News / Carriers bullish as shipping contract talks loom: 'it won't be a buyer's market'

ID 178521008 © Leung Cho Pan | Dreamstime.com

European shippers are finding it increasingly difficult to begin annual contract negotiations with container shipping lines.

November is the traditional start of the annual contract negotiating season on the Asia-Europe trade, with deals mostly signed by the end of the year.

However, after the astonishing gains on a spot market which grew another 9% this week, it appears the relationship between carriers and their customers could be fundamentally different in 2021.

Anecdotal reports to The Loadstar suggest some carriers are unwilling to offer ...