In this episode, host Mike King and guests discuss the imminent threat of a major dockworker strike on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts and its potential to disrupt more than half of the nation's container shipping capacity. With the clock ticking on labour negotiations, businesses are facing the possibility of severe disruption to logistics, supply chains and pricing.

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

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

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

Guests

Michael Angell, Senior Editor, Journal of Commerce

John McCown, Senior Fellow, Center for Maritime Strategy

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

This episode, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, focuses on what buyers need to know about the looming air cargo peak season as freight rates soar.

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

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

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

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

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

Guests

Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA

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

Peyton Burnett, MD, TAC Index

Episode in more detail:

Air cargo’s Indian summer (2.31)

Market drivers (3.40)

SE Asia wins (4.48)

Heightened security risk (6.02)

Suez diversions + e-tailers (10.14)

Capacity crunch and charters (13.46)

US dockworker strikes (15.32)

What price peak season rates (17.54)

U.S. tariff threat (22.20)

China+1 challenges and opportunities (30.53)

How to speed up air cargo (35.16)

Air freight’s wish list (41.47)

Supply, demand and rates in 2025 (43.07)

Solid foundations or house of cards? (47.42)

The state of SAF (54.24)

In this extended clip from Episode 21 of The Freight Buyers' Club, Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel Maffei explains the latest D&D rule changes, how shippers can protect themselves from unfair fees, and how the FMC is SMEs. FBC is produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group and is available on all podcast platforms and YouTube.

In this extended clip from EP 22, Mike King is talking to Jason Miller, Eli Broad Professor in Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University, and Jessica Dankert, Vice President Supply Chain, Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) about the economic and trade implications of a ramping up of US tariffs. Who pays for this and what does it mean for the US economy?

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

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

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King and his guests Jessica Dankert, Vice President Supply Chain at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), and Jason Miller, Eli Broad Professor in Supply Chain Management at Michigan State University, examine the complexities and challenges of today's supply chain landscape.

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

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

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

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

Guests:

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

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

In this episode of The Freight Buyers' Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King addresses the most critical issues impacting the global supply chain. An exclusive interview with Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel Maffei reveals the potential effects of the forthcoming U.S. presidential elections on the FMC’s powers. The conversation also explores why U.S. legislators are targeting the Shanghai Shipping Exchange and what U.S. shippers can do to safeguard their operations amid unexpected challenges such as unseasonally strong Q2 demand and Red Sea diversions.

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

Guests

Daniel Maffei, Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission

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

In this clip from EP19 of The Freight Buyers' Club podcast, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King is chatting to Hua Joo Tan, Founder of Linerlytica, about the 2025 restructuring of the container shipping alliance system.

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

This episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, hosted by Mike King and supported by Dimerco Express Group, delves into current trans-Pacific shipping trends and challenges, particularly in relation air cargo and supply chain dynamics.

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

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

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

Guests

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

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

The current global container shipping landscape, viewed through the lens of freight buyers, rivals the complexity seen during the Covid era. Threats of new US tariffs, shipping and geopolitical risks spanning the Middle East and beyond, and substantial shifts in the liner shipping alliance system are casting significant shadows.

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

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

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

Guest

Hua Joo Tan, Founder, LINERLYTICA

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, host Mike King delves into the current state of global trade amidst geopolitical tensions and disruptions with renowned economist, historian, and journalist, Marc Levinson. They explore the long-term implications for importers, exporters, carriers, and the entire transport ecosystem.

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

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

Episode in more detail:

A fractured trading environment (02.18)

Deaton and the merits of globalisation (04.45)

Has trade growth peaked? (09.31)

Products

Technology implications for trade volumes (16.12)

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

Container lines as integrators (21.24)

Competitive advantage and geopolitics (24.54)

Sourcing diversification (26.00)

Trade and security policy (29.13)

A new cold war? (32.41)

SMEs and protectionism (35.05)

Net zero or ground zero (38.12)

About Marc Levinson

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

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

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

Uncertainty and risk haunt supply chains right now, just as they shadow global politics and economics. Indeed, the future of trade and the musical chairs of international relations have possibly not been tethered so tightly since at least the Cold War, and perhaps even the Second World War.

