Peak Season Incoming, Hormuz Holds, and Global Demand Takes a Hit

Pacific rates are flatlining but peak season signals are building, with freight futures pointing to a $900 per FEU jump on Asia-North Europe by July. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, global container demand fell 2.4% year-on-year in March, and Maersk posted a second consecutive quarter of negative EBIT.

In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:

• Rate movements across Asia-US West Coast, Asia-US East Coast, and Asia-North Europe, including what freight futures are signaling for peak season
• The latest Hormuz developments including two new vessel attacks and the short-lived US military escort operation
• March global demand data: why the headline -2.4% masks a world that is otherwise still growing at 5-8%
• Maersk Q1 results and what two consecutive quarters of negative EBIT signals for carrier health