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The Freight Buyers' Club

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The Freight Buyers' Club
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/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 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

#AirCargo #FreightMarket #SupplyChain Air cargo market analysis for 2026: Chinese New Year impact, MD-11 freighter groundings, and how Shein & Temu are reshaping global air freight. This episode features exclusive data from the Baltic Exchange Air Freight Index, powered by TAC Index, revealing tight capacity and potential rate pressure ahead of peak season. In this launch episode of Air Cargo Unpacked, Mike King and Neel Jones Shah (ex-Delta, United, Flexport) break down the forces reshaping air cargo markets with exclusive TAC Index data from Neil Wilson and IATA's 2026 outlook from Brendan Sullivan, Global Head of Cargo. KEY TOPICS COVERED: 🌍 GEOPOLITICAL CHAOS & AIR CARGO RESILIENCE Why 2026 started with unprecedented uncertainty - from Greenland tensions to escalating trade wars - yet China posted a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus. We explore which types of chaos benefit air freight and which threaten growth. 🧧 CHINESE NEW YEAR 2026 TIMING IMPACT CNY falls 2.5 weeks later than 2025, reshaping demand patterns. What forwarders, carriers, and shippers should expect in the lead-up, during the shutdown, and in the restart period. Could tight capacity create a CNY mini-peak? 📦 E-COMMERCE AFTER DE MINIMIS How Shein and Temu adapted after the US ended the $800 exemption. Where e-commerce volumes are flowing now (South America, Europe, Africa) and why e-commerce "finds its way like a river" regardless of barriers. ✈️ MD-11 FREIGHTER CRISIS 60 aircraft grounded after fatal crash – representing a significant 8-10% share of the global wide-body freighter fleet. How integrators are scrambling for 767 and 747 replacement capacity and what this means for market tightness. 📊 EXCLUSIVE TAC INDEX MARKET DATA Neil Wilson, Editor of TAC Index, breaks down: • Peak season 2025 performance vs 2023-2024 • Capacity constraints from freighter shortages • Taiwan-Europe and Taiwan-US strength (semiconductor boom) • Intra-Asia rates up 23% year-on-year • Why the market remains tight despite recent rate softness 🎯 IATA'S 2026 FORECAST Brendan Sullivan, IATA's Global Head of Cargo, identifies: Three Biggest Headwinds: • Capacity constraints (aircraft backlog at 11x annual deliveries) • Regulatory complexity and security friction • Economic uncertainty and trade volatility Three Biggest Opportunities: • Digitalization (IATA's One Record standard) • E-commerce growth (80%+ of cross-border shipments by air) • Agility as competitive advantage in fragmented trade environment ⚠️ THE CAPACITY CRUNCH REALITY Why tight capacity and limited flexibility for shippers will define 2026. How the aircraft backlog, conversion feedstock shortages, and MD-11 groundings are constraining supply. This is monthly market intelligence for freight buyers, logistics managers, procurement professionals, and anyone moving cargo by air. FEATURED GUESTS: • Neel Jones Shah - Air cargo veteran (ex-Delta, United, Flexport) • Neil Wilson - Editor, TAC Index • Brendan Sullivan - Global Head of Cargo, IATA Exclusive data from the Baltic Exchange Air Freight Index, powered by TAC Index. LINKS: 🔗 TAC Index: https://www.tacindex.com 🔗 Ontegos Cloud: https://www.ontegos.cloud/ 🔗 Subscribe to Air Cargo Unpacked: [your subscription link] Produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud - the freight forwarder profitability specialist. #AirFreight #ChineseNewYear #Ecommerce #IATA #TACIndex #FreightBuyers #CargoMarket #GlobalTrade #Semiconductors #FreightForwarding #Aviation #LogisticsNews #SupplyChainManagement #CargoIntelligence #AirCargoNews Time stamps 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

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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

