Here’s an interesting dilemma that’s been causing barge rates to rise in Europe: unusually low water levels in the Rhine River have caused higher rates for shipping products along the river, a main waterway for refineries and chemical plants in Germany and Switzerland. Because of the low levels, vessels have been forced to lighten their [...]
Over the past several months, shippers have watched container freight rates fluctuate constantly in an apparently very unstable market. It has become an issue for shippers, who cannot forecast their transport costs, as well as container shipping companies and freight forwarders. According to Drewry Shipping Consultants, via Logistics Today: In the past year, Drewry’s global freight [...]
A report in International Freighting Weekly claims that certain forwarders have lowered their rates to un-necessarily low levels, in order to increase their market share. This can be problematic because it drives down margins for the entire industry, and makes it difficult for carriers to raise the revenue necessary to maintain their services. Meanwhile, the accused [...]
Finally, some good news for container lines. The seasonal rise in cargo volumes is expected to raise transportation rates, according to Logistics Management. For shippers, this is both good and bad news. Although they will most likely face higher prices, the risk of shipping goods will be lowered as shipping companies become more stable, and [...]
