Not enough terminal investment in Europe has left ports unable to handle the rising demand, and there is no quick fix, according to analysts and carriers.

Months of frontloading explain the harsher-than-usual import slowdown in the final months of this year, but uncertain consumer sentiment and ever-changing US tariff policy are keeping retail inventories running lean.

The ocean carrier said it still needs approvals from insurers and others, but the ceasefire in Gaza appears to be holding.

While the conclusion of arbitration should provide more stability to shippers using Montreal, Canada’s other East Coast gateways will soon face their own contract negotiations.

A surge in replenishment activity in the US could turbocharge container shipping demand, while a wholesale return of container ships to Red Sea and Suez Canal transits would have a far-reaching market impact, speakers on a panel sponsored by the carrier said Wednesday.

A series of freight-all-kinds increases since Oct. 1 has held up the spot market on the trade, with carriers aiming to sustain the pricing momentum through Q4 contract talks.

As a result of that heightened overcapacity, spot rates on the trade lane are at their lowest since February while exports to the US East Coast fell sharply in October.

The carrier’s first direct service to Halifax comes as Canada looks to pivot its trade networks and as low water levels affect Montreal’s container business.

The consortium of nine liner carriers has launched its first product to facilitate the adoption of electronic bills of lading and other digital standards it is developing.

‘Spectacular’ growth at the Persian Gulf terminal has brought forward expansion plans that will increase handling capacity by almost 50%.

Cargo owners typically balk at paying more for ocean transport, but the significantly improving schedule reliability from the Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd partnership is getting the attention of the market.

Stephen Edwards’ five-year tenure at Norfolk is marked by major capacity expansions at its two marine terminals, along with new vessel and rail services.

The yawning imbalance between China’s import and exports is another way functional ocean capacity, like with port congestion, is being sapped by forces beyond the control of ocean carriers.

Current plans call for the development of a 600-meter quay and a 49-acre backup ecosystem able to handle 800,000 TEUs annually.

Europe’s third-largest port offset a sharp drop in US trade with solid increases in imports from China, Malaysia and India, while seeing big gains in intra-Europe volumes.

As contract tendering season on the European trades gets underway, carriers are stepping up capacity management efforts to elevate spot rates and better match supply with demand.

Remarks from the group’s CFO came as the carrier’s third-quarter financials showed year-on-year declines.

The carrier’s CEO also confirmed Gemini is mulling a price premium, which he forecast would be a “small three-digit number per TEU” to reflect the inventory cost savings customers achieve through the alliance’s consistent on-time delivery.

Responding to market weakness that resulted in an 83% year-on-year decline in third-quarter profits, the carrier said it is “optimizing operations by adjusting port calls and vessel deployment across trade lanes.”

The rebels are incentivized to keep up some level of threat in the Red Sea because they are loathe to give up leverage that generates financial and military support, according to an S&P Global analyst.