#ContainerShipping #Logistics #MergersAndAcquisitions #SupplyChain #FreightIndustry Could container shipping be heading towards a consolidation wave? Former Maersk Regional President Robbert van Trooijen explains why smaller carriers need to act now—before the cycle hits bottom. In this clip from the Freight Buyers' Club podcast, Robbert breaks down: ✅ Why the gap between top 4 carriers and the rest is "widening to uncomfortable size" ✅ The CEO vs CFO battle: CEOs want M&A, CFOs want to preserve cash for the downturn ✅ Timing is everything: Best time to merge is BEFORE the cycle bottoms (predicted within 5 years) ✅ The obvious partners are gone: Remaining mergers will be "less obvious" and require pushing historical differences aside ✅ Cost-cutting signals: Major carriers already announcing reorganizations—everyone's bracing for downturn ✅ The port investment strategy: APM Terminals earns 17% ROIC vs carriers' single-digit margins ✅ Choke points shift: M&A now focused on ports and landside logistics, not just ocean capacity Key quote: "My boss used to say the pandemic gave the industry a lot of cash, but not necessarily better ideas." 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 Robbert van Trooijen spent 15 years as Maersk Regional President across Asia Pacific and Latin America. He now advises clients through Inception Partners on the very market dynamics he once managed from inside the carrier world. If you're tracking container shipping consolidation, planning logistics strategy, or watching carrier financial health, this insider perspective is essential. Watch the full episode: [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G7_ccD4nEs] ________________________________________ SUBSCRIBE for more freight buying insights, supply chain strategy, and shipping industry analysis from top executives and industry leaders. #ContainerShipping #Logistics #MergersAndAcquisitions #SupplyChain #FreightIndustry

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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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"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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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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Geopolitics Is Now the Biggest Risk in Supply Chain

#port #containershipping #supplychain “One bad week at a port costs you a month.” Bjorn Vang Jensen, EVP Global Head of Ocean at EasySpeed International Logistics and one of the most experienced freight buyers in container shipping, explains why reopening Suez or shifting vessel routes at the wrong time can cause extended delays - and why smart carriers are waiting for the post–Chinese New Year window to prepare for any major network changes. If you’re planning Asia–Europe capacity or 2026 tenders, this is the reality behind those nice, neat sailing schedules. 🎙 From Container Shipping 2026: Venezuela Risk, Red Sea Strategy & 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 #ContainerShipping2026 #SuezCanal #PortCongestion #FreightRates #OceanFreight #SupplyChain #Logistics #Geopolitics #VesselBunching #ChineseNewYear #FreightBuying

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“One week of chaos = one month of pain”

#Geopolitics #ContainerShipping2026 #FreightBuying Freight rates, container capacity, and tender strategies are about to get complicated in 2026 — and Bjorn Vang Jensen is here to cut through the noise. In this Freight Buyers' Club episode, Bjorn Vang Jensen, EVP Global Head of Ocean at EasySpeed International Logistics, brings decades of experience as a freight buyer, forwarder, and shipping executive to break down what's really happening in global container markets. We cover: ✅ Suez Canal return strategy — Why carriers won't rush back and what it means for Asia-Europe rates ✅ Tariff chaos & Supreme Court ruling — Potential cargo surges, clawbacks, and what shippers should prepare for ✅ Spot vs contract rates — Bjorn's data-backed 70/30 strategy for Trans-Pacific and Asia-Europe lanes ✅ Container shipping reliability — Can you charge more for it? Should you pay for it? ✅ China+1 sourcing trends — India, Vietnam, Thailand and the "3+China" strategy ✅ Geopolitical wildcards — Venezuela, Greenland, and what actually impacts freight markets Bjorn shares hard-won insights from managing massive electronics and automotive freight spend, revealing why contract rates have been more stable than spot over the past 3 years — and why relationships matter more than ever in crisis-prone markets. This episode is essential listening for freight buyers, logistics managers, and procurement teams planning 2026 tender strategy. Produced with support from OntegosCloud — the freight forwarder profitability specialist. https://www.ontegos.cloud/ Hosted by awarding-winning journalist Mike King. 🎧 Subscribe now for more expert freight buying insights. Link: We Need to Talk About…Reliability: Container Shipping’s Problem Child https://youtu.be/0B_EsmxkY9Y #SupplyChain #Logistics #FreightRates #OceanFreight #SuezCanal #Tariffs #GlobalTrade #venezuela 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

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Container Shipping 2026: Venezuela Risk, Red Sea Strategy & Why Spot vs Contract Decides Your Budget

Why hasn’t the US domestic freight market rebounded yet? In this clip from The Freight Buyers’ Club, Wall Street Journal logistics reporter Paul Berger explains how excess capacity, weak demand, and pandemic-era profits — including among California trucking firms — have delayed the normal freight cycle reset and kept rates under pressure. 🤝 Sponsored by Ontegos Cloud 🔗 https://www.ontegos.com #FreightRecession #Trucking #FreightRates #Logistics #SupplyChain #USFreight #TruckingIndustry #TheFreightBuyersClub

