The Loadstar

The Loadstar is fast becoming known at the highest levels of logistics and supply chain management as one of the best sources of influential analysis and commentary.


Friday, August 1, 2025
Aerial top view of a containership at port. Stock Photo: Shutterstock/Avigator Fortuner
Shipping

Container Spot Rates Flat as Peak Season Fails to Materialize

Container spot freight rates on the major east-west trades were barely unchanged for yet another week, as expected peak season volumes are yet to materialise

August 1, 2025
Total Views: 649

Friday, July 25, 2025
A cargo ship is moored in the Port of Long Beach while cranes retrieve cargo containers from the ship
Shipping

Transpacific and Asia-Europe Spot Rates Soften Despite Looming GRIs

Spot container freight rates on the transpacific and Asia-Europe trades continued to soften this week, with no general rate increases (GRIs) or peak season

July 25, 2025
Total Views: 575

Friday, July 18, 2025
A cargo ship is moored in the Port of Long Beach while cranes retrieve cargo containers from the ship
Shipping

GRIs Fizzle as Transpacific Spot Rates Extend Losing Streak

It was a relatively flat week for pricing on the major deepsea box shipping trades, with a scheduled mid-week general rate increase (GRI) failing to lift

July 18, 2025
Total Views: 851

Thursday, July 17, 2025
Aerial top view of a containership underway
Shipping

Container Shipping Faces Prolonged Overcapacity Through 2028, Analysts Warn

Liner analysts have warned that the supply and demand curve will continue to widen before hitting a peak in 2028, as vessel orderbooks grow and demolition

July 17, 2025
Total Views: 824

Friday, July 11, 2025
port of Hamburg
Shipping

Asian-Europe Container Freight Rally Pauses as Spot Rates Soften

It seems the recent container freight spot rate rally on the Asia-North Europe trade might have come to an end, at least

July 11, 2025
Total Views: 577

Friday, July 4, 2025
Aerial view of a container terminal
Shipping

Asia-Europe Container Rates Overtake Transpacific for First Time in 2025

By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – For the first time since the beginning of this year it is now more expensive to ship a 40ft container from Asia to

July 4, 2025
Total Views: 986

Friday, June 13, 2025
US Navy warship escorting Maersk ship
Shipping

Container Shipping Faces New Threats After Israeli Strikes on Iran

Commercial shipping in the Middle East may face a new threat after a wave of Israeli attacks against Iran’s military and nuclear leadership further

June 13, 2025
Total Views: 2170

Friday, June 6, 2025
Aerial view of a container ship
Shipping

Container Spot Rates Surge as June GRIs Kick In

Container spot freight rates on the transpacific and Asia-Europe trades saw a massive jump this week, as a series of 1 June general rate increases (GRIs) took

June 6, 2025
Total Views: 1294

Friday, May 23, 2025
Aerial top view of a containership underway
Shipping

Tariff Truce Spurs a Slow-Burn Surge in Transpacific Freight Rates

Container spot freight rates on the transpacific continued to trend upwards this week, albeit at a far gentler pace than last week’s GRI-induced double-digit

May 23, 2025
Total Views: 466

Thursday, May 22, 2025
The busy container port and natural scenery in Shanghai, China
Shipping

Warning Shot: GRIs Reveal Carrier Playbook Amid Tariff Rush

General rate increases (GRIs) give a “clear indication of ocean carrier intentions”, and raise alarm bells for their clients with long-term

May 22, 2025
Total Views: 571

Monday, May 19, 2025
A OOCL containership docks at the Port of Long Beach
Shipping

Transpacific Gridlock Looms Tariff Truce Triggers Freight Frenzy

Transpacific shippers keen to take advantage of the 90-day tariff time-out are likely to be faced with tight capacity and soaring freight rates as new volumes

May 19, 2025
Total Views: 869

Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Aerial top view of a containership underway
Shipping

Carriers Roll Out Rate Increases Amid US-China Tariff Pause

After the US and Chinese governments agreed to slash reciprocal tariffs, shipping lines are expecting an early peak season on the transpacific eastbound trade,

May 13, 2025
Total Views: 1672

Monday, May 12, 2025
E-Commerce Likely the Front-Runner in Resurge of Transpacific Trade After Deal
Shipping

E-Commerce Likely the Front-Runner in Resurge of Transpacific Trade After Deal

Trade flows – including ecommerce – are expected to restart on the transpacific after the initial new tariff agreement between the US and China. Talks

May 12, 2025
Total Views: 546

Friday, May 2, 2025
Aerial top view of a containership at port. Stock Photo: Shutterstock/Avigator Fortuner
Shipping

Blanked Sailings Buoy Spot Rates Amid Broad Market Slide

Spot rates across all the major east-west deepsea trades continued their downward descent this week, although it has become increasingly clear that widespread

May 2, 2025
Total Views: 816

Friday, April 25, 2025
Aerial view of a container ship
Shipping

Blank Sailings Cushion Fall for Container Spot Rates

Container freight spot rates maintained their downward trajectory this week, as tariff uncertainty continued to plague the transpacific market and demand

April 25, 2025
Total Views: 1136

Wednesday, April 23, 2025
A OOCL containership docks at the Port of Long Beach
Shipping

Trump’s China-Built Ship Fees Spark Chaos in Global Carrier Alliances

The USTR fees for China-built shipping threaten a “complete destabilisation” of the ocean alliances, as the carriers with box ships exempt from the

April 23, 2025
Total Views: 1659

Wednesday, March 26, 2025
HMM Takes Delivery of Its First Methanol-Powered Containership
Shipping

HMM Takes Delivery of Its First Methanol-Powered Containership

South Korean shipping line HMM has taken delivery of the HMM Green (above), the first in a series of nine 9,000 teu methanol-fuelled containerships being

March 26, 2025
Total Views: 1392

Tuesday, March 25, 2025
CMA CGM Iron docked in Singapore - stern view
Shipping

Despite Sourcing Shifts, ‘Don’t Write-off China’, Says CMA CGM CCO

China cannot be written off completely from supply chains, despite tension with the US and manufacturing shifts towards South-east Asia, according to CMA

March 25, 2025
Total Views: 1306

Friday, March 21, 2025
atlantic star
Shipping

USTR Tariff Could Scuttle ACL’s U.S. Operations, CEO Warns

Niche transatlantic carrier Atlantic Container Line (ACL) has warned it would have to exit the trade if the US Trade Representative (USTR) enforces its

March 21, 2025
Total Views: 2521

Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Southwest Washington-grown white wheat is loaded onto the M/V LIBERTY GLORY (Photo Credit - American Maritime Congress)
Shipping

U.S. Ag Exports Caught in the Crossfire as China Retaliates on Tariffs

Chinese retaliation to US tariffs will hit the “low-margin” agricultural sector the hardest, and White House officials haven’t grasped the full impact,

March 11, 2025
Total Views: 2211