What’s really happening in the Red Sea, and how should shippers plan for what comes next?

In this episode of The Freight Debate, Phil Hennessy and Emily Stausbøll unpack the growing gap between carrier messaging and market reality when it comes to a potential return to the Suez Canal. While headlines hint at progress, the data tells a more cautious story, with container ship transits still trending down and no fixed timelines in place.

They break down how carriers are quietly testing routes, what a gradual return through Suez actually means for capacity, and why unlocking supply is far slower than many expect. The discussion also dives into carrier tactics as demand weakens, capacity keeps rising, and market share increasingly takes priority over rate discipline.

Looking ahead to 2026, Phil and Emily explore what this means for tender strategies, Red Sea surcharges, and contract flexibility, plus a seasonal case study on Christmas lights that reveals how tariffs can rapidly reshape global trade flows.

Whether you are navigating tender season, tracking carrier behavior, or planning for shifting trade patterns next year, this episode provides clear, data-backed insight into the forces shaping container shipping right now.

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In this episode of The Freight Debate, Rajesh Bhol, Principal Product Manager - Indexing at Xeneta, sits down with Mads Drejer, Global COO & CCO at Scan Global Logistics, to unpack one of the biggest shifts reshaping forwarding today: the rise of index-linked contracts. As post-COVID volatility shattered the reliability of traditional 12-month RFQs, forwarders now find themselves caught between shippers demanding transparency and carriers pushing for predictability — with both sides expecting more than ever.

Mads takes us inside this commercial squeeze and explains why indexing has surfaced as one of the few credible ways to restore stability. He contrasts the pressures on the buying and selling sides, revealing how indexing reduces rate firefighting, builds trust, and pushes forwarders to prove value through service rather than arbitrage.

Throughout the conversation, Mads breaks down what makes an index truly usable: representative long-term data, sensible floors and ceilings, system compatibility, and rules simple enough that both shipper and carrier can “believe the math.” He also outlines a clear definition of success — longer, calmer contracts with no mid-term renegotiations — and shares a pragmatic vision of how indexing will evolve alongside RFQs rather than replace them.

A sharp, timely episode for any forwarder, shipper, or procurement leader rethinking freight contracting in 2026 and beyond.

Phil Hennessy and Emily Stausbøll take a close look at the latest developments affecting global shipping routes and what they could mean for carriers planning for 2026.

With new signals emerging around route stability, they explore how carriers and insurers evaluate operational confidence and what a large-scale return to shorter transit paths could mean for vessel scheduling and port flow.

They break down how a sudden shift in routing could create short-term congestion, how service patterns may need to adjust, and why carriers are cautious about making major changes without long-term clarity.

They also examine the financial backdrop, including recent carrier results, ongoing overcapacity, and the growing pressure created by weaker backhaul rates and widening trade imbalances.

Whether you are watching tender season unfold, tracking schedule-reliability strategies, or evaluating cost pressures for the year ahead, this episode offers a clear view of the factors shaping the container market right now.

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📧 Want to work with us? Learn more at xeneta.com

When Plan A fails, what separates reactive companies from resilient ones?

In this episode of The Freight Debate, host Phil Hennessy talks with Martha Christina, procurement leader at Linde, about how procurement teams keep global supply chains moving through volatility, regulation shifts, and rising freight costs.

Martha shares how her team balances speed, safety, and spend in high-stakes gas supply chains from localizing suppliers and cutting carbon impact to finding the right “Plan D” when every other option collapses. It’s a rare look inside the mindset of procurement under pressure and the discipline it takes to stay calm when the world turns chaotic. 

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📧 Want to work with us? Learn more at xeneta.com

Shippers and forwarders are demanding more than price, they want proof of performance.

Fabio Brocca sits down with Simon Sundboell to unpack Xeneta’s acquisition of eeSea and what it means for how the industry measures reliability. They trace eeSea’s origins as the “Google Maps of container shipping,” explore how schedule data and freight rates now work together inside Xeneta’s platform, and reveal why true transparency could finally change the way shippers buy and sell freight.

From forecasting accuracy and blank sailings to the rise of index-linked contracts, they outline how cost, performance, and service quality are converging into one decision framework. Whether you’re evaluating carriers, managing tenders, or building your 2026 strategy, this conversation shows where the next wave of freight intelligence is headed.

