Red Sea Strategy and Why Spot vs Contract Decides Your Budget
Watch the full episode https://youtu.be/V-ip_A_78kM

Produced with support from OntegosCloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialist
https://www.ontegos.cloud/

Hosted by award-winning journalist Mike King

#Geopolitics #SupplyChainRisk #FreightBuying #ContainerShipping #OceanFreight #Logistics #GlobalTrade #Shipping2026 #Tariffs #SuezCanal #Venezuela

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YouTube Video VVVOVE1CZnFjbzV1U1J3VXY5WDdZUHV3Lm5jeXN4ZXM2SlhB

Geopolitics Is Now the Biggest Risk in Supply Chain

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Dimerco connects Asia with the world like no other global 3PL

We integrate air and ocean freight, trade compliance and contract logistics services to make global supply chains more effective and efficient. The majority of our global shipping projects connect Asia’s logistics and manufacturing hubs with each other and with North America and Europe.

Started from a single location in Taiwan in 1971, we now serve customers from 150+ Dimerco offices, 80+ contract logistics operations, and 200+ strategic partner agents throughout China, India, Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe