The Freight Buyers' Club

In this exclusive interview at TPM26 in Long Beach, Mike King is talking to Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, to discuss three of the biggest stories shaping container shipping right now. Rolf gives his take on the proposed Zim acquisition and what it means for freight buyers, the impact of US and Israeli strikes on Iran and what that means for ships currently stuck in the Persian Gulf, and whether a return to the Suez Canal is now further away than ever. He also shares his view on the container shipping supply and demand balance, why he sees underlying demand as still strong, and how shippers should think about US inventory levels and the transpacific market heading into the rest of 2026. This content is supported by Dimerco, a global freight forwarding and logistics network that believes in the value of independent journalism in the freight industry. Find out more at https://dimerco.com/ #TPM26 #ZimDeal #SuezCanal #IranStrikes #ContainerShipping #FreightMarket #HapagLloyd #LogisticsNews #SupplyChain #FreightBuyers

The US and Israel have struck Iran. The Supreme Court has struck down the IEEPA tariffs. And every freight buyer is asking the same question: what do we actually plan for now? Mike King sits down with Paul Bingham, Director of Transportation Consulting, Economics and Country Risk at S&P Global Market Intelligence, at TPM26 in Long Beach to make sense of it all. They cover: The Iran strikes and what they mean for oil prices, Hormuz and Gulf shipping lanes The Supreme Court IEEPA ruling and Trump's Section 122 replacement tariffs Tariff refunds: what importers need to know Why countries that did deals with Washington are now worse off than those that didn't Scorecard on US trade policy: did it work? Can freight buyers plan around blanket tariffs? The $901 billion US trade deficit: reshaped or just rerouted? Where inventories stand heading into 2026 The outlook for US imports in 2026 This episode is produced with the support of Dimerco Express, a leading freight forwarder and supply chain solutions provider across Asia and beyond. https://dimerco.com/

Freight buying strategy is being tested like never before. Tariff whiplash, carrier consolidation, AI adoption and nobody quite knows what comes next. Mark McCullough, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss North America, joins Mike King for a frank conversation about how one of the world's leading freight forwarders is navigating the uncertainty and what it means for shippers. They cover the proposed Hapag-Lloyd/ZIM merger and what less competition really means for freight buyers, why shippers are firmly in the driving seat on the Trans-Pacific right now, and how tariff uncertainty is forcing companies into three-tiered contingency strategies rather than long-term capital deployment. Mark also opens up about freight fraud costing Gebrüder Weiss hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, how sophisticated double-brokering scams are targeting freight forwarders, and what the industry needs to do about it. Plus an honest account of GW's automation journey, what's working, what's been expensive, and why bad data will kill your AI investment before it starts. And how a funeral, a few too many drinks, and a South African aunt launched one of North America's most senior freight executives into a career in logistics. Sponsored by OntegosCloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialist. Featured:  Hapag-Lloyd Buys ZIM Explained: Why Freight Buyers Should Care https://youtu.be/4u6wCfwUvc0 Why Great Freight Forwarders Thrive in Chaos | #44 | Freight Buyers Club https://youtu.be/9yuq3xbkp_c The Good, The Bad, and the ANC: South Africa’s Logistics on the Brink https://youtu.be/POyM0kHGMeg Topics covered: 0:00 Introduction — Mike King welcomes Gebrüder Weiss North America CEO Mark McCullough and previews the episode 01:45 Hapag-Lloyd/ZIM Merger — Is carrier consolidation good for freight buyers or just less competition dressed up as efficiency? 03:00 Trans-Pacific Outlook — Excess capacity, blank sailings, depressed rates and what the next 12 to 18 months looks like 05:00 Shippers in the Driver's Seat — Why forwarders like GW actually prefer higher freight rates and what that means for contract season 07:00 Tariffs and Capital Deployment — Why uncertainty is stopping shippers from committing to long-term strategy and the three-tiered contingency approach 11:00 Freight Fraud Revealed — How double-brokering scams cost Gebrüder Weiss $600,000 in a single year and how they work in practice 16:00 Automation and AI at GW — Bots, document splitting, carrier vetting tech and how offshore teams are being upskilled 19:00 The Data Problem — Why bad data killed their AI investment early and what they had to do to fix it 21:30 Clean Data Advice — Mark's blunt advice to any company thinking about AI investment right now 22:00 How Mark Got Into Freight — A funeral, a few white wines and a South African aunt who changed everything

