Dockflow
Delen
The Strait of Hormuz is closed. Your client's cargo is stranded somewhere in the Gulf. The invoice isn't going to wait for the news to settle.
Here's the four-part message that keeps the client. And the four-part message most forwarders skip.
1. What's happening. Two sentences. No panic, just facts.
2. Which of their specific shipments are affected, with booking references. Not "we'll get back to you."
3. The revised plan. Concrete routing. A named transshipment hub. A new ETA.
4. The cost change. War risk surcharge as its own line item. Not rounded into the freight total.
The forwarder who sends this in the first 24 hours keeps the relationship. The one who waits for the client to call loses it at contract renewal.
How are you communicating with clients this week?
09/02/2026
Container shipping rates have dropped for four straight weeks, and the usual pre-Lunar New Year cargo rush never happened…
Here's what's actually happening in the market:
Carriers are publishing rate quotes of $2,050-$2,100 for West Coast shipments, but actual deals are closing around $1,700. For East Coast routes, quotes sit at $2,800 while real transactions happen at $2,400-$2,500.
Carriers announce rate increases, but they fall apart within days as everyone fights for volume.
The reason? Too many ships, not enough cargo.
What does this mean for your business?
When rates are falling and everyone's quoting similar prices, you can't compete on price alone anymore. The winners in soft markets are the companies that run tighter operations.
And, visibility makes the difference!
Real-time tracking catches delays before they turn into demurrage charges. Clear data helps spot when carriers adjust capacity so you can move fast.
And while shipping costs drop, regulatory costs keep climbing… accurate emissions reporting based on real routes is becoming table stakes.
Rates will always go up and down. What matters is how quickly you can adapt when they do.
In markets like these, operational transparency is what separates profitable shipments from costly surprises.
Check how Dockflow can help using your own containers using the link in the bio.
28/01/2026
Dockflow tracks millions of containers across the world’s oceans.
But those oceans are more than just highways for cargo. They’re living ecosystems that support billions of people and countless marine species.
This recent holiday season, instead of sending traditional gifts to our customers, we partnered with Go Ocean to restore coral reefs in Indonesia and Madagascar.
This initiative is small compared to the scale of the problem. But every coral fragment matters. And every business that takes responsibility for its environmental impact creates momentum for larger change.
You can read more details here: https://lnkd.in/eb9DhnS8
Klik hier om uitgelicht te worden.
Type
Website
Adres
Antwerp