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

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

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

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

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

Guests:

Jon Monroe, President, Jon Monroe Consulting

Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association (AfA)

Episode notes:

‘Rethinking my economics’, Angus Deaton.

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

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

In this deep dive into US logistics and international trade, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King explores whether 2024 could see a major surge of cargo into US West Coast terminals.

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

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

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

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

Guests:

Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer, Port of Long Beach

Bjorn Vang Jensen, Executive Director for International Transport, Cummins

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

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

Matt Schrap, CEO, Harbor Trucking Association

In this clip from EP 24 of the Freight Buyers' Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, Torsten Hartmann, Senior Director Trade Management for the Transpacific at Hapag-Lloyd explains what US shippers can expect next year from the Gemini Cooperation.

 #SupplyChain #GlobalTrade #Logistics #SportsIndustry #FreightBuyersClub

In this news insights episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, host Mike King is talking U.S. trucking, drayage, domestic freight demand and international trade with Matt Schrap, CEO of the Harbor Trucking Association.

Among other topics, they delve into:

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

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

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

In this news insight episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach, outlines why the de facto closure of the Suez Canal to container shipping, low water levels on the Panama Canal, and the threat of union action at rival ports on the US East and Gulf Coast, are creating a unique window of opportunity for West Coast trade gateways.

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

In this special News Insight episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, host Mike King discusses the following with Robert Subbaraman, Head of Global Markets Research at Nomura:

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

In this episode, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King has an in-depth discussion with Bjorn Vang Jensen, Executive Director for International Transport at American multinational Cummins, on all things shipping and supply chain.

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

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

More on Bjorn Vang Jensen:

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

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

In this clip from EP14 of The Freight Buyers' Club podcast, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King hears that the threat of union action at US east and Gulf coast ports later this year is already prompting retailers to route cargo via west coast terminals. Mike is talking to: Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor, Journal of Commerce Jon Gold, VP for Supply Chain and Customs Policy, National Retail Federation

In this special new insight episode, host Mike King and Brendan Sullivan, Global Head, Cargo, International Air Transport Association (IATA), discuss if air cargo is ready to fill supply chain shortages emerging as a result of the Red Sea shipping crisis.

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

In this clip from EP14 of The Freight Buyers' Club podcast, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King asks who will foot the bill as a combination of factors including diversions away from the Suez Canal impact global supply chains and trade.

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

In this episode, host Mike King and guests examine the multiple challenges facing international trade in the early days of 2024 as supply chain disruptions mount and container shipping freight rates soar.

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

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

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

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

Guests

Mark Szakonyi, Executive Editor, Journal of Commerce

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

Episode in more detail:

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

Freight rates surge contagion (3.39)

The implications of vessel diversion (7.08)

Mitigation strategies for retailers (11.41)

Panama Canal water shortage (13.26)

Are shippers 2024’s biggest losers? (15.13)

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

Geopolitical risks in 2024 (23.09)

Value chains and democracy vs autocracy (24.44)

The future of globalisation (28.12)

The US elections (30.06)

US east coast dockworker strike threat (34.44)

Retailers shift cargo to West Coast (38.14)

In this special news insight episode, Mike King is joined by Alvin Fuh, shipping veteran and current Special Assistant to Chief Executive Officer at Dimerco Express Group, for an update on the Red Sea/Suez Canal shipping crisis. They also explore shipper options as transit times increase and Asia-Europe ocean shipping freight rates soar.

In this episode of the Freight Buyers’ Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, the big freight, economic and shipping stories of 2023 are put under the microscope when host Mike King speaks to Paul Berger, The Wall Street Journal’s Logistics & Supply Chain Reporter. The implications of the Yellow and Convoy bankruptcies are examined. Mike and Paul also discuss shipper risk and the economic outlook in 2024, and why labour disputes might further disrupt supply chains in the months ahead.

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

Guests

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

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

Episode in more detail:

2023 in review (1.56)

ILWU settlement implications (4.47)

Union risk on the eastern seaboard (7.44)

Labour unrest in 2024? (10.25)

Why freight failed to rebound (12.20)

Casualties: Yellow and Convoy (13.48)

Economic outlook and risk (15.32)

‘De-risking’ supply chains (16.58)

2024 trends and stories (20.49)

Drewry: ocean freight tender advice (22.59)

ETS – the new emissions surcharge (25.58)

Container shipping oversupply (30.34)

Shipper risk in 2024 (34.21)

Trans-Pacific outlook (38.26)

What China+1 means for container volumes (41.44)

2024 shipper risks and carrier losses (44.43)

In this clip from EP 24 of the Freight Buyers' Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, Chris Rogers, Head of Supply Chain Research at S&P Global Market Intelligence, explains why there has been a downturn in the global trade in sport equipment. 