Hapag-Lloyd has agreed to acquire ZIM for $4.2 billion, creating a combined fleet of 400+ vessels. In this mini Freight Buyers' Club, Nils Roche (ex-CMA CGM, Maersk, PIL) breaks down what this deal means for the liner industry, for the Gemini Cooperation, for MSC, and crucially, for freight buyers. We cover: The deal structure and Israel's "golden share" carve-out What happens to ZIM's vessel sharing agreement with MSC How this strengthens Gemini and shifts alliance dynamics Fewer carriers = more blank sailing control Who's next? PIL, Wan Hai, HMM as potential targets The new M&A model: joint ventures with national stakes This mini Freight Buyers' Club is brought to you by Ontegos Cloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialist: https://www.ontegoscloud.com Guest: Nils Roche, Founder of Solvens Advisory Host: Mike King

The freighter capacity crunch is real. In this episode of Air Cargo Unpacked, Mike King and Neel Jones Shah break down UPS retiring its MD-11 fleet, why the aircraft backlog won't normalise until the 2030s, and what it means for air cargo rates. Plus: Dimerco's Kathy Liu on Chinese New Year from Shanghai, exclusive rate analysis from TAC Index's Neil Wilson, and how de minimis policy changes are reshaping e-commerce flows out of China - with North America down 33% and Europe up 22%. We also cover Maersk dumping its 767s for 777s on trans-Pacific, and what the new US-India trade deal could mean for air freight demand. Featuring: Mike King, Host & Executive Producer Neel Jones Shah, Co-Host (ex-Delta, United, Flexport) Kathy Liu, VP Global Sales & Marketing, Dimerco Express Group Neil Wilson, Editor, TAC Index Air Cargo Unpacked is a monthly Freight Buyers' Club production, brought to you by OntegosCloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialist. https://www.ontegos.cloud/ Subscribe for monthly air freight market analysis. #AirCargoUnpacked #FreightBuyersClub #Logistics #AirFreight #Shipping #CargoCapacity #DeMinimis #ChineseNewYear #TACIndex #Ecommerce #GlobalTrade 00:00 Welcome to Air Cargo Unpacked 01:00 UPS Retires MD-11 Fleet 02:30 10% of Widebody Freighter Capacity at Risk 04:30 Aircraft Backlog Hits 17,000 06:00 Conversion Costs Soaring: $80m for a 777 08:00 Chinese New Year: Kathy Liu from Shanghai 10:00 China Plus One: Southeast Asia Booming 12:00 Neel on CNY: Why This Year Is Different 15:30 TAC Index Rate Analysis with Neil Wilson 17:00 Shanghai Rates Up 9% Year on Year 18:00 Spot vs Contract Rates Explained 21:00 De Minimis: US Down 33%, Europe Up 22% 23:00 E-Commerce Is Like a Raging River 24:30 Maersk Sells 767 Freighters to Amazon 27:00 US-India Trade Deal: Stability Returns

In this exclusive interview, Laura DiBella, the newly confirmed Chair of the Federal Maritime Commission, outlines the agency's aggressive new approach to protecting U.S. shippers and enforcing maritime trade compliance on a global scale. DiBella explains how the FMC is shifting from a reactive referee of commercial disputes to a proactive "consumer protection agency" with the authority to investigate global chokepoints, shadow fleets, foreign policy barriers, and domestic rail bottlenecks affecting American cargo. Key topics covered: Trump's mandate to "resurrect U.S. dominance in the maritime arena" The FMC's expanded global enforcement powers under OSRA 2022 Investigating chokepoints like Suez Canal and Malacca Strait Shadow fleet and flags of convenience investigations How the FMC can penalize foreign governments that block U.S. cargo What shippers should document and when to engage the FMC Detention and demurrage protections and enforcement priorities Rail and chassis bottlenecks in Middle America Why the FMC wants to act before problems escalate Laura DiBella's background: Former Florida Secretary of Commerce under Governor Ron DeSantis, Executive Director of the Florida Harbor Pilots Association, and President & CEO of Enterprise Florida. She was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in December 2025 and designated FMC Chair by President Trump on January 28, 2026. This episode is produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. https://dimerco.com/ If you're a freight buyer, shipper, logistics manager, or supply chain professional planning for 2026, this interview is essential listening. Subscribe to The Freight Buyers' Club for more exclusive interviews and supply chain insights.

