Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Container Bytes: Weekly Ocean & Air Freight Intelligence for Supply Chain Pros

We're back and pumped to talk freight. Get your freight Christmas sweater on.🧣

Transpacific air rates hit $7.50/kilo, beating out last year's $7.30 peak despite recession fears and front-loading concerns (take that, 2024!). Meanwhile, Asia-Europe stays flat at $3.60/kilo as carriers shift more capacity there.

And....the Red Sea is showing signs of life! I'm not crying - you are.

Houthis released hostages that had been held since July, and CMA CGM is increasing vessel traffic through the area (though full return remains as elusive as my son's missing left shoes). Ocean rates continue their wild ride, with transpacific bouncing between $1,400-$3,000 in recent months, while Asia-Europe rates have climbed 40-50% since October lows. It's a rollercoaster.

Also, don't miss tomorrow's session with Stanford's Neil Mahoney on trade war impacts. 

If you don't share this episode, I'll blank sail your next three shipments and replace your BOLs with my 4-year-old's crayon drawings. NBD.

CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 — Air cargo defies death, rates spike
00:01:23 — Red Sea: Signs of life or zombie twitches?
00:03:15 — Ocean rates: The rollercoaster that never ends
00:05:34 — How not to get fleeced in 2024 contracts

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

BREAKING: So... the Suez Canal Authority is that friend who tells everyone you're definitely coming to their party when you clearly said "maybe next year." 

Meanwhile, carriers are playing Red Sea chicken while rates do whatever the heck they want (mostly staying flat by YMMV).

Air cargo is peaking harder than my acting career (I was a lollipop in Willy Wonka in second grade, nbd). , with China-US hitting $6.50/kg despite everyone's doom predictions. Who needs consistency when you can have CHAOS?

Here's a link to the procurement planning webinar I casually dropped in while chatting.

Also..share this episode or we'll blank sail your podcast feed. (Kidding! ...or are we?)

Chapters

00:00:00 — Red Sea Confusion™: the world's most expensive game of "you first"

01:56 — Ocean rates refusing to behave, carriers blanking sailings

03:42 — Capacity management theater: Slow steaming and ship scrapping

05:04 — China→US rates climbing to $6.50/kg (because apparently people still buy stuff)

07:42 — Plot twist: People actually bought things on Black Friday/Cyber Monday! Supply chains acting surprisingly adult-like for once

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Got good news and bad news for your today, freight podcast friend.

Good news? The Houthis said they would stop firing on ships in the Red Sea (but container liners aren't holding their breath).

The bad news? A 48% increase in China - US West Coast rates (and a confusing 3% drop on China - US East Coast).

Ready for a game of GRI Madness? Then how about throwing in a healthy dose of tariff Supreme Court indicators to round it out?

Also, do us a solid and share this episode with someone.

Chapters

00:00:00 — Red Sea “ceasefire” headlines: what it could mean for ships, transit times, and rates. Suez talks, risk tolerance, and the first-mover dilemma

01:44 — Tariff tea leaves: Supreme Court arguments and what a “low tariff window” could trigger

03:25 — Macro vibe check: peak season fades (ocean), ramps (air), FAA blip, and capacity watch

03:58 — Ocean: GRI Madness edition—China→US West Coast up ~48% and holding, blank sailings in play

05:08 — Air cargo: China→US at ~$6.30/kg, Europe near ~$4/kg, ecom shifts and capacity agility

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome to the final Container Bytes of 2025! It’s been a year. We laughed, we cried, we watched spot rates do things that defy physics. (I’m not crying – you are).

The "Blink-and-You-Missed-It" Peak This year's peak season on the Trans-Pacific was… weird. Like, "my kids eating their veggies" weird. It was skewed entirely by the trade war front-loading. We saw rates hit $6,000 per container briefly in June/July as everyone panicked about the jump from 30% to 145% tariffs, but then it vanished. Asia-Europe volumes were actually up 8%, but rates sat around $3,000 (compared to $8k-$9k last year) because capacity just keeps growing.

Air Cargo is for Robots Now While everyone was worried about e-commerce, air freight decided to pull a fast one. Trans-Pacific air rates spiked over $8/kg—which is usually "Christmas panic" pricing—but it wasn't for fast fashion. It was laptops and AI microprocessors. Even with a dip in general e-commerce, the robot revolution is keeping planes full. I, for one, welcome the overlords as long as rates stay normal.

The Red Sea Wildcard Looking at 2026, the biggest threat might actually be things getting better. If the Suez Canal reopens, we aren't just going to see rates drop immediately. We’re likely going to see massive "bunching" at ports in Europe, leading to congestion, equipment shortages, and chaos before the overcapacity actually kicks in.

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If you don't listen and share this episode, I hope your next BOL gets lost during the Olympic Curling finals.

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00:00:00: The "Freak Year" Review

00:00:18: Why Ocean Peak Season was a hallucination

00:01:39: AI Chips vs. Fast Fashion ($8/kg Air Rates)

00:03:33: The Q1 2026 Forecast

00:04:46: The Red Sea "Bunching" Nightmare

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

This is an episode from Freightos' Unfiltered Freight series, shared here too.

Welcome to a special edition of Container Bytes, featuring 30-year ocean veteran Stephanie Loomis, who's navigated everything from Hanjin's collapse to pandemic-era chaos. Her market predictions are legendary, and she's not sugarcoating what's ahead for your freight procurement in 2026.

Carriers have finally learned capitalism. The days of $500 China-LA rates are buried, and today's shipping giants won't touch freight that doesn't make money. "There are rates that will move freight and rates that will not." Smart shippers are securing space, not just chasing pennies.

Annual tenders? Dead. With the pave of change, quarterly procurement is the new minimum. 

Industry boundaries are blurring fast. BCOs working with forwarders, everyone building tech stacks, and carriers potentially timing their Suez return to create just enough chaos to boost rates.

Share this episode or your next shipment might mysteriously end up on the blank sailing list.

CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 — Reality Check: Why your cheap rate won't move jack
00:00:52 — This Ain't 2008: When carriers discovered profit margins
00:03:20 — New Procurement: Space security trumps rate chasing
00:06:34 — Tender Evolution: Why annual contracts are obsolete
00:07:34 — Industry Convergence: BCOs, forwarders and carriers blur lines
00:09:23 — Human Element: Why relationships still beat algorithms
00:12:39 — Suez Strategy: Calculating when carriers create profitable chaos

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome to 2026! We are already 3% of the way through the year, so if you haven't hit your KPIs yet, you're officially behind. JK, kinda.

Ocean freight is starting the year with a hangover and a double shot of espresso. Rates are climbing fast, with Asia-Med is up 20% to $4,800 and Transpacific rates jumped 22% just to kick off January. It’s the classic pre-Lunar New Year rush, fueled by the Red Sea crisis that just refuses to quit. It’s basically chaos, but organized chaos.

And in the weirdest news of the week, we narrowly avoided a geopolitical crisis over... lasagna. The US quietly walked back a threatened 92% tariff on Italian pasta. You can put down the pitchforks; the spaghetti is safe.

