News / Shipper frustration as spot rates rise alongside demand, and cargo is rolled

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A strengthening demand scenario on the Asia-European trades appears to have caught carriers and forwarders by surprise, and tightening space has increased the chances of shipments moving under long-term contracts being rolled.

“My inbox started to blow up towards the end of last week, with customers having problems with their allocations,” one European forwarder told The Loadstar.

“The problem is that contract rates are well below spot rates and when that happens during busy periods, carriers will always prioritise the highest-paying cargo ...