What should US shippers expect in 2026? This TPM 26 special covers transpacific contracting, the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern rail merger, and features an EXCLUSIVE interview with new Federal Maritime Commission Chair Laura DiBella. Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. PART 1: TPM 26 PREVIEW Mark Szakonyi (Executive Editor, Journal of Commerce) and Lori Fellmer (VP Logistics, BassTech International) break down: - Transpacific contracting season outlook - Demand signals and capacity challenges - How SME shippers are treated in a bearish market - Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger implications for IPI cargo - OSRA 2022 effectiveness: detention & demurrage protections   PART 2: EXCLUSIVE FMC CHAIR INTERVIEW Laura DiBella outlines her vision for the Federal Maritime Commission under Trump's maritime mandate: - From reactive to proactive enforcement - Global investigations: Spain, chokepoints (Suez, Malacca Strait), shadow fleets - "We're now a consumer protection agency" - what this means for shippers - New enforcement powers: penalties, sanctions, port denial for foreign governments - Domestic bottlenecks: containers, rail, chassis in Middle America - When shippers should contact the FMC KEY QUOTES: "Action. Always action." - Laura DiBella on what shippers should expect "We've become more of a consumer protection agency." - On the FMC's evolving mission ABOUT THE GUESTS: - Laura DiBella - Chair, Federal Maritime Commission - Mark Szakonyi - Executive Editor, Journal of Commerce - Lori Fellmer - VP Logistics & Carrier Management, BassTech International This episode was produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group - https://dimerco.com/. Subscribe to the Freight Buyers' Club for weekly insights on freight buying, carrier negotiations, and supply chain strategy.

Global trade isn't ending. It's fracturing along geopolitical lines. And it's reshaping supply chains, technology systems, and the entire logistics landscape as we enter 2026. The signals are unmistakable. Greenland threats. US-Europe tensions mounting. Trade wars escalating. This is no longer theoretical. Supply chain directors need to understand what's coming and how to prepare. In this critical roundtable, Mike King brings together three leading voices to break down how US-China competition, tariff volatility, shifting trade blocs, and technology will reshape supply chains right now and through the year ahead. Neil Shearing is Chief Economist at Capital Economics and author of The Fractured Age. He explains why we're not seeing deglobalization but rather a splintering of the global economy into competing US and China-led blocs. And why this matters far more than simple tariff rates. Marc Levinson is an economic historian and author of Outside the Box. He challenges the bloc theory with real world examples of trade policy chaos. He reveals why mega-ships may become obsolete, what's really driving trade now (spoiler: AI infrastructure), and why the logistics industry's capital investments could become stranded. Ashley Skaanild is Principal Advisor Carrier Integration and Transformation at WiseTech Global. He brings operational reality to the macro debate. Drawing on platform data from millions of shipments and a Reuters survey of 450+ supply chain leaders, he shows how companies are actually preparing and where technology sprawl is creating blind spots. Together, they tackle the questions keeping supply chain directors awake: How do you plan supply chains when policy changes overnight? Can you build resilience without bankrupting operations? What role will technology play in the fractured landscape ahead? Essential listening for freight buyers, logistics managers, and anyone navigating supply chains, geopolitics, and digital transformation in 2026. Show note links: LEANER, SMARTER, FASTER AND MORE CONNECTED: SUPPLY CHAINS EVOLVE TO MEET RISING VOLATILITY AND COST PRESSURES A Reuters Events, Supply Chain white paper in partnership with CargoWise Download here: https://www.cargowise.com/de-de/news/the-new-supply-chain-playbook-how-leaders-are-responding-to-cost-pressure-and-volatility/ The Fractured Age: How the Return of Geopolitics Will Splinter the Global Economy, by Neil Shearing https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fractured-Age-Geopolitics-Splinter-Economy/dp/1399825720 Outside the Box: How Globalization Changed from Moving Stuff to Spreading Ideas, by Marc Levinson https://www.amazon.co.uk/Outside-Box-Globalization-Changed-Spreading/dp/069119176X #GeopoliticsTrade #Freight #Technology #LogTech #GlobalTrade #Logistics #Tariffs #2026Outlook #Wisetech #FreightBuyersClub #CapitalEconomics   00:00 – Trade Is Now a Weapon: Why Global Trade Is Fracturing Trade policy as coercion, resilience costs, AI driving trade growth 01:00 – Welcome to 2026: Geopolitics, Trade Chaos, and Tech Strain Greenland tariffs, fractured alliances, and why supply chains are under pressure 02:05 – Biggest Surprise of 2025: Tariffs, Allies Hit, and Tech U-Turns Neil Shearing on Trump tariffs, China, and relaxed chip controls 04:10 – Why Policy Chaos Matters More Than Tariff Levels Marc Levinson on volatility vs predictable trade costs 05:10 – AI Drove Half of Global Trade Growth Last Year Why servers, chips, and AI infrastructure now shape trade flows 06:15 – Operational Reality: Red Sea, Alliances, and Schedule Reliability Ashley Skaanild on shipping chaos and how trade adapts 08:00 – Are We De-Globalising or Splintering Into Trade Blocs? Neil...

