Maersk’s South Asia MD, Steve Felder, has identified “pockets of downward pressure” for container rates, but that demand late in the year “so far look(s) positive”. That provides context for comments from the firm last week that “fundamentals are so far playing in a good way” for 2018. Underlying demand does indeed look positive on the basis of Panjiva’s tracking of global port activity. However, increased new vessel orders may result in extra supply in late 2018. Despite Maersk’s comments, short-term pessimism seems to reign. Container rates have fallen for four straight weeks, and in 1...