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, produced in partnership with Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King has an exclusive interview with Bronson Hsieh, former chairman of both Evergreen and Yang Ming container lines.

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

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

Guests:

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

Kathy Liu, Senior Director, Dimerco Global Sales & Marketing

Episode in more detail:

Introducing Bronson Hsieh – container shipping legend (1.29)

US demand upswing (2.41)

Global economic forecast (4.35)

Did container lines over-order (5.45)

Will liner vertical consolidation strategies succeed (9.10)

Geopolitics, globalisation and liner implications (12.03)

Globalisation and regionalisation (13.41)

Did carriers buy the right sized ships? (14.55)

Dimerco positive on China (22.16)

Europe’s Emissions Trading System (25.06)

Will shippers pay? (29.40)

Will China and the FMC follow the EC (36.02)

Implications of exposing to carriers to competition laws (33.07)

In this episode of The Freight Buyer’s Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King looks at global and US air cargo markets.

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

Guests

Niall van de Wouw, Chief Airfreight Officer, Xeneta

Eric Kulisch, Supply Chain and Air Cargo Editor, FreightWaves

In this pilot episode of Freight Expectations, a Freight Buyers' Club podcast which will be launched in 2024, host Mike King speaks to one of the world’s foremost authors and thought leaders on logistics technology and the future of supply chains.

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

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

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

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King looks at the current global freight market, the US demand outlook, and examines why the container peak season failed to materialise.

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

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

Guests

Rajesh Srinivasan, India Country Manager, Dimerco Express Group

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

In part 1 of this episode, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King interviews one of the world’s leading economic and transport analysts: Paul Bingham, Director of Supply Chain Transportation Consulting, S&P Global Market Intelligence. They swing between freight markets and economic forecasts as they discuss Paul’s view that transport markets across modes are suffering from a pandemic ‘whipsaw effect’ which will result in consolidation and bankruptcies. Paul also believes that 2023 will be a “trough” for global growth and trade, and recovery will start in 2024, even as some key economies teeter on recession.

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

Guests: Alberto Villareal, Founder & MD, Nepanoa

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

Episode in more detail

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

Global economic and trade forecasts (1.35)

US economy, inflation and a freight recession (5.41)

Exporter outlook (8.14)

Trade and geopolitical risk (12.12)

China: decouple or de-risk? (15.22)

US domestic freight outlook (19.37)

Container lines in focus (22.39)

Part 2 Alberto Villareal, Founder & MD, Nepanoa

Global supply chain risk (30.41)

China+1 options in Asia (33.35)

Impact on Mexican exports and economy (35.37)

Key Mexico regions for FDI (40.19)

Mexican infrastructure (42.39)

Crime: the elephant in the room (47.25)

Labour costs (52.45)

In this episode host and producer Mike King explores the implications of the tentative west coast docker contract deal, the likely impact of lower water levels on the Panama Canal, retailer inventory stocks, whether there will be a shipping peak season in 2023, and just what container lines will do with the huge number of newbuilding vessels due for delivery over the next 18 months.

Guests

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

Jan Tiedemann, Head Analyst, Alphaliner

Episode in more detail

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

Retailers rejoice (5.01)

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

Strike on US East Coast? (8.51)

More shipping disruptions looming (10.26)

Non-China sourcing options (12.30)

Crime holds back Mexican sourcing (15.33)

US retailer inventory levels (17.11)

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

Liner strategy for low water levels in Panama (23.32)

The demise of the trans-Atlantic trade (29.06)

Where will lines deploy all the new ships?

How carriers are cutting out carbon (35.39)

Slow steaming to improve service levels (38.22)

In part 1 of this episode, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host and producer Mike King speaks to Lee Klaskow, Senior Freight and Transportation Logistics Analyst, Bloomberg Intelligence. He hears that while the US is likely heading in to a recession, this does not automatically mean the death of peak season. They also discuss M&A activity, restocking and destocking, and what falling Panama Canal water levels mean for trade.