Co-hosted by award-winning journalist Mike King and air cargo veteran Neel Jones Shah (ex-Delta, United, Flexport) with exclusive TAC Index market intelligence and IATA's 2026 forecast from Brendan Sullivan, Global Head of Cargo. Welcome to the launch episode of Air Cargo Unpacked - your monthly deep dive into air freight markets, capacity dynamics, and what actually matters for people who buy air cargo services. This episode features exclusive data from the Baltic Exchange Air Freight Index, powered by TAC Index. In this episode: Geopolitical chaos and air cargo resilience - Why 2026 kicked off with unprecedented uncertainty, from Greenland tensions to trade wars, yet China posted a record $1.2 trillion trade surplus Chinese New Year 2026 impact - How CNY falling 2.5 weeks later than 2025 is impacting markets and what forwarders and carriers should expect in the lead-up and restart IATA's 2026 outlook - Brendan Sullivan identifies the three biggest headwinds (capacity constraints, regulatory complexity, economic uncertainty) and three opportunities (digitalization, e-commerce growth, agility as competitive advantage) E-commerce shifts post-de minimis - The reality behind Shein and Temu's strategy after US ended the $800 exemption, and where e-commerce flows are redirecting (hint: South America, Europe, Africa) MD-11 freighter crisis – with some 60 aircraft grounded, integrators are scrambling for replacement 767 and 747 capacity Exclusive TAC Index market data - Neil Wilson breaks down peak season performance, capacity constraints, Taiwan semiconductor boom, and why intra-Asia rates are up 23% year-on-year Capacity crunch reality - Why the aircraft delivery backlog means tight capacity, higher yields, and limited flexibility for shippers throughout 2026 Key themes: Air cargo thrives on chaos, but not all chaos is equal. This episode unpacks which disruptions benefit air freight and which threaten growth - plus what the data actually shows about where the market is heading. Links: TAC Index: https://www.tacindex.com Ontegos Cloud: https://www.ontegos.cloud/ Brought to you by Ontegos Cloud - the freight forwarder profitability specialist helping forwarders turn operational effort into economic control. Learn more at ontegoscloud.com Subscribe and follow for monthly market intelligence, exclusive data, and insights from the people shaping global air cargo.   Timestamps       00:00 Introduction & Welcome to Air Cargo Unpacked 00:30 Geopolitical Chaos: Greenland, Venezuela, Iran & the Red Sea 02:00 China's Record $1.2 Trillion Trade Surplus Explained 04:00 E-commerce as a River: Finding Routes Despite Trade Wars 06:00 Does Air Cargo Thrive on Chaos? 08:00 End of De Minimis: Impact on Shein, Temu & E-commerce Volumes 11:00 2026 Vertical Focus: AI, Semiconductors & Taiwan Trade Deal 14:00 TAC Index Exclusive: Peak Season Analysis & Rate Trends 18:00 Taiwan Strength, MD-11 Groundings & Capacity Constraints 21:00 Chinese New Year Outlook: What to Expect in February 25:00 Aircraft Maintenance & The Aging Freighter Fleet 28:00 IATA's Brendan Sullivan: Top Headwinds & Opportunities for 2026

