Supply Chain Research

Hapag-Lloyd has announced a container shipping rate increase for routes from east Asia to the east coast of South America. That follows a 36.6% increase in China-to-east coast South America shipping rates already in Q4. A similar pattern can be seen in shipping rates globally and is starting to draw government scrutiny. Imports to Brazil from China handled by Hapag-Lloyd soared 26.5% higher year over year in September, while its total shipments to Brazil from east Asia climbed by 10.3%. That was better than the industry average of a 13.7% decline in shipments and would suggest Hapag-Lloy...