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

Guests

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

Commissioner Carl Bentzel, Federal Maritime Commission

Episode in more detail

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

The Panama Canal’s falling water levels (2.09)

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

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

Container line strategy (12.32)

Freight market forecasts (15.30)

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

The FMC: shipping’s judge (20.45)

New powers (23.56)

Detention & Demurrage charges on trial ((28.43)

The Ocean Shipping Antitrust Enforcement Act (33.53)

Ocean carriers drop charges (37.48)

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

Maritime Transportation Data Initiative (47.00)

In Part 1 of this episode, host and editor Mike King speaks to two of the world’s most renowned air freight experts: Cathy Roberson, President, Logistics Trends & Insights LLC, and Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association.

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

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

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

Guests

Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association

Parisa Sadrzadeh, SVP, SMB Product & Technology, Flexport

Cathy Roberson, President, Logistics Trends & Insights LLC

Edwin Lopez, Managing Editor, Industry Dive

Episode in more detail:

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

Where next for air freight? (2.50)

The outlook for air forwarders (10.50)

Challenges for UPS and FedEx (12.09)

Labour the big logistics disruptor (18.00)

Recruitment opportunities (21.22)

Pandemic lessons and US infrastructure (25.29)

Security regime alignment (28.37)

Air cargo in 2024 (30.33)

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

Flexport deal for Shopify Logistics (39.00)

What the Shopify deal means for shippers (41.11)

Flexport to go global with e-commerce (44.00)

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

West coast docker contract negotiations – implications (47.52)

Resolution in sight? (53.51)

CPKC formation (58.30)

Geopolitics and cargo flows (1.01.59)

Bed, Bath & Beyond bankruptcy (1.03.00)

Detention & Demurrage filings and FMC powers (1.06.20)

Pandemic lessons for the US (.109.57)

In Part 1 of this episode. host and editor Mike King speaks to two freight and trade experts: Judah Levine, Head of Research at Freightos, and Jason Miller, US government advisor and Interim Chairperson, Department of Supply Chain Management, Michigan State University, Eli Broad College of Business.

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

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

Guests:

Judah Levine, Head of Research, Freightos

Neil Johnson, Co-Founder, TNETS

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

Episode in more detail:

Part 1 – Jason Miller and Judah Levine

Freight rates up – ocean and air (2.30)

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

Transpacific vs trans-Atlantic container trade demand (8.28)

US inventory levels (10.50)

Global supply chain disruptions (15.40)

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

Box ship capacity cuts (22.31)

Asia exports and demand predictions (24.47)

Part 2 – Neil Johnson

Seeking non-China alternatives (31.00)

Challenges in SE Asia (35.10)

India options (36.40)

Vietnam’s big benefits (39.11)

Comparing customs regimes (41.12)

Harmonisation challenges (43.24)

US regulations vs US trade policy (45.00)

Logistics M&A – Asia and beyond (48.22)

In part 2 of his interview with Bronson Hsieh, former chairman of both Evergreen Shipping and Yang Ming Shipping, host Mike King explores the implications of the Covid-era and the challenges facing container lines in the years ahead.

Episode in more detail:

Conclusions from the Covid years (1.00)

Liner-shipper relations (5.50)

Will we see a rates war in 2023? (8.45)

Evolving alliances (12.20)

Carrier strategy: port-to-port vs integrator model (16.30)

Are carriers cutting emissions quickly enough for customers? (19.30)

‘Green’ fuels (21.50)

The digitalisation challenge (23.50)

This episode was produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group.

In this extended clip from EP24 of The Freight Buyers' Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King is talking to Chris Rogers, Head of Supply Chain Research at S&P Global Market Intelligence, about upcoming US President elections and the disruptive element policy uncertain on tariffs brings to supply chain planning.

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club host Mike King gets a very rare and exclusive interview with one of the true titans of container shipping: Bronson Hsieh. Over a 45-year career, he has been chairman of not one, but two of the world’s biggest shipping lines – Evergreen and Yang Ming. In fact, he was vice president of Evergreen Group and chairman of Evergreen Shipping. And he was the Chairman and CEO of Taiwan-based Yang Ming Shipping.