Container shipping enters 2026 facing a perfect storm: deepening geopolitical fractures, a historic vessel orderbook driving severe overcapacity, and the growing likelihood that services will soon return fully to the Suez Canal. Could this trigger a new wave of consolidation among smaller container lines? For freight buyers, this creates both uncertainty and potential negotiating leverage. In this episode, Mike King speaks with two voices from opposite ends of the shipping spectrum: James Hookham - Director of the Global Shippers Forum, representing cargo owners worldwide and demanding carriers deliver "solutions, not surcharges" Robbert van Trooijen - Founder of Inception Partners, former Maersk Regional President across Asia Pacific and Latin America for 15 years This episode is produced in partnership with Dimerco Express Group, a global 3PL specialising in Asia-Pacific supply chains. If your sourcing or manufacturing runs through Asia, they’re worth a look: https://www.dimerco.com   KEY INSIGHTS: ✅ Why geopolitics is now the #1 line item on shipper risk lists ✅ How US-China bloc competition forces countries like Indonesia and Panama to choose sides ✅ Suez partial reopening creating port chaos in China and Northern Europe ✅ Historic vessel orderbook (one-third of existing fleet) driving severe overcapacity ✅ "Gap between top 4 carriers and rest widening to uncomfortable size" - consolidation wave predicted ✅ Why Gemini's 90% reliability is great, but will it last and why aren’t other carriers doing better? ✅ How surcharges become carriers' profit protection tool when rates fall ✅ Contract strategy: 60/40 or 70/30 splits recommended, consider index-based deals ✅ Why APM Terminals earns 17% returns while carriers struggle with single digits ✅ Trade deal outcomes (USMCA, US-China, US-EU) will reshape 2026 freight flows TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Cold Open: Quote teases from James & Robbert 01:00 - Intro & Sponsor: Dimerco Express Group 02:00 - Guest Introductions: James Hookham & Robbert van Trooijen ACT 1: GEOPOLITICS & SUPPLY CHAIN VULNERABILITY 03:00 - Is geopolitics the #1 line item on shipper risk lists for 2026? 03:45 - Robbert on "Choke Points" book and economic warfare 04:15 - "The Fractured Age" - Two-bloc world led by US-China 05:00 - Panama's forced choice: Rhetoric vs reality 06:00 - James: Supply chains as targets in great power competition 07:15 - "If you like your job unpredictable... being a freight buyer is the place to be in 2026" 08:00 - WTF acronym: "We got to day three, didn't we Mike?" 09:00 - Overcapacity "might just come to a head in 26" 10:00 - Post-de minimis world: What it means for e-commerce shippers ACT 2: CONTAINER SHIPPING FUNDAMENTALS 12:45 - Pre-Chinese New Year rate bump: Seasonal or structural? 13:00 - "One third of existing fleet on order" - Historic overcapacity explained 14:00 - Choke points shifting from ocean to landside capacity 15:00 - Port congestion: China, Northern Europe, US infrastructure gaps 16:00 - Chinese port cranes controversy impacting US investments 16:45 - Has reliability actually improved? James' assessment 17:30 - Gemini alliance: Customer service "at the forefront of their thinking" 18:00 - Working capital tied up in invento...

Freight rates, container capacity, and tender strategies are about to get complicated in 2026 — and Bjorn Vang Jensen is here to cut through the noise. Bjorn Vang Jensen (EVP Global Head of Ocean at EasySpeed International Logistics) has worn every hat in the freight industry: buyer, forwarder, consultant, and shipping executive. With 38 years of experience including major freight buying roles at electronics and automotive giants, he brings a unique perspective on what's really shaping container markets in 2026. IN THIS EPISODE WE COVER: - Venezuela intervention and Greenland threats: What actually impacts freight markets vs. what's just noise- The 3 big factors shaping freight in 2026: Tariffs, geopolitics, and the Suez Canal return- Why carriers will drip-feed the Suez reopening (not flood it) — and what that means for Asia-Europe rates- The 70/30 contract strategy: Why Bjorn's 13-year data analysis shows contract rates beat spot- Container shipping reliability: Can carriers charge more for it? Should you pay for it?- China+1 becomes 3+China: The real sourcing trends happening in 2026- Why geopolitical risk is now "line item #1" in every freight budget (not just a checkbox) KEY QUOTES: "For every week you have port problems, it takes a month to dig yourself out." "70% contract, 30% spot — that's my recommendation for 2026." "Geopolitical upheaval used to be a checkbox risk. Now it's the #1 bullet point." ABOUT BJORN VANG JENSEN:EVP Global Head of Ocean at EasySpeed International Logistics, with previous senior roles as a major freight buyer at global electronics and automotive companies. 38 years in container shipping. This episode is produced with the support of OntegosCloud — the freight forwarder profitability specialist. RELATED EPISODE:We Need to Talk About…Reliability: Container Shipping's Problem Childhttps://youtu.be/0B_EsmxkY9Y Hosted by Mike King, award-winning business journalist specializing in global trade, shipping, and logistics. https://youtu.be/0B_EsmxkY9Y TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro & Guest Introduction1:00 - Tender Season & What Bjorn's Up To2:43 - Venezuela & Greenland: Geopolitical Noise vs. Reality6:57 - The 3 Big Factors Shaping 202610:22 - Suez Canal Return Strategy: Chaos or Managed Roll-Out?14:50 - Carrier Strategy: Capacity, Blanking & Rate Management18:10 - Container Shipping Reliability: Can You Charge for It?21:52 - Trans-Pacific Buying Strategy: The 70/30 Rule23:50 - Asia-Europe Contract Data: Only 2 Windows Where Spot Won26:00 - Why Relationships Matter in Contract Negotiations27:00 - Sourcing Trends: China+1 Becomes "3+China"29:40 - Geopolitical Risk: From Checkbox to Line Item #131:00 - Wrap & Final Advice

