News / Supply chain disruption alchemy turns shipping line returns to gold

Capacity constraints caused by congestion and disruption to global supply chains saw the stiffening of ocean freight rates, boosting carrier returns in the face of softening demand, during the first nine months of the year.

The effect on container shipping has been to raise average rates per teu, maintaining revenues at high levels even as demand waned.

Both European carrier Hapag-Lloyd and Taiwanese operator Yang Ming have benefited from the disruptions to supply chains and showed elevated revenues. In Yang Ming’s case, ...