If you don't rate us 5 stars, I will personally ensure your next BOL features a typo that delays your cargo by three weeks.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - The 3% Rule (Panic Early)

00:00:11 - Ocean Rates: Up, Up, and Away

00:01:29 - Transpacific Trends: The $2,600 Question

00:02:18 - Air Freight: The Post-Peak Hangover

00:04:50 - The Great Pasta De-Escalation

00:06:15 - The Supreme Court Wild Card

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Time for a high-stakes episode of "Where in the World is the Trade War?" with our  Greenland Bingo card. ❄️

In this episode, Judah and Eytan break down the sudden 10% tariff threat on the EU (which apparently wasn't on anyone's 2026 forecast) and why the EU is dusting off its "Big Bazooka" in retaliation. We also check in on the Red Sea, where Maersk is leaning in just as CMA CGM is pulling back, making the Suez Canal the "will-they-won't-they" romance of the maritime world.

Finally, we look at the Lunar New Year dip—with Asia-Med rates falling 5% to $4,600/FEU—and ask if we've already hit the demand ceiling.

Full weekly update here: https://www.freightos.com/logistics-technology-insights/industry-updates/the-weekly-freightos-freight-rate-update/

Chapters:

00:00:00 — Greenland Bingo: 10% tariffs and social media diplomacy.

00:02:15 — The EU Bazooka: Intellectual property and the ACI.

00:04:30 — Red Sea Start-Stop: Maersk’s return vs. CMA CGM’s retreat.

00:07:45 — Lunar New Year: Why rates are finally cooling off.

00:09:15 — The 2026 Forecast: What’s next on the map?

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Freightos' Container Bytes, the podcast that is technically Episode 15, despite the fact that our team’s ability to count past 14 has recently been called into question.

We dive into the geopolitical soup of the Strait of Hormuz. While the headlines are screaming about oil, we’re looking at the real logistics casualty: the UAE’s Jebel Ali port. If the "Ocean-to-Air" bridge that feeds Europe gets shaky, your lead times are going to look as stretched out as my favorite 10-year-old hoodie.

We also break down the latest "gut punch" for US importers—the proposed 25% secondary tariff on any country doing business with Iran.

And come on, show your friends that you're cool and share this episode. You know you want to.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Counting is hard: Episode 15 (we think)
• 00:01:20 — The Strait of Hormuz: Why oil is the headline, but Jebel Ali is the real story. 
• 00:02:53 — The 25% Iran-Trade Tariff: China, Trump, and the new de-escalation drama.
• 00:04:19 — Lunar New Year "Red Zone": Rates, search spikes, and why you're already late.
• 00:06:21 — Air Cargo: The post-peak lull before the LNY storm.

Resources Mentioned:

• Lunar New Year 2026 Shipping Timeline
• 2026 Lookahead: What 2025 Means for the Forecast

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

This is an episode from Freightos' Unfiltered Freight series, shared here too.

Welcome to a masterclass in air cargo reality with Glyn Hughes, the Director General of TIACA and a 40 year industry veteran who has seen it all. From the early days of faxed rate sheets to the current AI revolution, Glyn is here to explain why the industry is currently stuck in a psychological trap of its own making.

We have a PlayStation problem. While the next generation is busy playing the game and having fun, logistics leaders are still stuck reading the instruction manual. We are obsessed with the "how" of APIs and AI instead of focusing on the "why." If we do not start focusing on benefits over technical barriers, we are going to get left behind by our own kids.

The "Digital Forwarder" is a myth. Cargo is physical. You cannot ship a pallet through a fiber optic cable. The future belongs to the "Phigital" operators who can blend high tech data transparency with high touch physical execution. If you are still relying on legacy block space agreements and the "good old days" while ocean rates drop 80%, you are already an endangered species.

Welcome to the era of the Border Scientist. Forwarding is not just about moving boxes anymore. It is about navigating "off the chart" complexity like China+1 and USA+Multiple strategies. We do not have an AI job replacement problem. We have a human value problem. With air cargo only touching 0.8% of global trade, we need humans using better tools to go find the other 99%.

Listen to this episode now or enjoy explains to your board why your margins vanished while you were busy reading the API documentation.

CHAPTERS: 
00:00:00 — Border Scientists: Navigating "Off the Chart" complexity
00:03:13 — Logistics Darwinism: Why legacy loyalty won't save you
00:04:48 — Phigital Reality: Why the "Digital Forwarder" is a lie
00:06:56 — Retail Therapy: What e-commerce taught us about transparency 00:08:37 — AI Evolution: Moving from the abacus to the algorithm 
00:11:46 — The PlayStation Trap: Why we focus on the manual instead of the game 00:13:43 — The Dumbest Person in the Room: Simplifying the tech story

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Freightos' Container Bytes, Episode 17. We’re only four weeks in, and we’ve had more trade "wars" than I’ve had hot coffees. 

This week, Eytan and Judah track the whiplash of the Greenland deal—shoutout to Davos for the "peace framework"—and the immediate shift of the tariff-cannon toward our neighbors to the North.

While the US threatens 100% tariffs on Canada over Chinese EVs and 25% on South Korea for legislative delays, the rest of the world is busy swiping right on each other. We break down the historic EU-India Free Trade Agreement and why "America First" is leading to "Everyone Else Together."

Plus, the Red Sea is heating up again with fresh Houthi "Soon" videos, and Winter Storm Fern just grounded 14,000 flights, sending air cargo rates over $6.25/kg. It’s a doozy.

Full weekly update here: More tariff threats, LNY rush easing, and winter storm disruptions – January 27, 2026 Update

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Greenland is Out, South Korea and Canada are In: The 100% tariff threat. 
• 00:02:45 — The Diversification Trend: The EU-India "Mother of all Deals." 
• 00:04:15 — Red Sea & Jebel Ali: Why the "Suez Return" just hit a wall. 
• 00:07:30 — Air Cargo Spikes: Winter Storm Fern and $6.25/kg rates. 
• 00:09:40 — Finding "Good News": Eytan’s desperate search for optimism

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

The Supreme Court  tossed IEEPA tariffs out, but don't pop the champagne just yet. The White House pivoted with a (temporary-ish) 10% global tariff under Section 122 just four days later. It's currently sitting well below the 15% to 20% ranges we saw previously, but with the July expiration date looming, the USTR is sprinting through 122 new trade investigations.

The billion-dollar question: how do you actually get your IEEPA refund? 

CBP is launching the CAPE portal mid-April, but you can't just ask for your money back; your customs entry has to be completely "liquidated" first. 

That means you're waiting at least a full year from the import date. (I’m not crying - you are).

And... the Importer of Record is the only one cashing that check! If you didn't pay customs directly, the cash isn't trickling down your supply chain. 

Adam Lewis from Clearit Customs Brokers joins Judah Levine to break down the exact paperwork you need, who actually qualifies, and why the government's "automated" portal still involves a massive manual review bottleneck.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

The Middle East isn't exactly "business as usual," (you knew that) BUT the cargo heart is starting to beat again. We’re moving past the total shutdown and into the "creative logistics" phase. That's a polite way of saying everything is moving by truck on two-lane highways and costing a fortune.

The real story this week isn't just the closure of the Strait; it’s the surcharge flurry hitting lanes that haven't even seen a ripple from the Gulf. While ocean liners are ship-to-ship refueling like some high-stakes Mad Max sequel, BCOs are finally starting to push back on "volatility taxes" during contract season. 

I’m not crying. You’re just looking at your next fuel surcharge invoice.

Share this episode or I’ll personally ensure your next shipment is "optimized" via a 40-day scenic route through a port that doesn't exist.

00:00:00 — The Strait of Hormuz is still closed (sorry for being blunt). 

