⚓Sea Freight Market Evolution ⚓
In 2024, significant geopolitical tensions and various disruptions were prevalent. Nevertheless, global demand remained robust, especially in major markets like the US and Europe. Preliminary projections for 2025 indicate record-breaking global sea freight volumes.
The industry continues to navigate a complex landscape with both opportunities and challenges; flexibility will be crucial. They must optimize operations and improve their service reliability.
That is why starting February 1, 2025, the container shipping industry will experience a major reorganization with new alliances.
‼️Here are the key changes:
1. Formation of the "Gemini Cooperation" with Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd. Their objective is a flexible and interconnected network, aiming for over 90% schedule reliability.
2. Dissolution of the "2M Alliance", then MSC will operate independently
3. Formation of "Premier Alliance" with Ocean Network Express (ONE), Hyundai Merchant Marine (HMM), and Yang Ming focusing on major East-West routes.
4. Extension of the Ocean Alliance with CMA CGM, COSCO Shipping, Evergreen, and OOCL This alliance will operate more than 330 container ships with a total capacity of 4.5 million TEUs, covering key routes such as the Trans-Pacific, Middle East, North America, and Europe-Asia.
These upcoming alliances and global geopolitical uncertainties are critical factors that will cause further disruptions and impact supply chains throughout 2025. Consequently, some connections will likely see improvements in transit time and reliability, while others may experience declines. Shippers should anticipate potential cost increases and service disruptions during the transition period.
Staying informed and adaptable will be crucial for effectively managing these changes. That is why at QualityFoil we work closely with our forwarders and all partners. We stay up to date of the market situation. Maintaining our good service to all our customers is our priority.