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The US Freight Recession That Won’t End | Paul Berger (WSJ)

Chinese export demand is surging—but not where carriers want it. In this clip from The Freight Buyers Club, Peter Sand, Chief Analyst at Xeneta, explains a major structural shift in container shipping demand. Chinese exports to India, the subcontinent, and the Middle East are booming year-on-year, while long-haul East–West trades lose momentum. With up to one-third of global sailing distance effectively removed from demand, the impact on container shipping rates and carrier profitability is significant. Shorter trade lanes mean less ton-mile demand—and sustained downward pressure on freight rates. This conversation breaks down what the shift really means for ocean carriers, shippers, and the wider container market. 🎙️ Sponsored by Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/] #ContainerShipping #FreightRates #OceanFreight #ChinaExports #GlobalTrade #ShippingMarket #SupplyChain #LinerShipping #FreightAnalysis #TheFreightBuyersClub

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Container Shipping Demand: China Exports Go Short-Haul, Rates Face Pressure | Peter Sand, Xeneta

Peter Sand of Xeneta explains why better planning, bonded warehouses, and inventory positioning will be critical as shippers prepare for the next supply chain disruption in 2025 and beyond. The focus is shifting toward agility, trade zones, and smarter logistics strategies. 🎙️ The Freight Buyers Club | Sponsored by Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/] #SupplyChain #Logistics #InventoryManagement #BondedWarehouses #Freight #SupplyChain2025 #GlobalLogistics #TheFreightBuyersClub

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Supply Chain Planning 2026: Why Inventory, Bonded Warehouses & Agility Matter | Peter Sand

In this clip from the Freight Buyers' Club podcast, Paul Berger of The Wall Street Journal’s Logistics Report breaks down the US policy on Chinese-made cranes and the tariff battle that’s pushing ports to rethink their future upgrades. We discuss the current 100% tariff on Chinese cranes, why ports are stuck between a rock and a hard place, and whether this policy is truly about national security or trade leverage. Are we seeing a shift to non-Chinese manufacturers, or will the US return to buying Chinese cranes once the dust settles? Produced with the support of freight forwarder profitability specialist OntegosCloud. [https://www.ontegos.cloud/] #USPorts #Tariffs #ChineseCranes #LogisticsNews #MaritimeSecurity

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US Ports, Tariffs, & Chinese Cranes: What’s Really at Stake

Global container shipping reliability has improved in 2025, but the gains are fragile. In this episode, we examine what’s really driving the numbers, why performance is already slipping, and what shippers should expect as they plan for 2026. 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

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We Need to Talk About…Reliability: Container Shipping’s Problem Child

Paul Berger (WSJ): Tariff Whiplash, Crane Crackdown & The One Freight Market Staring Down at a 2026 Recession Paul Berger of The Wall Street Journal’s Logistics Report joins the Freight Buyers’ Club to break down the biggest supply chain stories to watch in 2026 — from tariff battles and port policy shifts to the deepening US trucking recession, the crane crackdown, EV trucking setbacks, Canada–US trade flows, and what reopening the Suez Canal could mean for global shipping. 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

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A WSJ View: Tariff Whiplash, Crane Crackdown & One Freight Market Facing a 2026 Recession

Air cargo has a plastic problem — and a big one. Each year, millions of kilos of stretch film, pallet wrap, and other flexible plastics are used across airports, warehouses, and supply chains… and most of it ends up in landfill. In this episode of the Freight Buyers’ Club, sponsored by Dimerco Express Group (https://dimerco.com/), Mike King sits down in Miami with Chris Paladino, President & CEO of BioNatur Plastics, the company behind a recyclable plastic that also biodegrades if it ends up in landfill. Chris breaks down: ✔️ Why traditional “green plastics” often fail in real-world logistics ✔️ How a small additive can accelerate biodegradation without breaking recycling rules ✔️ Why airlines, handlers and 3PLs are already switching ✔️ What this tech means for supply-chain sustainability targets ✔️ The future of flexible plastics in air cargo and warehousing If you’re in freight, sustainability, or supply-chain innovation, this conversation is straight to the point — and worth your time. Presented by Dimerco Express Group. #AirCargo #Sustainability #LogisticsTech #FreightBuyersClub #SupplyChainInnovation #AirFreight #PlasticWaste #GreenLogistics #CircularEconomy #Dimerco

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Air Cargo’s Plastic Problem—And the Tech Aiming to Solve It

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