The Loadstar

What do the numbers tell us about the global container shipping market in Q3 2026? In this special episode of The Loadstar Podcast, we team up with Container Trades Statistics (CTS) CEO Nigel Pusey to unpack the latest data and explore the forces shaping global trade. Joined by The Loadstar’s Managing Editor Gavin van Marle, we examine another quarter of record-breaking container volumes, the continued strength of Far East exports, and the changing dynamics across the transpacific and secondary markets, including South America and Sub-Saharan Africa. We also explore the growing impact of port congestion, as typhoons and operational disruption put further pressure on already stretched supply chains, plus the contrasting developments in the Middle East with increasing returns to Red Sea transits and continued uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz. Finally, we revisit the predictions made in our Q2 episode to see how they measured up, before asking Nigel and Gavin to look ahead and share their forecasts for the coming months. From trade volumes and pricing trends to geopolitical disruption and shifting trade lanes, we put the Q3 container shipping market under the microscope.

In this week's News in Brief, we look at the latest developments shaping global shipping and air cargo, from growing port congestion concerns to shifting capacity and geopolitical uncertainty. Loadstar managing editor Gavin van Marle joins us fresh from the World Ports Conference in London to discuss the key talking points from the event, the latest concerns around potential disruption at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, and what the return of container services to the Suez Canal could mean for shipping rates and congestion. We also examine why the transpacific trade remains so lucrative for carriers. Then, TIACA director general Mammen Tharakan joins us to discuss the air cargo market, including tight capacity and strong demand on the transpacific, the potential impact of returning Middle Eastern capacity, and how ongoing instability around the Strait of Hormuz is affecting market confidence and contracting decisions. From port disruption and Suez transits to the air cargo capacity crunch, we bring you up to speed on the stories driving the freight industry this week.

In this bonus episode of The Loadstar Podcast, we catch up with Loadstar Publisher Alex Lennane fresh from Miami, where she attended TIACA’s Air Cargo Forum (ACF). Ms Lennnane shares her key takeaways from the event, including the atmosphere on the ground, major leadership changes across the air cargo industry and what these handovers could mean for the sector’s future. We also explore the biggest issue on delegates’ minds, with capacity emerging as a key concern, alongside some of the other talking points and industry gossip from the event. From Glyn Hughes’ final ACF as TIACA director general to the latest developments in air cargo leadership, Alex brings us up to speed on the conversations shaping the industry.

How reliable is container shipping right now, and what are the biggest factors impacting on-time performance?   This week on News in Brief, Xeneta Chief Analyst Peter Sand joins us to unpack the latest schedule reliability data, explore how different carrier alliance strategies are performing, and examine the ongoing impact of port congestion on capacity and sailing schedules.   We also discuss the proposed delay to US port fees on China-linked vessels, what it means for shippers, and take a look at the latest rate trends as the market heads out of Golden week and towards the Thanksgiving and Christmas peak season. 

Port congestion is putting pressure on global supply chains, from West Africa and Europe to the Middle East, while escalating conflict is creating fresh challenges for air cargo. In this episode, Drewry’s head of Ports and Terminals, Eirik Hooper, joins us to discuss the causes of congestion, whether major investments in African ports will deliver meaningful improvements, and how automation could help terminals boost efficiency. We also examine the growing cyber threat facing shipping and port operators. Plus, Loadstar publisher Alex Lennane joins us to unpack the impact of the US/Iran war on air cargo capacity in Saudi Arabia, the squeeze on airfreight capacity as peak season approaches, and Samsung SDS’s move to strengthen its airfreight business through the acquisition of Woojung Air. And what’s making headlines on The Loadstar Premium? We take a look at Kuehne+Nagel’s growth ambitions, the world’s leading freight forwarders and ransomware threats targeting the logistics sector.

AI is everywhere in logistics right now, but what does it actually mean for freight forwarding?  In this episode of The Loadstar Podcast, host Charlotte Goldstone speaks to Erik Muttersbach, founder of Zauber and former Forto technology executive, about where AI and agentic AI really stand today, what is already happening in forwarding, and what could change over the next three to five years.  Erik shares what he is learning from real-world deployments with customers, tackles some of the biggest misconceptions around AI, and explains why adoption and change management may be just as important as the technology itself. They also discuss the buy-versus-build question, the patterns Erik has seen across a decade of technology adoption in forwarding, and how companies can separate genuine AI capability from the hype.  Looking ahead, what will AI actually change across the forwarding value chain - and which parts of the industry will prove hardest to transform? 

A profitable quote does not always become a profitable shipment. In this episode of The Loadstar Podcast, host Charlotte Goldstone asks where freight forwarders lose money between booking and delivery, and what they can do to protect their margins. Emma Crumpton, enterprise solutions director at Portcast, explains how detention and demurrage charges, mismatched buy and sell rates, and costs that are never billed back to customers can erode the return on a job. The problem is often the volume and complexity of information operators must manage across carriers, ports and contracts. Ian Powell, tech and solutions director at Metro, brings the forwarders' perspective. He discusses the cost of manual processing and rework, and describes how Metro pilots technology before rolling it out across its operations. The conversation also examines what AI can realistically do with shipment data. Both guests argue that reliable data, clear processes and human oversight matter more than simply adding another tool. For forwarders wondering where to start, their advice is to identify the cause of a margin leak first, then decide whether a process change or technology can fix it.

Airfreight markets are facing constant disruption, from shifting ecommerce flows and changing rates to tight capacity and growing uncertainty across major trade lanes. In this special sponsored episode, Tristan Koch, Chief Commercial Officer at Awery Aviation Software, joins us to discuss the latest China-Europe ecommerce trends, how airlines and forwarders are responding to volatile demand, and why different booking platforms can show very different rates and capacity for the same flight. He also explains how Awery’s new AI-powered data search and reporting functionality can help air cargo professionals make sense of an increasingly complex market. Sponsored by Awery Aviation Software.

What’s keeping Transpacific freight rates elevated as the peak season approaches? This week, Gavin van Marle joins us to discuss the latest rate movements, the changing US-Canada trade relationship and a significant leadership shake-up at PIL.  Plus, Awery’s Tristan Koch joins us to examine the latest airfreight data, the continuing decline in China-Europe ecommerce volumes, shifting rates and capacity, and how new technology could help the industry navigate an increasingly volatile market.  All this and more, in under 20 minutes on this week's News in Brief Podcast!  

Transpacific freight rates are on the rise — but is capacity really the problem? This week, Stephanie Loomis of Noatum Logistics joins us to unpack the latest rate increases, booking risks and service reliability, as well as the shifting outlook for Asia-Europe trade and global vessel capacity.  Plus, Loadstar Publisher Alex Lennane looks at the latest upheaval in airfreight, from Amazon’s network reshuffle to airlines redrawing freighter routes amid tight aircraft availability. And we explore whether shippers are outgrowing the traditional 3PL model.  All this and more, in under 20 minutes on this week's News in Brief Podcast!