Record-breaking ocean freight volumes raise peak season concerns

Global demand for ocean freight container shipping has reached an unprecedented levels, exceeding even the peak demand seen during the Covid-19 pandemic. This surge has left shippers uncertain about the implications for the upcoming peak season.

Recent figures from Xeneta and Container Trade Statistics reveal that 15.94 million TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) were shipped via ocean in May. This number has broken the previous record of 15.72 million TEU, which was set in May 2021 during the pandemic’s height.

Emily Stausbøll, a senior shipping analyst at Xeneta, commented that the volume of containerised goods transported by sea has reached an all-time high. She explained that the increase occurred amidst limited available capacity, caused by diversions around Africa due to the Red Sea conflict and significant port congestion in Asia and Europe.

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