News / Rogue carriers push lines towards an "idiotic" rate war

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The freight rate war has undeniably returned to the Asia-North Europe trade as forwarders report lines voluntarily undercutting rivals in a renewed bid to win market share.

One Hamburg-based forwarder said that carriers were now offering $2,400 and below for a 40ft container from Shanghai to the German gateway. “It is worrying because several weeks ago you could see the signs that the turbulence had not left the market, despite the fact that carriers had got the rates to a level ...