00:01:15 — Land bridges and India shuttles: Cargo finds a way. 

00:03:45 — The Surcharge Flurry: Why your Asia-Europe rate just spiked for no reason. 

00:06:10 — Maersk is now its own gas station (ship-to-ship refueling). 

00:08:20 — Air cargo's 84% spike and the "safe air corridor" gamble. 

00:10:45 — Trump, Xi, and the Section 122 tariff shell game.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

That's not how this was supposed to work. I'm taking my ball and going home.

Ocean freight rates climbed despite increased stability, with some major drivers of stability for the next year on China-US trade. Judah breaks down air cargo rates, ocean rates, why the GRIs might be sticking and which ones aren't.

Also, yolo, no port fees! Party time!

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Bro, how am I supposed to run a podcast if everything changes every day?

Less than 24 after the last weekly podcast was published, a trade summit between China and the United States changed everything. So we tacked on our quick view on what that means at the end of this episode. 

Just another reminder of how everything can change, every day.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Soybeans! Port fees! GRIs! This week has all the drama that Shakespeare forgot. Journal of Commerce put out estimates of $42M (!) in reciprocal port-call fees, we touch on the upcoming 🇺🇸-🇨🇳 summit and more. 

Plus...blanked sailings pushed Transpacific and Asia–Europe spot rates up (Asia→USWC jumped ~18%, and Asia→EU is back towards ~$2,300/FEU). We also talk early peak season demand in air cargo pushing China→US air rates  to about $5.60/kg.

Come on, just listen, bro.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

What's up in freight? Thought you'd neve ask.

Asia→US West Coast popped from ~$1,400 to >$2,000/FEU and Asia→Europe to ~$2,300—driven by mid‑month GRIs and capacity pulls, not tariffs. 

We break down why this smells opportunistic in slow season, whether Nov 1 sticks, and what carriers are blanking next, we talk about the impact of the new port‑call fees' minimal impact and air demand’s increase...with rates still still staying stable.

Also, if you are still reading this, share our podcast! Show us the love!

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Sorry, we kinda said it all in the title.

But you're here so let's keep going. Ceasefire chatter isn’t sending carriers sprinting back through Suez...and even when they do, expect a short scheduling mess, then more capacity and more downward pressure. We break down where rates are (hello, 2023 vibes), the tariff/port‑call fee volley (USTR vs. China, rare earths), who’s actually exposed, and what to do now.

Also, be kind, leave a review!

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Sorry, we kinda said it all in the title. Port fees for Chinese vessel calls are coming soon. We break down what it means, how rates are responding, the costs that Chinese carriers are swallowing, and more. 

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

In yet another episode of Container Bytes, we talk about the logistics impact of Typhoon Ragasa,  dive into air and ocean rates, and even talk a bit about trade wars. It just wouldn't be a 2025 freight update if we didn't, amiright?

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to the pod! 

This week, I (Eytan) and Judah (not me) dive into why the Straits of Hormuz is the latest headache for your bottom line, even if your containers aren't actually in the Gulf. We’re tracking "Emergency Contingency Surcharges" (top-tier naming, guys) that are adding $300-$400 per container just as we hit the post-Lunar New Year lull.

On the bright side, the Supreme Court and the Court of International Trade just handed a massive win to importers. If you’ve been paying IEEPA tariffs, you’re officially in the "refund" line...though Customs and Border Protection claims it might take a few lifetimes to process.

Share this episode or your next shipment will be hit with a "Forgot to Tell My Friends Surcharge" that is legally binding in at least three oceans.

Chapters

00:00:00 — The "War Card" and why we missed a week.

00:01:15 — The Straits of Hormuz: Why 2% of volume is causing 100% of the drama.

00:03:30 — Creative Surcharges: Emergency, Contingency, and everything in between.

00:06:45 — Air Cargo update: Emirates, Qatar, and the "Safe Corridors."

00:09:40 — Tariff Refunds: The IEEPA ruling and the $150 per TEU fuel hike.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

 TikTok negotiations might be thawing US-China trade tensions (swipe up?), but don't expect freight rates to plummet until that 30% tariff stops trending (see what I did there?).  Transpacific rates surprised with a 30% September jump despite a weak peak season, hitting $2,300/container. Meanwhile, the upcoming USTR port call fees for Chinese vessels (starting Oct 14th) are scrambling carrier routes. And that de minimis rule change...has helicopters patrolling.

Get your global freight fix in just under seven minutes!

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Special edition for you independent forwarders out there.

SMB forwarders are tired of being told they’re "dinosaurs" by Silicon Valley. 

They’re tired of waiting for ERP roadmaps that never arrive. And they're tired of being told they can't compete with the $100M tech budgets of the global giants.

They’re wrong.

In this episode, I sit down with Farouk Gomati, President of Interworld Freight, to talk about the unfair advantage of the mid-sized operator: The ability to deeply understand the niche, move at lightning speed, and take educated risks that big tech won't touch.

Farouk doesn't write a line of code. But he's "vibe coding" circles around his competition—building custom API-driven tools in minutes that solve real operational headaches. From fixing "lying" productivity KPIs to winning back customers from flashy "gaming-grade" platforms, Farouk proves that in 2026, industry expertise is the only programming language that matters.

What’s inside:

• [00:00:00] The 18-Year "Overnight" Success: How hacking Tableau in 2008 set the stage for AI-driven dominance today.
• [00:05:15] The "Gaming" Platform Trap: Why a competitor’s $1M UI lost to a forwarder who actually picks up the phone.
• [00:08:45] Vibe Coding 101: How Farouk builds custom software without knowing how to code.
• [00:10:00] The KPI Lie: Why "files per person" is a garbage metric and how to build one that actually accounts for compliance and complexity.
• [00:14:45] Why Freight Isn't Uber: The relationship moat and why trust scales better than pure code.

Listen. It's awesome. I promise. And I'm not the slightly bit biased.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to another "uneventful" week in Global Freight. 📍 This week, Eytan opens with a dad-joke for the ages: What is the White House's favorite craft beer? An IEEPA. 🍺 (International Emergency Economic Powers Act). It’s a bitter brew that the Supreme Court just poured down the drain.

In this episode #21, Judah and Eytan break down the Section 122 Pivot. After SCOTUS struck down the IEEPA tariffs, the administration moved at record speed to implement a 10% global tariff using "Balance of Payments" law. It’s a 150-day stopgap that expires in July, effectively flattening the trade landscape—but at what cost?

We also cover:

• The Refund Mess: FedEx is suing for their money back, but don't expect a quick check in the mail.
• The Panama Canal Power Move: Why the US pushed out Hutchinson Ports and handed the keys to Maersk and MSC.
• Cyclone Bombs: How the second major storm in weeks is rattling Northeast logistics.

Full weekly update here: Ocean rates ease as LNY begins; US port call fees again?

Freightos Trade War Update: Trade War Update: Supreme Court Cancels IEEPA – Analysis and Implications

Chapters: 

00:00:00 — The IEEPA Joke & the SCOTUS Bombshell. 

00:01:30 — Section 122: The 10% Global Stopgap (and the jump to 15%). 

00:03:00 — Flattening the Landscape: From China to Brazil. 

00:05:30 — The Velocity Shift: Why "Weekend Tariffs" are officially dead. 

00:08:15 — The $175B Refund Mess: FedEx sues the government. 

