In this episode of The Loadstar’s News in Brief Podcast, host and news reporter Charlotte Goldstone recaps last week’s supply chain and logistics news and offers exclusive insight into what will be appearing on The Loadstar this week.

The Loadstar’s managing editor, Gavin van Marle, discusses exactly how the Red Sea crisis has caused complications along the Asia to Europe trade, and how this translated into last week's ocean freight rates.

And The Loadstar publisher, Alex Lennane, explains how things are heating up in air cargo and what this is doing to air freight rates, as well as summarising the key points of a recent Flexport legal battle.

So, what are you waiting for? This bite-sized news podcast will catch you up on anything you might have missed last week and put you ahead of the curve on this week’s happenings, all in under 10 minutes.

In this episode, host Mike King and guests delve into the intricate puzzles of global supply chains amidst geopolitical turmoil, trade disputes, and unpredictable market conditions.

They cover Middle East supply chain disruptions, surges in the Asia-Mexico trade lane, evolving air cargo market dynamics in the wake of air space closures, and the rise of Chinese e-tailers.

They also consider how shippers can navigate multiple supply chain risks and ask whether some have shipped cargo early this year. If so, what does this mean for the traditional Q3 peak season?

Conversely, if demand increases substantially in the months ahead, can already strained liner networks cope?

Guests

Tom Crabtree, Managing Director, Trade and Transport Group

Peter Sand, Chief Analyst, Xeneta

Gavin van Marle, Managing Editor. The Loadstar

Episode in more detail:

Part 1 – Container shipping (00:00-38:00)

Key questions tackled:

How do you plan around ever-changing Middle East risk?

Has European trade decoupled from economic growth or is this an early peak season?

Why is Asia to Mexico the most dynamic trade lane in the world?

Why are Chinese exports seemingly outstripping demand? Is this dumping and will it result in more tariffs from importers?

Given record containership deliveries, what happens if the Suez Canal reopens?

If we have a traditional container shipping peak season, can stretched liner networks cope with a surge in demand?

Part 2 - Air cargo analysis (38:00-58:00)

Key questions examined:

Are we seeing a fundamental shift in e-commerce demand?

Will Chinese e-tailers new business models prove sustainable?

How are air space closures for some carriers impacting global freighter and bellyhold operations?

How is shipping disruption firing demand?

What impact will more (and higher) tariffs have on trade?

Air freight supply and demand – where next?

Credits: Created, hosted and produced by Mike King & Associates for The Loadstar www.theloadstar.com

In this inaugural episode of The Loadstar’s ‘News in Brief Podcast’, host and news reporter Charlotte Goldstone recaps last week’s supply chain and logistics news and offers exclusive insight into what will be appearing on The Loadstar this week.

The Loadstar’s managing editor, Gavin van Marle, discusses how recent ocean freight rates and rising surcharges translated into last week’s ocean carrier Q1 results. And The Loadstar publisher, Alex Lennane, condenses the key points of our recent ecommerce series and explains what’s worrying air cargo players in the year ahead.

So, what are you waiting for? This bite-sized news podcast will catch you up on anything you might have missed last week and puts you ahead of the curve on this week’s happenings.