What’s harder than catching Lars Jensen on stable Wi-Fi? Predicting what’s next in global supply chains.

Fresh off summiting Mount Kilimanjaro, Lars’ next stop was Comoros — and let’s just say the Wi-Fi didn’t make the climb. But a spotty signal can’t stop Supply Chain Secrets. This week’s update is packed with hard-hitting market realities for shippers, forwarders, and carriers alike:

• Trans-Pacific spot rates slipping into unsustainable territory
• Tariff risks that could shake demand just before the holidays
• Service cancellations tied to USTR fees and alliance shifts
• Air freight providers pulling back on small parcels under new rules
• A fiery disruption at Hamburg adding to Europe’s bottlenecks

From mountain peace to market pressure, this episode captures the contrast between digital detox and supply chain chaos.

While Lars laces up his boots to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, he and Caroline dive into the latest global shipping news. 

They cover sliding Asia–Europe and Pacific spot rates, uncertainty around reciprocal and Section 232 tariffs, and the U.S. pushback on IMO’s decarbonization measures. 

They also analyze H1 financials from major carriers, with Hapag-Lloyd’s standout 12% volume growth raising big questions. Tune in for timely insights delivered from the slopes of Tanzania. 

In this episode, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down the latest shifts in ocean freight rates, revealing why long-term contracts offer far less insulation from spot market volatility than many shippers think. 

They compare NYFI and CTS data to show the hidden correlation between contract and spot pricing, then dive into a volatile week in trade policy—from unpredictable “reciprocal” tariffs to a surprise penalty on Indian imports that could hit cargo loaded before the rules even existed. 

In this episode, Lars and Caroline break down the unexpected lull in Trans-Pacific rates, the true state of peak season in Asia–Europe, and the looming tariff deadlines that could disrupt global trade. 

They discuss how forward-looking indicators like the NYFI expose weak market fundamentals despite high quotes, and they unpack the IMF’s latest trade outlook revisions. The episode closes with key insights on OFAC sanctions impacting container shipping and what they signal for shippers worldwide. 

This week on Supply Chain Secrets, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver dive deep into the tariff chaos rattling US importers, a collapse in 20-foot container rates with big implications for US exporters, and why equipment shortages could blindside your bookings. Plus, we unpack reliability stats, looming Q4 deadlines, and the twist in the Hutchison Ports deal that’s reigniting geopolitical tension in Panama. 

Is peak season already over? In this no-holds-barred episode of Supply Chain Secrets, guest host Don Davis and industry veteran Lars Jensen deliver a firehose of insight. They expose the vanished Trans-Pacific peak, decode the chaos behind West vs. East Coast rate disparities, and unpack what looming tariffs and overcapacity mean for your freight strategy.

Lars dives deep into real NYFI spot rate data, global emissions trends, and the shipping industry's dirty secret: a structural overcapacity problem that scrapping and slow steaming can’t solve. Don adds frontline insight into customer booking behavior, holiday crunch risks, and why shippers may be gambling too long on a “wait-and-see” strategy.

Key Takeaways for Shippers:

• Peak season came—and went. Are you behind already?
• Why East Coast rates are holding—but West Coast optimism vanished.
• 16% fleet growth vs. 10% TEU growth = long-term overcapacity warning.
• How new EU emissions data proves carriers are speeding up—but still late.
• The October Chinese Golden Week could cause a crunch. Are you ready?

If you ship cargo, this is the insider episode you can’t afford to miss.

This week on Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down the rollercoaster of recent Trans-Pacific rates—why they surged, why they collapsed just as quickly, and how tariffs are reshaping peak season entirely. They explore how geopolitical uncertainty and shifting trade policy are leaving both carriers and shippers scrambling. Plus, Lars explains why August 1 could be a breaking point for U.S. importers trying to plan amid chaos. 

From a 15% Trans-Pacific volume drop to an unclear U.S. tariff deadline, uncertainty dominates the trade landscape. In this week's episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Lars and Caroline unpack alarming CTS data, sharp spot rate shifts, and a dramatic Red Sea attack on a commercial vessel. Will July 9 spark a global trade war—or more mixed messaging? Tune in to understand how shifting demand, container imbalances, and geopolitical flashpoints are reshaping global shipping in real time. 

In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver returns from Iceland to catch up with Lars Jensen on a whirlwind of global trade developments. They unpack the escalating U.S.-Canada dispute triggered by Canada’s Digital Services Tax, analyze softening Trans-Pacific rates despite high quotes, and spotlight a surprise spike in Atlantic westbound rates. Lars also breaks down the unusually tight Asia–East Coast South America market and a sudden border closure between Thailand and Cambodia. Plus, for once—some good geopolitical news as tensions ease in the Iran–Israel conflict. 

In this episode, guest host Don Davis joins Lars Jensen to unpack what he calls the most drastic market swing since the financial crisis. Spot quotes from Asia to the USWC surged—then plummeted in real-world execution, with a $1,500 per FFE drop in just one week. 

Lars breaks down the data gap between quotes and actual bookings, and how mismatched timing between demand and capacity triggered a rapid unwinding. They also explore the geopolitical implications of rising Middle East tensions and how it could impact shipping lanes and oil prices. A must-listen for anyone watching rates, risk, and reliability in today’s supply chain.