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

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

Balance box shipping supply and demand (2.32)

A return to container shipping seasonality? (7.05)

How carriers will cur capacity (9.40)

How this downcycle compares historically (14.16)

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

Saving Yang Ming (19.00)

Current challenges (24.42)

In this special two-part episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, we tackle some of the most pressing issues in global trade and supply chains. First, we dive deep into the container shipping markets with Torsten Hartmann, Senior Director of Trade Management for the Transpacific at Hapag-Lloyd.

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

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

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

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

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

Guests

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

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

In this extended clip from #EP23 of The Freight Buyers' Club, hosted by industry veteran Mike King and produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, Lars Jensen, one of the world’s foremost container shipping and supply chain analysts, explains why any union action at US East Coast and Gulf Coast ports will have global ramifications.

In this episode of The Freight Buyers' Club, hosted by industry veteran Mike King and produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, Mike interviews Lars Jensen, one of the world’s foremost container shipping and supply chain analysts. As CEO of Vespucci Maritime, Lars brings his unparalleled expertise to the table to discuss the pressing issues facing shippers.

Topics covered include:

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

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

In this clip from EP21 of The Freight Buyers Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, host Mike King is talking with Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Daniel Maffei.

In this clip from EP 27 of the Freight Buyers' Club podcast, Stephen Olson, Visiting Fellow, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, compares and contrasts the approach to tariffs of the two U.S. presidential contenders. Big thanks to Dimerco Express for supporting this channel.

Welcome to The Freight Buyers Club, the essential podcast for global trade professionals and supply chain leaders. Hosted by Mike King and produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, each episode unpacks critical issues in international trade, geopolitics, and the logistics industry.

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

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

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

Guests

Ed Brzytwa, VP of International Trade, Consumer Technology Association 

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

In this entended clip from EP25 we are discussing why air cargo is frequently so slow. And what can be done to speed it up.

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

Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA

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

Peyton Burnett, MD, TAC Index

In this episode of The Freight Buyers' Club, we tackle a turbulent few weeks for global logistics. With parcels network security being tightened following the DHL plane crash in Vilnius, we explore the implications for freight safety and geopolitical tensions.

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

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

Guests

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

Cathy Roberson, Founder, Logistics, Trends & Insights

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

Episode in more detail:

DHL freight tragedy – security implications (2.29)

How did the US peak season go? (5.30)

Trump 2.0 – State of the Union (6.30)

New tariffs (8.16)

Economics – Republican v Orthodox (11.26)

January freight market crunch looms (14.19)

Tariffs and Trump: The view from Asia (18.51)

Accelerating China + 1 (19.55)

Frontloading? (21.27)

Reforming de minimis (23.59)

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

Geopolitical trade risk in 2025 (30.52)

Diversification of sourcing (33.26)

US domestic freight recession over? (37.05)

Crony capitalism risk (40.33)

Container shipping outlook (43.07)

Air freight outlook (45.34)

Note:

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

In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, host Mike King is joined by Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime, and Peter Tirschwell, Journal of Commerce veteran and VP at S&P Global, to explore the latest challenges and opportunities facing global trade and shipping. From the implications of Donald Trump's return to the White House and potential new tariffs on China, to the looming threat of US port shutdowns, our expert guests provide unparalleled insights.

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

Key Points Covered:

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

Guests

Lars Jensen, CEO, Vespucci Maritime

Peter Tirschwell, VP, S&P Global

In this Insight episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, host Mike King is joined by Robbert van Trooijen, founder of Inception Partners and former Regional President for Maersk, to provide forwarders and shippers with expert insights into the pressing challenges shaping supply chains in early 2025.

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

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

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

Guest

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

Is a US port strike in January good for container lines? This is an extended clip from EP 29 of The Freight Buyers' Club featuring host Mike King, Lars Jensen, CEO, Vespucci Maritime and Peter Tirschwell, VP, S&P Global.

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

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

In episode 31 of The Freight Buyers' Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, we explore the strategies and insights shippers need to navigate the ever-changing world of freight procurement and supply chain management.

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

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

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

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

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

Guests

Alan Mctaggart, VP, global logistics, Techtronic Industries

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

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

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

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

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

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