Empty container repositioning surges, threatening higher ocean freight rates

A new analysis from Danish maritime consultancy Sea-Intelligence reveals that widening global trade imbalances have pushed empty container shipments to unprecedented record levels. Currently, one in every three containers moved globally is empty, a stark deterioration from the pre-pandemic average of one in four. When measured in TEU-miles, empty container repositioning now consumes 30% of all global container shipping work, up from 24% before the pandemic. Since the first quarter of 2019, the volume of empty boxes shipped has skyrocketed by 65%, completely outstripping the mere 17% growth seen in full container shipments over the same period. Sea-Intelligence points out that moving twice the volume of empty equipment across long distances creates a severe structural challenge for liner networks. The consultancy warns that the massive overhead of managing this equipment surplus will drive up carrier operational costs, directly putting upward pressure on global freight rates, according to a report.

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