With ocean freight shipping playing a major role in the supply chain, any disruption can quickly have a knock-on effect. After all, ocean freight is a volatile space where businesses are eager to secure container capacity and limit their expenses. When supply is low, however, just how can shippers satisfy their cargo needs, while managing costs and reliability?
For businesses operating internationally, container shipping can be a complex affair. To succeed in their import/export operations, SMEs and mid-caps dealing with overseas vendors and suppliers need to carefully monitor and manage the litany of shipping-related concerns they are often saddled with.
In this volatile sector, circumstances can change quickly, driving rates upwards and impacting profit margins. Factors such as container availability and bunker surcharges (due to changing oil prices) bear a direct impact on business shipping costs, meaning shippers need to remain savvy and develop market intelligence if they are to face the many challenges of the logistics industry. Of course, rates are not the only decisive factor for shippers, with additional – sometimes conflicting – concerns weighing in, notably when selecting a freight partner. Cost, capacity, and reliability must all be accounted for.