Global container shipping reliability has improved in 2025, but the gains are fragile. In this episode, we examine what’s really driving the numbers, why performance is already slipping, and what shippers should expect as they plan for 2026. In this episode, produced with the support of OntegosCloud (https://www.ontegos.cloud/), we break down the latest reliability data from Sea-Intelligence and Xeneta, analyse the widening performance gap between carriers and alliances, and look at how capacity growth, orderbooks, freight rates and potential Suez Canal routing changes could affect service consistency in the months ahead. Industry experts Nils Roche (Solvens Advisory; ex-CMA CGM, Maersk, PIL) and Kathy Liu (VP Global Sales & Marketing, Dimerco Express Group) share their insights on shipper concerns, possible congestion scenarios, and the risks of renewed market volatility. In this episode: Current global schedule reliability trends How much of the improvement is driven by demand versus capacity Carrier-by-carrier and alliance reliability performance The impact of the Gemini Cooperation (Maersk + Hapag-Lloyd) Orderbook growth and what it means for supply/demand Red Sea/Suez Canal routing and congestion risks How falling rates could trigger blank sailings and reliability deterioration What shippers should prepare for in 2026 This is essential viewing for importers, exporters, freight forwarders and supply chain professionals who rely on stable ocean schedules and need clarity on the risks ahead. #ContainerShipping #OceanFreight #ScheduleReliability #SupplyChain #Logistics #FreightMarket #ShippingIndustry #Maersk #HapagLloyd #SuezCanal

Paul Berger of The Wall Street Journal’s Logistics Report joins the Freight Buyers’ Club to break down the biggest supply chain stories to watch in 2026 — from tariff battles and port policy shifts to the deepening US trucking recession, the crane crackdown, EV trucking setbacks, Canada–US trade flows, and what reopening the Suez Canal could mean for global shipping. We cover the forces reshaping global trade, why supply chains remain so volatile, and how policy moves out of Washington and Beijing could impact shippers, forwarders, carriers and cargo owners through 2026. This episode was produced with the support of OntegosCloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialists. #SupplyChain #Logistics #GlobalTrade #FreightMarket #WSJ

A deep dive into the 2026 freight outlook, the return of Suez routes, China+1 manufacturing shifts, capacity risks and what shippers must prepare for next year. Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/]. It’s the Freight Buyers’ Club Holiday Special — a festive wrap-up of a year that delivered more plot twists than a Christmas soap marathon. From tariff shocks to China+1 shifts, Red Sea detours, booming Vietnam factories and air cargo refusing to behave “normally”… 2025 kept shippers on their toes and clutching their eggnog. To make sense of it all, Mike King is joined by a top-tier panel of industry heavyweights: Kathy Liu, VP Global Sales & Marketing, Dimerco Express Group Nils Roche, Founder, Solvens Advisory (ex PIL-Maersk, CMA CGM) Peter Sand, Chief Analyst, Xeneta Together they break down the winners, losers and big surprises of 2025 — and offer a straight-talking look at what freight buyers must prepare for in 2026. Expect sharp insights, a bit of humour, and just enough holiday spirit to take the edge off another volatile year in global logistics. In this special we cover: Tariffs, Trump and the year’s biggest policy whiplash China+1 shifts: what moved, what didn’t and why Vietnam won big Air cargo’s strange but spectacular 2025 Suez, Red Sea and the looming capacity reset Carrier behaviour: orderly alliances, chaotic markets Contracting for 2026: reliability, risk and when to go short vs long Why “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” might be the perfect theme for freight next year If you're planning your 2026 strategy, pour yourself a holiday drink and plug in — this is your end-of-year sanity check. Special thanks to Dimerco Express Group for supporting this holiday edition of The Freight Buyers’ Club. Download Dimerco’s China+1 Logistics Playbook  Master International Growth A Legal and Logistical Playbook for Global Expansion Success, with Expert Legal Insight From Addleshaw Goddard https://dimerco.com/ebooks/global-business-expansion-playbook/ #FreightBuyersClub #2026FreightOutlook #SupplyChain #Logistics #ContainerShipping #SuezCanal #ChinaPlusOne #China1 #Tariffs #AirCargo #VietnamManufacturing #GlobalTrade #FreightRates #Dimerco #ShippingIndustry #SupplyChainStrategy #MaritimeLogistics

