Supply Chain Secrets

In this week’s Supply Chain Secrets podcast, hosts Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen unpack the latest developments shaping container shipping and global trade.

Lars calls in from Curaçao with an update on freight rates across the Pacific and how carriers’ blank sailings are reshaping capacity as Golden Week slows volumes. He dives into the USTR’s new restrictions on Chinese-owned vessels — and how China’s maritime legislation hints at potential retaliation against U.S. shipping interests.

The episode also explores:

• Why “booked vs. shipped” rates can tell two very different stories — and how indices like NYFI reveal what’s actually moving in the market
• How the IMO’s new charcoal transport regulations aim to prevent vessel fires
• The latest on Red Sea security after another Houthi attack on a Dutch multipurpose vessel, and the EU’s ongoing Operation Aspides response

Packed with context, clarity, and real-world insights, this episode breaks down how data, policy, and geopolitics continue to collide across the global supply chain.

The latest Supply Chain Secrets dives into the widening gap between quoted rates and what’s actually paid. Lars Jensen explains how the NYFI reveals a “phantom peak” that never materialized on the Trans-Pacific, the sharp declines on Asia–South America, and why Golden Week isn’t offering carriers relief.

We also break down Trump’s tariff announcements, what the upcoming USTR fees mean for carriers (and how Seaspan and Hede Shipping are reacting), and look ahead at the vessel order book and why 2027 could mark the bottom of the cycle.

In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down the latest volatility in container shipping. Asia–Europe rates continue their seasonal slide, while the Pacific faces a dramatic collapse in demand just as carriers push blank sailings. 

Lars explains why the gap between quoted and paid spot rates matters, why blank sailings may slow—but not stop—rate erosion, and how Golden Week timing is shaping strategy. 

The conversation also covers the looming U.S.–China tariff pause deadline, MEPC decarbonization politics, and CMA-CGM’s latest move in intermodal rail.

In this week’s episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down the latest shifts across major trades.

• Asia–Europe: Spot rates dip below spring levels, but Lars explains why it’s not yet a full collapse.
• Trans-Pacific: A striking bifurcation—rates out of Southeast Asia/China erode while Northeast Asia (Korea, Japan) surges by $500/FEU.
• Atlantic: After months of stability, head-haul rates slide from $1,800 to $1,500 per FEU.
• Capacity Updates: Carriers move beyond blank sailings, with Gemini canceling an entire service for Q1 2025.
• Tariff Watch: Mexico considers hikes on Chinese imports, raising the specter of retaliation.
• Safety & Compliance: Nearly 11% of cargo is misdeclared—new AI initiatives aim to reduce fires, accidents, and container losses.

Get the latest maritime news here!

In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen unpack the latest twists in global trade. They cover falling Asia–Europe spot rates, unexpected tariff exemptions affecting hundreds of commodities, and the stark divide between booming global container demand and declining U.S. volumes. 

Lars also sheds light on rumors around HMM’s ownership shift and the sudden tightening of U.S. visa rules for seafarers—changes that could complicate crew logistics for ocean carriers. 

On this week’s Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline and Lars dive into the latest on global shipping markets. From sliding Asia–Europe spot rates and a short-lived Pacific GRI, to an unexpected Atlantic downturn, Lars explains what the numbers actually mean for shippers. 

The discussion expands to Red Sea security risks, the balance between freedom of navigation and seafarer safety, and what a surprising China–India–Russia meeting signals about a rapidly multipolar world. Packed with insights right after Labor Day, this episode helps you separate seasonal noise from structural change.

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.