Major container lines begin MEG withdrawals, but reopening Hormuz won’t stop a broader downturn
- The global container shipping market is expected to weaken regardless of whether the Strait of Hormuz reopens, according to shipping association BIMCO
- Chief shipping analyst Niels Rasmussen warned that a structural oversupply problem is already embedded in the market, with fleet capacity growing faster than cargo demand under all foreseeable scenarios
Freight and charter rates have been supported by Middle East disruptions, tariff-related cargo front-loading and longer routing via the Cape of Good Hope. But these factors are masking deeper structural weakness
