The shortage of containers has begun to have an impact on the shipping industry

Since mid December until now, the situation in the Red Sea has remained tense, with a series of problems such as ship reroutings, skyrocketing freight rates, and delayed/cancelled shipping schedules emerging one after another. As a key link in the supply chain, the shortage of containers has become increasingly prominent, and container shortages have begun to have an impact on the shipping industry.

There is a shortage of approximately 780000 TEUs of empty containers arriving in Asia before the Lunar New Year compared to usual, which is a factor driving up spot freight rates.

The director of a certain freight forwarding company stated that although there have been predictions in the past few weeks, the shortage may catch the entire industry off guard.

It has become increasingly difficult to obtain 40 foot high containers and 20 foot standard containers in major ports in China.

He said, "There are no new empty containers left, and there is a" out of stock "sign hanging at the entrance of the leasing company.".

Other freight forwarders have also encountered similar problems, with the Red Sea crisis exacerbating the structural inefficiency of empty container transportation.

Logistics industry insiders point out that the phenomenon of empty container ships means that large ships cannot dock at ports, which poses a huge challenge for foreign trade enterprises and logistics operators to book without cabins. Moreover, the global consolidation industry has begun to respond to market changes and has taken a series of capacity adjustment measures.

Regarding this market change, a freight forwarder said, "If there is a shortage of empty containers, there is no good solution. Boxes are first come, first served."