00:10:00 — The Panama Takeover: Maersk, MSC, and the end of Hutchinson.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

They never thought we'd make it, but here we are: Episode 20. We’ve been talking about Lunar New Year for six weeks, but we were still blindsided by the reality of it this week. Forget the traditional benchmarks—Judah’s inbox is currently the world’s most accurate economic indicator, overflowing with hundreds of out-of-office replies.

In this episode, we break down the Ocean Rate Cliff, with East Coast rates falling 12% to $3,000/container. We also dive into the week's biggest shocker: the White House’s Maritime Action Plan. We’re talking about proposed port call fees that could hit as high as $4,000 per container. That’s not a fee; that’s a structural rewrite of US trade.

Plus, we look at the Hapag-Lloyd acquisition of Zim, a move that could consolidate 3 million TEUs under one digital-first banner.

Full weekly update here: Ocean rates ease as LNY begins; US port call fees again?

Chapters: 

00:00:00 — The Out-of-Office Index: Why Judah’s inbox is the real LNY benchmark. 

00:01:30 — Ocean Rate Cliff: 12% drops and the post-holiday plateau. 

00:02:45 — Air Cargo's Short Lead Spike: Why China-US hit $7.40/kg. 

00:03:15 — The Hapag-Zim Merger: Consolidating 3 million TEUs. 

00:05:30 — The $4,000 Threat: The White House Maritime Action Plan. 

00:07:00 — Witty Banter: Eytan tries (and fails) to get Judah to seal the deal.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

We’re back for episode 19, and with Lunar New Year just days away (Feb 17th), the "Gear Down" is officially here. Manufacturing is slowing down, and for the first time this year, we don't have a major geopolitical change to talk about. It almost feels... quiet.

In this episode, we break down the LNY Rate Slide: Asia-Europe is down to $2,400/container and the Med has plummeted to $3,600. We also tackle the massive uncertainty in Maersk’s 2026 earnings report—a $2 billion swing that could land anywhere from a $1B profit to a $1B loss depending on what happens in the Red Sea.

Finally, we find the "Power of Flowers." While ocean rates tank, Valentine’s Day has air cargo blooming, with prices to Europe spiking 17%.

Chapters: 

00:00:00 — LNY Gear Down: Why ocean rates are in a seasonal freefall. 

00:02:15 — Weather Fallout: Port shutdowns and the post-COVID trauma. 

00:03:30 — The Transpac Slump: Why the pre-LNY rush was surprisingly "muted." 

00:04:30 — The $2 Billion Coin Flip: Maersk, ONE, and the capacity crisis. 

00:06:00 — The Power of Flowers: Valentine's Day air cargo prices. 

00:07:15 — Mini-Tendering: The new playbook for move-with-the-punches agility.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Freightos' Container Bytes, Episode 18. Judah and I were just reminiscing about the fact that we don't have theme music. We still don't. But what we do have is a weather report that’s actually scarier than the geopolitics for once. Storm Kristin just put the North Atlantic in a chokehold, grounding vessels from Spain to the English Channel and proving that Mother Nature still has the biggest veto in logistics. ⛈️

In this episode, we break down the US-India "Sweet Spot" deal—a massive shift that slashed tariffs from 50% down to 18%. If you’ve been looking for a sign to diversify away from China, this is it (just mind the new energy and tech quotas). We also track the Gemini Alliance’s high-stakes gamble; Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are betting the post-Lunar New Year lull is the perfect window to sneak back through the Suez under naval escort.

Meanwhile, the Transpacific just took a 10% swan dive, with rates falling below $2,000/FEU. It’s a "mini-peak" crash that makes it a surprisingly good time to be an importer—if you can dodge the ice.

Full weekly update here: Winter weather challenges, trade deals and more tariff threats – February 3, 2026 Update

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — The Atlantic Wall: Storm Kristin and the Med shutdown. 
• 00:01:40 — Strait of Hormuz Staredown: Drones, tankers, and Jebel Ali. 
• 00:03:10 — The Gemini Gambit: Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd head back to Suez.
• 00:04:15 — The 10% Swan Dive: Why Transpacific rates just bottomed out.
• 00:06:30 — Tariff Update: The 18% US-India "Handshake."

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Happy birthday to me! 🎂 I’m Julia Frohwein, celebrating my special day by powering through another intense session with our resident freight guru, Judah Levine. The headlines are full of escalating US-Iran and Iran-Israel naval fire, but the biggest shockwave this week isn't military—it's the massive early arrival of Ocean Peak Season. 📍

In this episode, we unpack why the National Retail Federation just ripped up their previous calendar, declaring that the 2026 volume peak is hitting right now in June, instead of July. Shippers are panicking and front-loading cargo to beat the July Section 122 tariff expiration and the heavy Bunker Adjustment Factor (BAF) contract hikes. The result? A massive $1,600 single-week surge that pushed Transpacific East Coast rates above $6,000/FEU and slammed Asia-Europe lines past last year's highest peaks.

We also look at the shifting tides of Air Cargo. It’s been a year since the US clamped down on de minimis exemptions, and while e-commerce air imports dropped 11% year-on-year, the skies have been completely rescued by tech. We look at the staggering 70% year-on-year explosion in AI hardware and high-tech air imports that is redefining global aviation logistics.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Birthday Wishes & The Middle East Firefight. 
• 00:01:30 — Peak Season Redrawn: Why the NRF is shifting the volume peak to June. 
• 00:02:45 — The Triple Threat: Tariffs, July BAF cliffs, and Far East producer price hikes. 
• 00:04:45 — Rate Spikes: Transpacific hits $6,000 while the Med breaches $5,500. 
• 00:06:00 — European Port Congestion: Shippers fleeing the Golden Week crunch. 
• 00:07:30 — The US De Minimis Post-Mortem: What the EU can expect from its flat-fee roll-out. 
• 00:09:00 — The AI Boom: The 70% high-tech surge reshaping air freight.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! I’m Julia Frohwein, powering through being a bit "under the weather" this week alongside our resident freight expert Judah Levine to unpack a highly volatile session. 📍 The Persian Gulf conflict is intensifying, and while peace negotiations continue, ocean freight has officially hit the panic button on early Peak Season demand.

In this episode, we break down the massive June 1st rate explosion. Spot rates didn't just tick up—they skyrocketed by $1,000 to $1,800 per container in a single week. Shippers are aggressively front-loading volumes ahead of the massive July BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) hikes, resulting in space shortages, capped allocations, and forced premium fees. Transpacific rates have surged to $4,800/FEU to the West Coast and $6,000/FEU to the East Coast, while Asia-Europe has completely surpassed last year's peak highs.

We also look at a bombshell legal twist in the trade war: The White House has officially challenged the $166 Billion IEEPA tariff refund order. If your previous customs entries have already been "liquidated," the government is saying they won't pay you back unless you sue them directly.

Finally, we look at the newly released USTR Section 301 report targeting forced labor inputs, proposing fresh 10% to 12.5% tariffs on a massive list of global trading partners including the EU, Canada, Mexico, India, and China to replace the expiring July stopgap.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Powering Through: Julia's British "under the weather" opener. 
• 00:01:00 — June 1st Rate Explosion: The $1,800 week-on-week spot spike. 
• 00:01:45 — Capped Allocations: Why contract shippers are crowding out the spot market. 
• 00:02:15 — The BAF Front-Loading Strategy: Racing the July quarterly adjustment. 
• 00:03:15 — The $166B Refund Fight: Unliquidated vs. Liquidated entries explained. 
• 00:06:00 — Section 122 Ticking Clock: The global 10% tariff expires in July. 
• 00:06:45 — The USTR Shell Over: The new Section 301 forced labor tariff list.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! I’m Julia Frohwein, joined by our resident freight guru Judah Levine to unpack another high-velocity week in global shipping. While rumors of a negotiated end to the war have ships in the Persian Gulf optimistically drifting toward the Strait of Hormuz, experts warn that infrastructure damage means a fuel price hangover could last well into next year.