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📰 Respond effectively to market volatility: https://www.xeneta.com/blog/beyond-freight-rate-benchmarking-building-resilient-supply-chains-with-xeneta 

🚢 Learn more about what eeSea can do → https://app.eesea.com/ 

📧 Want to work with us? Learn more at xeneta.com

Rates from the Far East to the U.S. and Europe are up, some lanes by more than 70% since October. In this episode of The Freight Debate, hosts Phil Hennessy and Emily Stausbøll break down what’s really driving the latest rate surge and whether it’s part of a familiar year-end pattern.

They unpack why rates are rising even as demand stays soft, what shippers should expect from upcoming tender negotiations, and how carrier capacity decisions shape short-term market behavior.

Plus, the pair look ahead to 2026 with insights from Xeneta’s latest outlook, including how long-term rates, tender strategies, and global trade shifts could influence the next 12 months.
Whether you’re negotiating contracts or tracking trends, this conversation gives you the context you need to plan smarter.

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📰 Check out this blog for deeper dives and data on everything we cover: https://www.xeneta.com/blog/october-spot-rate-spike-2026-ocean-freight-tenders 

🚢 Dive into the 2026 Ocean Freight Outlook here: https://www.xeneta.com/outlook/2026-ocean-freight-outlook 

📧 Want to work with us? Learn more at xeneta.com

Go inside Xeneta Summit 2025, a dynamic gathering of shippers, freight forwarders, and carriers redefining how the industry connects, strategizes, and builds resilience.

In this special episode, Patrik Berglund and Fabio Brocca take you behind the scenes of Barcelona’s biggest freight event. From record-breaking attendance to the debut of Xeneta’s newest product innovations, they share the moments that energized the community and the conversations that are shaping what comes next for ocean and air freight.

Hear how leaders are sharpening strategy, navigating volatility, and collaborating to create a stronger, smarter supply chain.

Whether you’re managing procurement, forecasting capacity, or exploring new digital tools, this episode delivers an inside look at the insights, innovations, and industry connections driving the next era of freight.

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🎥 Register for our upcoming webinar on November 6 to see all the latest Xeneta innovations → https://www.xeneta.com/events/webinar/whats-new-from-xeneta 

📧 Want to work with us? Learn more at xeneta.com

What happens when global markets shift faster than carriers can adapt?

Phil Hennessy and Emily Stausbøll explore how changing policies, new cost pressures, and shifting demand patterns are creating ripple effects across international shipping. They break down the real-world impact on carriers, from unexpected port expenses to early peak-season swings, and what it signals for supply chains heading into next year.
Whether you manage logistics, analyze market trends, or plan capacity, this episode offers clear insight into the forces shaping global freight right now.

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🎥 Register for our upcoming webinar on November 6 to see all the latest Xeneta innovations → https://www.xeneta.com/events/webinar/whats-new-from-xeneta 

📧 Want to work with us? Learn more at xeneta.com

Freight contracts keep breaking because they weren’t built for volatility.

Eloisa Tovee sits down with Matthew Gore, Partner at HFW, to unpack why so many agreements fail under pressure and what it really takes to make them hold.

From “gentlemen’s agreements” and glorified rate sheets to the rise of index-linked deals, they trace how contracting has evolved and where it still breaks. They discuss the legal gray zones that leave shippers exposed, the surge in hidden surcharges, and why both sides are chasing certainty in a market that refuses to stay still.

Whether you’re entering tender season or rethinking your risk strategy for 2026, this episode gives you the playbook to build contracts that survive volatility instead of snapping under it.

🔔 Love the podcast? Don’t forget to subscribe and rate us!

📧 Want to work with us? Learn more at xeneta.com 

Freight contracts keep breaking because they weren’t built for volatility.
Eloisa Tovee sits down with Matthew Gore, Partner at HFW, to unpack why so many agreements fail under pressure and what it really takes to make them hold.

From “gentlemen’s agreements” and glorified rate sheets to the rise of index-linked deals, they trace how contracting has evolved and where it still breaks. They discuss the legal gray zones that leave shippers exposed, the surge in hidden surcharges, and why both sides are chasing certainty in a market that refuses to stay still.

Whether you’re entering tender season or rethinking your risk strategy for 2026, this episode gives you the playbook to build contracts that survive volatility instead of snapping under it.
🔔 Love the podcast? Don’t forget to subscribe and rate us!

📧 Want to work with us? Learn more at xeneta.com