Transpacific Peaks, Demand Splits, Middle East Risks Mount

Transpacific rates appear to have peaked, Asia to North Europe keeps sliding toward a floor, and the risk picture across the Middle East is getting harder to plan around.

In this episode, Lars Jensen and Rich Heath cover:

• Signs of a Transpacific peak, with USWC easing and USEC flattening, and the steady Asia to North Europe decline since July
• August demand data: Asia-Europe down 1.7% year on year while the Transpacific grew 10.8%, and why neither trade fits a simple weak or strong label
• Iranian attacks well beyond the Strait of Hormuz, Houthi strikes deep into Saudi Arabia, and what shippers can do when rerouting is out of their control
• Africa’s import growth, OOCL’s Q3 results, Asia to East Coast South America service changes, and El Niño risk at the Panama Canal