In this episode, we tackle the sudden, early arrival of Peak Season. Asia-North Europe rates have climbed back to their wartime high of $2,900/container, while Asia-Med rates exploded by 20% last week to $4,400. Shippers are aggressively front-loading cargo for two massive reasons: lingering Red Sea diversions and a desperate race to beat the July BAF (Bunker Adjustment Factor) hikes.

Over in the Transpacific, a surprise leak reveals that Amazon is moving Prime Day up to June. This single e-commerce curveball has triggered an early peak season avalanche, sending West Coast rates to $2,800/FEU and East Coast rates to $4,300/FEU, with carriers already salivating over $2,000 June GRIs.

Finally, we look at the jet fuel crisis that didn't happen. Despite the IEA’s warning six weeks ago that Europe would run dry, a mix of alternative production and radical flight cuts has stabilized the skies.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Hormuz Optimism: The literal bottleneck traffic jam. 
• 00:01:30 — The Refined Oil Hangover: Why fuel costs aren't dropping anytime soon. 
• 00:02:15 — The July BAF Cliff: The contracted shipper's ticking clock. 
• 00:03:00 — Med Rates Explode: A 20% spike signals early peak season. 
• 00:04:15 — The Prime Day Factor: Amazon moves the needle to June. 
• 00:05:45 — The Air Crisis That Wasn't: Defying the IEA's fuel starvation warning. 
• 00:07:00 — AI Hardware & E-commerce: The new pillars of resilient air cargo demand.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! I’m Julia Frohwein, joined as always by our resident freight expert Judah Levine, ready to break down another high-stakes week in global logistics. 📍 The Strait of Hormuz remains tenser than ever, with a planned US retaliatory strike temporarily pushed off by President Trump while negotiations continue in the shadow of a crumbling ceasefire.

In this episode, we tackle the massive structural shift impacting Peak Season 2026. Because of ongoing Red Sea diversions, transit lead times are longer than ever. Shippers are realizing they have to move their peak season ocean cargo now—well ahead of China's Golden Week in October—or risk their goods arriving too late for winter shelves. We look at the June GRI attempts targeting an extra $2,000 per container.

Over on the air freight side, the panicky global rate spike has stabilized, but a reverse flow is catching shippers off guard: Middle East air lanes are seeing a massive demand comeback, sending rates from Southeast Asia to the Middle East climbing to a new high of $4.75/kg.

Finally, we track the countdown to Europe's new low-value e-commerce import fees coming this July and what the legacy of the US de minimis clampdown tells us about what's next.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Hormuz Standbox: Pushed-off attacks and the baseline reality. 
• 00:01:30 — The Golden Week Countdown: Why peak season is starting early for Asia-Europe. 
• 00:03:00 — Transpacific Check-In: $1,000 premiums and June GRI expectations. 
• 00:05:00 — Air Freight Stabilization: Plateauing global indexes vs. high fuel baselines. 
• 00:06:15 — The Middle East Squeeze: Why regional air cargo rates are skyrocketing. 
• 00:06:45 — The July Tariff Clock: Europe's €2 e-commerce fee and the de minimis blueprint.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, but it officially has a new "manager." 📍 This week, Julia Frohwein and Judah Levine dive into Iran’s creation of the Persian Gulf Strait Authority—a move that signals a permanent intent to entrench authority over the passageway. While Operation Freedom managed to extract a few US-flagged vessels, the naval exchanges between the US and Iran have only added to the uncertainty.

In this episode, we break down Maersk’s $500M fuel bill. Carriers are facing massive cost pressures, and while the Transpacific is holding onto its rate gains, the Asia-Europe lanes are struggling to stay above pre-war levels during this "low demand" period. We also look at the NRF’s muted peak season forecast, projecting a July peak that is 8% lower than last year.

Finally, we tackle the latest trade war bombshell: The US Court of International Trade has invalidated Section 122 tariffs. Just as the IEEPA refunds are getting underway, a new door for tariff refunds has swung wide open.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Operation Freedom & The New Persian Gulf Strait Authority. 
• 00:01:30 — Maersk’s Earnings: The $500 Million monthly fuel surcharge reality. 
• 00:02:45 — Ocean Rate Divergence: Transpacific gains vs. Asia-Europe stagnation. 
• 00:03:45 — Muted Peak: Why the July "bump" might be a disappointment. 
• 00:05:30 — Trade War Wrinkle: Section 122 invalidated and the refund precedent. 
• 00:08:00 — Subscribe: Join the Container Bytes community.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! I’m Julia Frohwein, and I’m back with Judah Levine to break down a week that felt like a decade. We’re diving into the rapid-fire timeline of Project Freedom—the US-led effort to force transit through the Strait of Hormuz that resulted in naval skirmishes and was suspended almost as quickly as it began.

In this episode, we analyze why ocean rates are proving remarkably "sticky" despite the low-demand slow season. While Asia-Europe rates are hovering near pre-war levels, the Transpacific has seen a 50% gain since the conflict started, holding onto a $1,000/container increase even without the Lunar New Year rush.

We also cover the "May 2nd Tease": the UAE fully reopened its airspace for exactly 24 hours before renewed attacks forced a shutdown until May 11th. We explore what this "start-stop" volatility means for Emirates, Etihad, and global air cargo benchmarks that remain 25% above pre-war levels.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Project Freedom: The 48-hour naval escalation. 
• 00:01:45 — The Oil Flow Problem: Why "escorts" aren't restoring the energy market. 
• 00:02:30 — Sticky Rates: Why the Transpacific is holding a 50% gain in a slow season. 
• 00:04:15 — Manufacturing Warning: Why slowing orders in Vietnam are the new "canary in the coal mine." 
• 00:06:00 — Airspace Whiplash: The UAE’s 24-hour opening and the May 11th closure. 
• 00:07:30 — Air Index Update: Why Middle East lanes are still hitting peak pricing ($3.90/kg). 

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome to a very special episode of Container Bites! If you’re wondering why Eytan suddenly has long brown hair and a British accent—don’t panic. 📍 I’m Julia Frohwein, and I’m thrilled to be taking over the mic. This week, Judah and I dive into the "Quiet Crisis." The ceasefire is holding, but with the Strait of Hormuz still closed and the US blockade in place, oil prices are creeping back up.

We break down why Asia-Europe ocean rates are hitting a stubborn floor—50% higher than October levels—despite the seasonal lull. We also look at the high-stakes game in the skies: Lufthansa and KLM are scrapping thousands of flights to conserve fuel, and the EU is already drawing up a "Mandatory Jet Fuel Sharing Plan" to prevent a regional blackout.