Air cargo wasn’t supposed to look this strong. Tariffs, the end of de minimis, political whiplash, war, and supply chain reshuffles all pointed to a difficult year. But the opposite happened. In this Freight Buyers Club air cargo special — produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group — Mike King breaks down why the market held up, how shippers and carriers adapted, and what the data really says about the year ahead. We hear from industry leaders on: • Why air cargo defied expectations • The impact of US tariffs and the end of de minimis • China vs Southeast Asia sourcing shifts • E-commerce, AI hardware demand and capacity rerouting • Anchorage and Miami’s record volumes • The 2026 market outlook: risks, growth drivers and unknowns Featuring: Glyn Hughes, Director- General, TIACA Andrea Nicole Wilson, VP, Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association Sean Dolan, CEO, Northlink Aviation Dimitrios “Jimmy” Nares, Section Chief, Cargo Development, Miami International Airport Brandon Fried, Executive Director, The Airforwarders Association Jaime Alvarez, Director of Cargo, Copa Airlines If you want straight-talking analysis on air cargo and global trade, this one’s for you. Subscribe to Freight Buyers Club for more interviews and explainers. Reach out to Dimerco Express Group here: https://dimerco.com/ #AirCargo #AirFreight #SupplyChain #Logistics #GlobalTrade #FreightForwarding #EcommerceLogistics #TradePolicy #AviationCargo #CargoAirlines #SupplyChainNews

Hamburg is gearing up for a turbulent few years in global container shipping. In this episode, Mike King speaks with Mathias Schulz, Director of Communications at Port of Hamburg Marketing, about the port’s major 2025–26 investment programme — including the enlarged turning basin, terminal expansion, and Hamburg’s push to speed up mega-ship operations. Schultz explains how Hamburg is managing congestion, the impact of strikes across the Northern Range, and why a potential reopening of the Suez Canal to container traffic could trigger fresh chaos. We also dig into shifting trade flows: Asia booming, the transatlantic lane slumping, and the Baltic region surprising on the upside. With rail bottlenecks, digitalisation plans, and the uncertainty facing European consumers, Hamburg is preparing for a complex 2026. Schultz lays out what shippers, forwarders, and carriers should expect next. This episode is sponsored by Ontegos Cloud. #HamburgPort #ContainerShipping #OceanFreight #SupplyChain #PortCongestion #MegaShips #SuezCanal #ShippingNews

TIACA Director General Glyn Hughes joins Mike King in Miami on the sidelines of transport logistic Americas for an after-hours beer and a straight-talking look at the state of global air cargo. Fresh from TIACA’s first Air Cargo Forum in Abu Dhabi, Hughes breaks down why the sector keeps outperforming despite tariffs, geopolitics and chaotic trade policy. He explains how shifting e-commerce flows, China+1 production, and a new “US+1” consumption trend are reshaping supply chains. We get into freighter tightness, belly shortages, spot-rate behaviour, and why yields look set to hold steady into 2026. Hughes also gives the inside track on TIACA’s new partnership with a startup incubator, the rise of Middle Eastern hubs, and how regulatory and geopolitical messiness is now baked into global trade. Plus: why flexibility is air cargo’s secret weapon, which airports to watch, and the one policy change that could transform the industry overnight. Another straight-talking episode of the Freight Buyers’ Club — sponsored by Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/]. #AirCargo #AirFreight #Logistics #SupplyChain #Freight #TIACA #GlynHughes #EcommerceLogistics #GlobalTrade #FreightBuyersClub #DimercoExpressGroup

