Container Bytes: Weekly Ocean & Air Freight Intelligence for Supply Chain Pros
Ten minutes. Everything moving in global freight. Container Bytes delivers weekly ocean and air cargo market data, rate trends, and forecasts, all designed for supply chain professionals who need signal, not noise. Brought to you by Freightos, the global freight booking platform and starring Judah Levine, Freightos' market analyst. Serious freight updates from people who don't take themselves too seriously.
Container Bytes: Weekly Ocean & Air Freight Intelligence for Supply Chain Pros
Episode #12: Air Cargo Defies Death, Rates Spike Past Last Year's Peak
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We're back and pumped to talk freight. Get your freight Christmas sweater on.🧣
Transpacific air rates hit $7.50/kilo, beating out last year's $7.30 peak despite recession fears and front-loading concerns (take that, 2024!). Meanwhile, Asia-Europe stays flat at $3.60/kilo as carriers shift more capacity there.
And....the Red Sea is showing signs of life! I'm not crying - you are.
Houthis released hostages that had been held since July, and CMA CGM is increasing vessel traffic through the area (though full return remains as elusive as my son's missing left shoes). Ocean rates continue their wild ride, with transpacific bouncing between $1,400-$3,000 in recent months, while Asia-Europe rates have climbed 40-50% since October lows. It's a rollercoaster.
Also, don't miss tomorrow's session with Stanford's Neil Mahoney on trade war impacts.
If you don't share this episode, I'll blank sail your next three shipments and replace your BOLs with my 4-year-old's crayon drawings. NBD.
CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 — Air cargo defies death, rates spike
00:01:23 — Red Sea: Signs of life or zombie twitches?
00:03:15 — Ocean rates: The rollercoaster that never ends
00:05:34 — How not to get fleeced in 2024 contracts
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