Plus, we discuss why Maersk is struggling to guarantee export services out of the Gulf and how Gemini is doubling down on Jeddah as the ultimate land-bridge fallback.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Meet the New Voice: Julia takes the helm. 
• 00:01:00 — The Gulf Strain: Maersk’s export warning and the Jeddah pivot. 
• 00:02:30 — Ocean Rate Split: Why the Transpacific is winning the rate hike war. 
• 00:04:15 — Peak Season Anxiety: Will high energy costs kill consumer demand? 
• 00:06:00 — The Air Cargo "Club": Lufthansa, KLM, and the 20,000-flight cull. 
• 00:07:00 — Europe’s Fuel Stash: The EU’s emergency sharing proposal. 
• 00:08:30 — Air Index Update: Why Southeast Asia to Europe is still climbing.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Get your freight emergency kits ready, because the fuel market is bordering on absolute chaos. 

Between the IRGC boarding container ships in the Strait of Hormuz and Lufthansa slashing 20,000 flights due to fuel concerns,  capacity is getting squeezed from both ends. 

While jet fuel prices have dipped slightly from their March peak, the real ghost in the machine is availability. Europe might only have six weeks of jet fuel left in the tank, making "seasonal trends" look about as relevant as a VCR manual in 2026.

But it’s not all doom and gloom—unless you hate money. US importers are finally seeing the "CAPE" portal open for IEEPA tariff refunds. It might take 90 days to see the cash, but in a market where Transpacific rates are $800 higher than pre-war levels during what should be the "quiet" season, every cent of cash flow helps.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Get your freight Christmas sweater on (yes, even in April), because the Straits of Hormuz are getting chilly🥁. 

We’re diving into why the Hormuz blockade(ish) your ocean rates are staying surprisingly grounded while jet fuel prices are pulling an Artemis II.

Judah explains the "Inverse Crisis Correlation"-  we have so many ships due to overcapacity that even a Middle East blockade can't kick rates into high gear. 

Meanwhile, air cargo is feeling the heat as jet fuel prices double, causing airlines to slash flights faster than my kids lose their left shoes. 

Also...refunds!

The IEEPA refund portal is finally opening, and Uncle Sam owes you some lunch money.

Get the full April monthly deepdive here https://www.freightos.com/logistics-technology-insights/industry-updates/global-freight-outlook-april-2026/

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Better late than never. 

Hope your supply chain is holding up better than my audio equipment. 

The ceasefire news is hogging the headlines, but don't let the noise fool you;the Straits of Hormuz are still effectively a "no-go" zone for container ships. While carriers like CMA CGM and COSCO are trickling a few vessels out, nobody is exactly rushing back in. 

Ocean rates are staying surprisingly soft at around $2,500 for Transpacific lanes due to a massive ghost of overcapacity. Meanwhile, Air Cargo is getting absolutely pummeled, with South Asia to Europe rates spiking 60% to over $4.00/kg. It’s a tale of two markets: one is floating on a sea of extra ships, and the other is running out of jet fuel.

I’m not crying about these air rates. You are. (Actually, we both are). If we don't see fuel availability stabilize in hubs like Singapore soon, we might all be shipping via carrier pigeon.

Chapters: 

00:00 — Microphone Malfunctions and Strait Talk 

01:15 — The "Hostage" Ships: Who is actually getting out?

03:45 — The GRI Bluff: Why $6,000 rates aren't happening 

05:30 — Overcapacity: The only thing keeping ocean rates alive 

08:15 — Air Cargo's 60% Nightmare: Fuel, Flights, and Fumes

11:00 — Singapore’s Fuel Clock: 30 days and counting

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! 📍 Just a reminder that we are taking a one-week hiatus next week (July 29th), but we will be right back the following week.

In this episode, Julia Frohwein and Judah Levine tackle the newest dimension of maritime disruption: the Houthis have officially announced a transit closure through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait targeting Saudi-linked vessels and those calling at Saudi ports. This localized escalation strikes at the heart of Saudi Arabia's pipeline bypass strategy, forcing oil and regional cargo into longer, more expensive detours.

We also examine the ocean freight market, where spot rates are finally leveling off after months of aggressive increases. While crude, bunker, and jet fuel prices have rebounded by 12% to 25% over the past few weeks, the July 15th GRIs failed to materialize, indicating that the early peak season demand surge has passed its peak. However, severe port congestion in North Asia—exacerbated by a massive typhoon that left over 100 vessels waiting at Shanghai—is absorbing capacity and preventing a sharp collapse in rates.

Finally, we break down the expiration of the US Section 122 tariffs on July 24th, the upcoming Section 301 forced-labor replacement tariffs targeting 60 trading partners, and the early market adjustments following the EU’s July 1st de minimis elimination.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Housekeeping: Announcement of the July 29th hiatus. 
• 00:00:35 — The Houthi Red Sea Squeeze: Targeting Saudi-linked transits. 
• 00:02:22 — Energy Pipeline Disruptions: The impact on Saudi oil diversions. 
• 00:03:50 — Fuel Price Rebound vs. Rate Cooling: Why spot rates are leveling off. 
• 00:04:56 — The July 15th GRI Failure: Confirming the end of peak demand bookings. 
• 00:05:24 — North Asia Typhoon Congestion: Over 100 vessels queued at Shanghai. 
• 00:06:27 — Section 122 Expiration: What comes after July 24th. 
• 00:09:06 — EU De Minimis Fallout: Differential country rules and air cargo trends.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! 📍 We are hitting Episode #40, and the Strait of Hormuz has officially circled back to square one. The fragile June ceasefire has disintegrated into a high-stakes operational standoff. While the US asserts the waterway remains open via its southern channel, reality on the water tells a completely different story: drone attacks and naval skirmishes have effectively reduced commercial transits to a crawl.

In this episode, Julia Frohwein and Judah Levine unpack the immediate logistics fallout. We dissect the sudden re-implementation of the US naval blockade alongside President Trump’s recent social media proposals regarding a 20% cargo fee and military guardianship of the channel. For regional container movements, this means an indefinite extension of land-bridge dependencies and alternative routing through the UAE, while global ocean carriers like Maersk and CMA CGM prepare for another Red Sea U-turn.

We also evaluate a significant divergence in the global spot market. Crude and bunker fuel prices have rebounded roughly 10% this week, reversing their June declines. However, the overarching story remains demand-driven. The National Retail Federation (NRF) just projected that July will mark a historic, record-breaking monthly influx of 2.47 million TEU—surpassing even the pandemic-era peaks. Yet, with NRF data pointing toward sharp 10% month-on-month drops for both August and September arrivals, we analyze whether the early peak season has officially reached its ceiling, and how a severe weekend typhoon in North Asia could keep spot prices elevated despite cooling demand.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Back to the Beginning: The collapse of the June ceasefire. 
• 00:01:15 — Social Media Policy: Deconstructing the proposed 20% cargo transit fee. 
• 00:02:15 — The Red Sea U-Turn: Why ocean alliances are rolling back Suez transit plans. 
• 00:03:30 — Fuel Rebound: Crude and bunker prices climb back to mid-June baselines. 
• 00:04:45 — The 2.47 Million TEU Milestone: Breaking down July's historic arrival numbers. 
• 00:06:00 — The Peak Season Ceiling: Analyzing the NRF’s 10% August volume drop forecast. 
• 00:07:15 — The Supply-Side Constraint: How North Asian typhoons are preserving the rate floor.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! 📍 It’s July, and the Strait of Hormuz is locked in a dangerous pattern of starts, stops, and serious military escalations. Yet, the energy market is throwing a complete curveball: crude oil prices have unexpectedly plummeted back to pre-war baselines. Instead of the catastrophic energy shortages predicted months ago, the industry is suddenly bracing for a global oil oversupply.

