Recently, shipping freight rates have continued to decline due to the increase in capacity, particularly on transoceanic routes to Europe and America, where the drop is significant. Affected by market conditions and intensified competition, freight rates are expected to continue decreasing, although the extent of the decline will lessen. Future capacity deliveries will further influence market fluctuations.
The surge in China-US ocean freight rates stems from pandemic-induced supply-demand imbalances, leading to reduced shipping capacity, port congestion, and surging demand. This intensifies cost pressures on exporters, drives up consumer prices, and disrupts supply chains. Mitigation strategies include increasing shipping capacity, optimizing port operations, strengthening international cooperation, and promoting digital transformation to stabilize the global trade chain.
Bangladesh has reached a collaboration with a Japanese company to jointly develop the Matarbari deep sea port in the Cox's Bazar region, aimed at enhancing international trade capacity and economic growth. The new port will feature a 460-meter container terminal and a 300-meter multipurpose terminal, with an expected handling capacity of 2.6 million TEUs, and is set to be completed by 2029.
Moscow Domodedovo International Airport is a major airport in Russia, with an annual capacity of 24 million passengers, connecting multiple global routes.
The World Customs Organization (WCO) Asia Pacific Regional Office for Capacity Building (ROCB A/P) welcomes new members from Korea and Hong Kong Customs, bolstering its regional cooperation capabilities. ROCB A/P is dedicated to enhancing the skills and capabilities of customs officials and organizations in the Asia Pacific region through capacity building activities, striving towards the vision of 'World-Class Customs'. Thai Customs provides significant support to the office.
The WCO has launched the 'Capacity Builder Newsletter' to support global customs capacity building. It provides information, experiences, and expert perspectives. This initiative complements briefings, certifications, and e-learning platforms, offering a comprehensive approach to enhancing customs capabilities worldwide. The newsletter aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and promote best practices within the international customs community, ultimately contributing to more efficient and effective border management and international trade facilitation.
Since 2025, international trade capacity in the Pacific region has decreased by 11% due to the uncertainty of US tariff policies. Shipping companies are responding by adjusting capacity and canceling sailings, but the fundamental issue lies in the direction of trade policy and changes in demand. The shipping industry faces challenges and needs to closely monitor the market and flexibly adjust strategies. Shippers also need to strengthen risk management.
Airport slot coordination optimizes capacity, reduces delays, promotes fair competition, and ensures safety. The Worldwide Airport Slot Guidelines (WASG) are central to this process. However, challenges remain, requiring proactive solutions to ensure sustainable development within the aviation industry. Effective slot management is crucial for efficient airport operations and passenger satisfaction. Addressing these challenges involves collaboration between airlines, airports, and regulatory bodies to balance capacity, demand, and environmental considerations.
Trucking executives are hopeful for a freight demand recovery by 2026, anticipating increased rates and improved profitability. Companies are actively addressing challenges by controlling costs and optimizing capacity. Despite facing soft demand and excess capacity, the industry is striving for balance and sustainable development. The expectation is that a stronger economy will drive increased freight volume, boosting the trucking sector's performance after a period of downturn and adjustment.
In 2025, the transportation industry will face changes in pricing and capacity, necessitating cross-industry collaboration to address market fluctuations and enhance competitiveness.
