News / Forwarders undercutting ocean carriers – but it's a gamble, says Xeneta

© Balazs Czitrovszky

Freight forwarders are offering cheaper rates than carriers in their 2024 contracts, according to the latest data from Xeneta. 

The analytics platform compiled data from eight trades to benchmark rates for 2024, and defined “new 2024 rates” as contracts which have been signed or tabled with a minimum 12-month duration since November.  

It found that, on major trades out of the Far East into North Europe and the US west coast this year, carriers were cheaper than forwarders on long-term rates.  ...