In this episode, Julia Frohwein and Judah Levine unpack this paradox. While crude supply has recovered due to strategic reserves and alternative land pipelines, refined transportation fuels like bunker and jet fuel remain stubbornly high and slow to clear.

We also break down the state of play in the Ocean Container Market. We are officially in the thick of peak season, with Transpacific rates soaring to $6,700/FEU to the West Coast and $8,700/FEU to the East Coast. Carriers have injected record-breaking capacity to chase these margins, but a massive wall of congestion—triggered by severe weather, dense fog, and unprecedented demand—is gridlocking major Asian hubs like Shanghai, Ningbo, and Singapore.

Finally, we track the immediate fallout of the July 1st EU De Minimis Abolition. The duty-free loophole is officially closed, and the air cargo market is already registering a sharp, immediate contraction in e-commerce charter capacity.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Escalation and the Surprising Rebound: The oil oversupply reality. 
• 00:01:45 — The Refined Fuel Lag: Why bunker and jet fuel are lagging behind crude. 
• 00:02:30 — Peak Season Reality Check: Breaking down the $8,700 East Coast milestone. 
• 00:03:30 — Structural Front-Loading: De-linking the US tariff rush from Asia-Europe volumes. 
• 00:04:45 — Far East Port Gridlock: How Shanghai fog and Singapore delays are locking up ships. 
• 00:06:00 — Air Cargo Shockwave: The July 1st EU de minimis cliff cuts air capacity.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! I’m Julia Frohwein, joined as always by our resident freight expert, Judah Levine. 📍 It’s July 1st, and while it feels a bit like a broken record to talk about the Strait of Hormuz, the dynamics on the water have shifted completely. We are no longer looking at a standard blockade—we are witnessing a raw power struggle over who runs the waterway.

In this episode, we break down why Iran is using the current memorandum of understanding to enforce permanent sovereignty over the passage. They are ordering all ships to detour exclusively through their northern coastal lane. Meanwhile, a high-stakes UN evacuation effort by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) along the southern coast of Oman has been abruptly paused after an Evergreen container vessel was targeted by gunfire. This has left carriers stranded back in "stop-and-start" limbo, relying heavily on land-bridge bypasses through the UAE.

We also dive into the massive July 1st BAF Reset. Bunker fuel prices actually dropped in June, but contract shippers are getting hammered anyway. Because contract Bunker Adjustment Factors (BAFs) are adjusted quarterly based on retrospective carrier costs, the peak wartime energy bills from Q2 are officially hitting invoices today. Combined with factory price increases and the looming July 24th Section 122 tariff expiration, this triple threat has triggered an intense front-loading wave that has doubled Transpacific West Coast rates to over $6,000/FEU.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Broken Record: The July 1st landscape and the Hormuz reality. 
• 00:01:00 — Sovereign Squeeze: Iran’s new northern transit lane rules. 
• 00:01:45 — The Evergreen Incident: Why the IMO just paused its Oman evacuation channel. 
• 00:02:45 — The Land-Bridge Default: Keeping UAE connections alive amid the chaos. 
• 00:03:30 — The Q3 BAF Trigger: Contract holders pay for Q2's war bills today. 
• 00:05:00 — Peak Front-Loading: Why the NRF says the peak hit in June. 
• 00:06:45 — The July 24th Tariff Wall: Scrambling ahead of Section 122's exit. 
• 00:07:30 — The July 1st GRI Wave: Will carriers make the new peak surcharges stick?

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! I’m Julia Frohwein, alongside our resident freight expert, Judah Levine. 📍 Let's get "Strait" to it. (Yes, it's a bad joke, but things are moving too fast to pass up a pun). Following the historic US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding, the Strait of Hormuz is finally seeing a trickle of traffic. But behind the headlines, the reality is a logistical obstacle course.

In this episode, we expose the secret military hotline opened between the US and Iran to coordinate transits. The traditional middle channel is still a total no-go due to mines, forcing the IMO and Oman to set up a rigid, emergency transit mechanism along the coastline. Tankers are getting the priority check, while container carriers are playing it safe—running strictly feeder vessels into the Gulf to avoid losing their mega-ships to another lockdown.

We also break down why ocean spot rates have violently decoupled from reality. While crude prices and bunker fuel are tumbling (down 25% from March), container spot rates have exploded by a staggering $2,000 to $3,000 since the end of May. Shippers are caught in an absolute front-loading frenzy to beat the July contract BAF cliff, producer price hikes, and looming tariff changes. Transpacific rates have slammed into $6,000/FEU for the West Coast and $8,000/FEU for the East Coast.

Finally, we track the massive regulatory tectonic shift landing in July. As the EU officially kills its de minimis exemption, a massive loophole has emerged: The UK is keeping its de minimis until 2029. We explore why the British market is bracing for a tidal wave of diverted, cheap Chinese e-commerce packages turning the UK into Europe’s ultimate trade backdoor.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Strait to It: The US-Iran hotline and the new status quo. 
• 00:01:15 — The Coastline Reservation System: IMO and Oman take the wheel. 
• 00:02:00 — Feeder Ship Pivot: Why ocean alliances are refusing to risk long-haul mega-ships. 
• 00:03:00 — Fuel Deflation vs. Peak Inflation: Why dropping oil prices aren't saving your rates. 
• 00:04:15 — The June Spot Monster: Breaking down the $8,000 East Coast reality. 
• 00:05:30 — Overcapacity Masked: How front-loading broke the rules of supply and demand. 
• 00:06:45 — The UK Loophole: Turning Britain into an e-commerce smuggler's paradise.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! 📍 This week, Julia Frohwein is riding that post-birthday glow alongside our resident freight expert, Judah Levine, to break down a massive, chaotic turn of events. Headlines are screaming about a historic US-Iran interim peace agreement, but before you celebrate the "full reopening" of the Strait of Hormuz by this weekend, you need to read the fine print.

In this episode, we unpack why a signed memorandum of understanding won't magically fix your supply chain overnight. Between required 30-day implementations, a 60-day deadline for a final peace deal, and a waterway cluttered with suspected maritime mines, experts warn it will take weeks just to get transits back to half of normal capacity.

We also tackle the June Rate Monster. Spot rates didn't just climb; they exploded with the mid-month June 15th GRI wave. Transpacific rates to the West Coast surged an insane 25% in days, approaching $6,000/container—meaning rates have climbed a vertical $2,700 just since the end of May.

Finally, we hit the courtroom for the latest Section 122 plot twist. An appellate court just gave the government permission to keep collecting the 10% global tariff, leaving a massive question mark over whether importers will ever see those refunds.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Post-Birthday Glow & The Trump Peace Announcement. 
• 00:01:00 — The 60-Day Clock: Breaking down the interim peace agreement text. 
• 00:01:45 — Maritime Minefields: Why the narrow safe channels are causing a bottleneck. 
• 00:02:45 — The Gulf Logistics Reset: Maersk’s routing shift and land-bridge strain. 
• 00:03:30 — The Q3 BAF Hangover: Why big contract holders pay for the war next month anyway. 
• 00:05:00 — June 15th Explosion: Shifting the peak as West Coast rates hit $6,000. 
• 00:06:45 — Section 122 Court Twist: Appellate rulings and the vanishing refund dream.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! 📍 We hope you didn't miss us too much during our one-week hiatus—we are back in action.

