The lockdowns across key global economies led to a collapse in volumes followed by a sharp recovery. But most port throughput remained flat across the year 

With container vessels full from Asia to the US and Europe, cargo owners and forwarders are struggling to secure slots and wrestling with disruptions and delays, worsened by poor communication by lines

Shippers and forwarders claim that current bafs are much too high and should be cut to reflect the rapid drop in bunker prices

Logistics operators will need support from politicians and policymakers as they come under increasing pressure. There is no hard and fast rule that they can adapt to every changing pattern coming their way

Rush to ship goods ahead of factory closures was not comparable to the years before the China-US trade war started in 2018

Fresh US tariffs on Chinese exports could further change the dynamics of the transpacific headhaul trade in the coming months