Freight buyers are entering 2026 with a rare advantage — a genuine buyer’s market. In this clip from Container Shipping 2026: Strategies Every Freight Buyer Needs Now, host Mike King speaks with Mark Chadwick (President, Global Shippers’ Association) and Chantal McRoberts (Director, Drewry Supply Chain Advisors) about how shippers can negotiate smarter, reduce risk, and secure stronger Transpacific contracts for the year ahead. ⚓ Produced with the kind support of Dimerco Express Group Watch the full episode: https://youtu.be/ERHtDwtarOg #ContainerShipping #FreightBuyersClub #FreightContracts #FreightRates #ShippingMarket #FreightStrategy #DimercoExpressGroup #SupplyChain #Logistics #TranspacificTrade

South Africa’s logistics system is fighting for its life — corruption, collapse, and political paralysis have left ports and railways in chaos. But could a real turnaround finally be underway? Host Mike King has just returned from a fact-finding tour of South Africa to uncover the good, the bad, and the ANC. In this hard-hitting explainer, Mike dives deep into: How Transnet fell apart under state capture and political cronyism The catastrophic impact on ports, rail, and exporters The reforms under new Transnet CEO Michelle Phillips ⚙️ The $7 billion recovery plan — and early signs of genuine progress How government and industry are finally pulling in the same direction Why South Africa is now looking East, not West, for trade growth Featuring insights from South Africa’s leading logistics experts — Peter Besnard, CEO of SAASOA, representing the nation’s ship operators and agents; Jacob van Rensburg, Head of Research and Development at the South African Association of Freight Forwarders (SAAFF); and Shabnum Dawood, CEO of DHL Global Forwarding South Africa — this episode is essential listening for anyone moving freight in or out of Africa. ️ Presented by Mike King In partnership with freight forwarding profitability specialists OntegosCloud Subscribe for straight-talking freight intelligence — without the spin. Credit: Jacob Zuma by Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp. #SouthAfrica #Logistics #Transnet #FreightBuyersClub #Shipping #Ports #SupplyChain #AfricaTrade #OntegosCloud #MikeKing #FreightForwarding #Corruption #Ramaphosa

Freight buyers face another wild year ahead. Mike King speaks with Mark Chadwick and Chantal McRoberts about the 2026 container shipping market — contracts, rates, and risk management for those who want to stay one move ahead. Produced with the kind support of Dimerco Express Group. Freight buyers are heading into 2026 facing a container shipping market full of volatility — from emissions uncertainty and patchwork regulation to rate swings and fragile carrier contracts. In this episode, Mike King gets straight answers from two of the industry’s most experienced voices: Mark Chadwick, President of the Global Shippers’ Association, representing some of the world’s biggest cargo owners — from energy and healthcare giants to major manufacturers. Chantal McRoberts, Director at Drewry Supply Chain Advisors, who helps global shippers interpret market data and build smarter strategies after years working inside major carriers. Together, they unpack what’s next for global shipping, how to manage freight risk, and what smart buyers are doing now to secure value, service, and stability for the year ahead. In this episode: How emissions policy deadlock could shape shipping costs and contracts in 2026 What’s really driving rate swings on Transpacific and Asia–Europe trades When to lock in long-term contracts — and when to stay flexible The new balance of power between shippers and carriers Smart strategies to manage freight risk, surcharges, and service reliability What the data says about supply, demand, and rate trends for 2026 If you want to understand the container shipping market outlook for 2026 — and how to plan, contract and negotiate smarter — this episode is for you. Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/] More episodes, transcripts, and resources: https://www.thefreightbuyersclub.com CHAPTERS  00:00 Meet the Guests — Mark Chadwick & Chantal McRoberts  02:49 IMO MEPC: The Emissions Deadlock  08:25 Transpacific Market Mayhem  19:54 Contracting Season — Freight Buyer Strategy  27:44 Surcharges — The Love–Hate Relationship  34:05 Global Container Market Analysis  43:27 Outlook 2026 — Overcapacity, Alliances & Risk  48.55 Quick-Fire Forecasts  #ContainerShipping #FreightBuyersClub #ShippingMarket #FreightRates #SupplyChain #Logistics #DimercoExpressGroup #FreightContracts #GlobalTrade #Shippers #MaritimeIndustry #ShippingOutlook2026