In this episode, Julia Frohwein and Judah Levine examine a potential new diplomatic development: a proposed bilateral agreement between Iran and Oman aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Under this proposal, vessels would coordinate entry through the northern Iranian channel and exit via the southern Omani channel, without transiting tolls for 60 days. We analyze what this means for ocean carriers, why long-haul container vessels will likely remain cautious until stability is guaranteed, and how recent energy market shifts have brought crude oil prices down while bunker fuel costs remain 50% above pre-war baselines.

We also dive into the ocean freight spot market, where major trade lanes are beginning to diverge. Asia-Europe and Mediterranean rates have dropped roughly 15% from their July peaks, with Asia-North Europe falling to $5,000/FEU. Conversely, Transpacific West Coast rates spiked by $1,000 to $7,000/FEU following August 1st GRIs, supported by low inventory levels and ongoing front-loading activity.

Finally, we look at the tariff landscape following the July 24th expiration of Section 122 tariffs, as the White House rolls out Section 301 forced-labor replacement tariffs ranging from 10% to 12.5% across 60 trading partners.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — We're Back: Returning from hiatus. 
• 00:00:25 — The Iran-Oman Framework: A new proposal to reopen Hormuz. 
• 00:02:12 — Carrier Caution: Why mega-ships are waiting out the diplomatic process. 
• 00:04:00 — Energy Market Shift: Crude prices drop as bunker fuel costs remain elevated. 
• 00:05:15 — Rate Divergence: Asia-Europe rates ease while Transpacific rebounds. 
• 00:07:36 — Tariff Transition: Section 122 expires as new Section 301 tariffs take effect. 
• 00:10:32 — Weather Gridlock: Consecutive typhoons maintain pressure on port capacity.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome back to Container Bytes! 📍 Julia Frohwein is back from vacation, joining Judah Levine to analyze a hectic week across international trade and global freight.

In this episode, we break down the last-minute breakdown of US-Canada trade talks. Despite weekend announcements that an agreement was signed, negotiations collapsed over last-minute demands, triggering 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of cross-border goods for both countries. We explore how this cross-border disruption mostly impacts trucking rather than ocean freight, alongside new US sanctions against countries trading with Iran and looming November port call fees on Chinese-built vessels.

We also dive into the ocean freight market, where trade routes continue to diverge. On the Transpacific, West Coast rates rebounded to $7,600/FEU—matching July peaks—while East Coast rates climbed to $9,800/FEU. This resilience is supported by steady US consumer spending and a smooth transition from Section 122 to Section 301 forced-labor tariffs. Conversely, Asia-Europe rates continue to ease, dropping to $5,000/FEU to the Mediterranean and $4,700/FEU to North Europe, though severe congestion from Far East typhoons and Rhine River droughts is keeping a floor under prices.

Finally, we track the growing list of carriers—now including MSC alongside CMA CGM, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and Cosco—reinstating transits through the Red Sea as high bunker fuel costs and chronic port gridlock outweigh security concerns.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Welcome Back: Julia returns from vacation. 
• 00:00:25 — US-Iran Sanctions: Tightening pressure and China-US trade implications. 
• 00:02:10 — Red Sea Resumption: MSC joins the list of carriers returning to Suez. 
• 00:04:45 — US-Canada Tariff Collapse: Last-minute breakdown triggers 50% retaliatory tariffs. 
• 00:06:20 — Transpacific Rate Resilience: West Coast hits $7,600/FEU and East Coast reaches $9,800/FEU. 
• 00:08:50 — Panama Canal Surcharges: Importers prepare for upcoming October draft cuts. 
• 00:09:45 — River Drought Congestion: Rhine and Amazon low water levels tie up port capacity.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome to this week's edition of Container Bytes! Judah Levine, Head of Research at Freightos, is hosting solo again this week while Julia continues her vacation.

In this episode, we unpack why ocean carriers—including Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, Cosco, and MSC—are taking steps to resume Red Sea transits despite the collapse of the US-Iran memorandum and ongoing Houthi threats. Driven by surging bunker fuel prices, the extended trip around Africa's Cape of Good Hope has grown significantly more expensive. Combined with chronic port congestion that is tying up global fleet capacity, carriers are re-evaluating the economics of shorter Red Sea transits.

We also examine the broader container market where port congestion in North Europe and Asia has shifted from a seasonal issue to a baseline operational constraint. While Asia-Europe rates have cooled about 20% from their July highs to $5,000/FEU, Transpacific West Coast rates surged back to $7,400/FEU, and East Coast prices remain elevated above $9,000/FEU.

Finally, we track upcoming cost factors hitting importers in September: emergency bunker surcharges, Panama Canal draft reductions ahead of projected El Niño droughts, and air cargo rate fluctuations following recent typhoons.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Solo Session: Judah hosting while Julia remains on vacation. 
• 00:00:10 — Strait of Hormuz Status Quo: MOU expiration resets regional baselines. 
• 00:00:46 — Red Sea Routing Economics: High bunker costs drive carriers back to Suez. 
• 00:02:19 — Chronic Port Congestion: How gridlock became the baseline in Europe and Asia. 
• 00:04:07 — Asia-Europe Rate Cooling: Spot prices drop 20% from July peaks. 
• 00:05:21 — Transpacific Resilience: West Coast rebounds to $7,400 as demand holds. 
• 00:06:16 — Surcharge Wave: BAF increases and Panama Canal restrictions set for September. 
• 00:08:26 — Air Cargo Shifts: Typhoon disruptions and post-de minimis capacity movements.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

Welcome to this week's edition of Container Bytes! I'm Judah Levine, Head of Research, hosting solo this week as Julia takes a well-deserved vacation. 📍

In this episode, we unpack why the anticipated Oman-Iran agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has fallen apart. New demands from Iran—including reparations, transit fees, and vessel bans—have pushed hopes of an imminent resolution back, returning regional maritime transport to a strict wartime status quo. However, in a surprising counter-trend, ocean carriers including Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, Cosco, and CMA CGM are reinstating select Red Sea transits despite localized Houthi threats against Saudi-linked trade.

We also break down the divergence across global ocean freight routes. While Asia-Europe spot rates have fallen about 15% ($1,000/FEU) from their early summer peaks due to easing demand, Transpacific rates have stubbornly rebounded. West Coast rates surged back to $7,400/FEU, and East Coast prices climbed to $9,400/FEU.

Finally, we analyze why the National Retail Federation (NRF) just revised its forecast: instead of an early end to peak season, US importers are sustaining strong demand through August and September thanks to resilient consumer spending and a smooth transition from Section 122 to Section 301 tariffs.

Chapters: 

• 00:00:00 — Solo Session: Judah hosting while Julia is on vacation. 
• 00:00:13 — Oman Deal Collapse: Iranian demands push back Hormuz reopening hopes. 
• 00:01:43 — The Red Sea Pivot: Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, and Cosco step back into the Red Sea. 
• 00:03:02 — Rate Floor Reality: Energy prices hold steady while spot rates diverge. 
• 00:03:36 — Asia-Europe Cool Down: Rates drop 15% amid blank sailings and Rhine River droughts. 
• 00:05:26 — The Transpacific Rebound: West Coast jumps back to $7,400 as demand holds. 
• 00:07:19 — NRF Revision: Why US peak season is lasting longer than expected. 
• 00:08:44 — Air Cargo Adjustment: Jet fuel surcharges push China-North America to $6/kg.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. 

For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.