We’re back for episode 19, and with Lunar New Year just days away (Feb 17th), the "Gear Down" is officially here. Manufacturing is slowing down, and for the first time this year, we don't have a major geopolitical change to talk about. It almost feels... quiet.

In this episode, we break down the LNY Rate Slide: Asia-Europe is down to $2,400/container and the Med has plummeted to $3,600. We also tackle the massive uncertainty in Maersk’s 2026 earnings report—a $2 billion swing that could land anywhere from a $1B profit to a $1B loss depending on what happens in the Red Sea.

Finally, we find the "Power of Flowers." While ocean rates tank, Valentine’s Day has air cargo blooming, with prices to Europe spiking 17%.

Chapters: 

00:00:00 — LNY Gear Down: Why ocean rates are in a seasonal freefall. 

00:02:15 — Weather Fallout: Port shutdowns and the post-COVID trauma. 

00:03:30 — The Transpac Slump: Why the pre-LNY rush was surprisingly "muted." 

00:04:30 — The $2 Billion Coin Flip: Maersk, ONE, and the capacity crisis. 

00:06:00 — The Power of Flowers: Valentine's Day air cargo prices. 

00:07:15 — Mini-Tendering: The new playbook for move-with-the-punches agility.

This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know.

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