The Loadstar

In this action-packed double-header episode, we go deep on supply chain and shipping strategy with two senior leaders from the logistics industry. Part 1: Hapag-Lloyd's ‘Strategy 2030’ (01.40-31.15) First up, we take an in-depth look at Hapag-Lloyd's ambitious ‘Strategy 2030’. Can the German carrier retain its top 5 ranking among container lines? What are its ship and terminal investment plans? What does its ‘Pure Play Plus’ strategy mean for forwarders and shippers, and can it achieve its bold sustainability goals? We also explore the potential schedule reliability impact of Hapag Lloyd’s Gemini Cooperation with Maersk and examine whether the partnership’s hub and spoke strategy with limited direct port calls can deliver the performance and services that customers want. Answering these questions and more is Matthias Dietrich, Senior Director for Strategy at Hapag-Lloyd.   Part 2 In this action-packed double-header episode, we go deep on supply chain and shipping strategy with two senior leaders from the logistics industry.   Guests: Matthias Dietrich, Senior Director Strategy, Hapag-Lloyd Brian Bourke, Global Chief Commercial Officer, SEKO Logistics   Credits: Created, hosted and produced by Mike King & Associates for The Loadstar www.theloadstar.com

21 Mai 202450min

In this episode of The Loadstar’s News in Brief Podcast, host and news reporter Charlotte Goldstone recaps last week’s supply chain and logistics news and offers exclusive insight into what will be appearing on The Loadstar this week.  Charlotte discusses how and why ocean freight rates have risen on the major trade lanes, why new sustainability regulations might put strain on European haulage companies and how recent US tariffs aim to suppress trade with China.   The Loadstar publisher, Alex Lennane, explains how rising ocean freight rates correlate with airfreight demand, the highlights of her recent interview with Cargolux and how The Loadstar is using AI to write financial reports in the style of classic literary icons...   So, what are you waiting for? In just 12 minutes, this bite-sized news podcast will catch you up on anything you might have missed last week and put you ahead of the curve on this week’s happenings.

20 Mai 202411min

In this episode of The Loadstar’s News in Brief Podcast, host and news reporter Charlotte Goldstone recaps last week’s supply chain and logistics news and offers exclusive insight into what will be appearing on The Loadstar this week. The Loadstar’s managing editor, Gavin van Marle, discusses exactly how the Red Sea crisis has caused complications along the Asia to Europe trade, and how this translated into last week's ocean freight rates. And The Loadstar publisher, Alex Lennane, explains how things are heating up in air cargo and what this is doing to air freight rates, as well as summarising the key points of a recent Flexport legal battle.  So, what are you waiting for? This bite-sized news podcast will catch you up on anything you might have missed last week and put you ahead of the curve on this week’s happenings, all in under 10 minutes.

13 Mai 20247min

In this episode, host Mike King and guests delve into the intricate puzzles of global supply chains amidst geopolitical turmoil, trade disputes, and unpredictable market conditions. They cover Middle East supply chain disruptions, surges in the Asia-Mexico trade lane, evolving air cargo market dynamics in the wake of air space closures, and the rise of Chinese e-tailers. They also consider how shippers can navigate multiple supply chain risks and ask whether some have shipped cargo early this year. If so, what does this mean for the traditional Q3 peak season? Conversely, if demand increases substantially in the months ahead, can already strained liner networks cope?   Guests Tom Crabtree, Managing Director, Trade and Transport Group Peter Sand, Chief Analyst, Xeneta Gavin van Marle, Managing Editor. The Loadstar   Episode in more detail: Part 1 – Container shipping (00:00-38:00) Key questions tackled: How do you plan around ever-changing Middle East risk? Has European trade decoupled from economic growth or is this an early peak season? Why is Asia to Mexico the most dynamic trade lane in the world? Why are Chinese exports seemingly outstripping demand? Is this dumping and will it result in more tariffs from importers? Given record containership deliveries, what happens if the Suez Canal reopens? If we have a traditional container shipping peak season, can stretched liner networks cope with a surge in demand?   Part 2 - Air cargo analysis (38:00-58:00) Key questions examined: Are we seeing a fundamental shift in e-commerce demand? Will Chinese e-tailers new business models prove sustainable? How are air space closures for some carriers impacting global freighter and bellyhold operations? How is shipping disruption firing demand? What impact will more (and higher) tariffs have on trade? Air freight supply and demand – where next?   Credits: Created, hosted and produced by Mike King & Associates for The Loadstar www.theloadstar.com

8 Mai 202457min

In this inaugural episode of The Loadstar’s ‘News in Brief Podcast’, host and news reporter Charlotte Goldstone recaps last week’s supply chain and logistics news and offers exclusive insight into what will be appearing on The Loadstar this week. The Loadstar’s managing editor, Gavin van Marle, discusses how recent ocean freight rates and rising surcharges translated into last week’s ocean carrier Q1 results. And The Loadstar publisher, Alex Lennane, condenses the key points of our recent ecommerce series and explains what’s worrying air cargo players in the year ahead. So, what are you waiting for? This bite-sized news podcast will catch you up on anything you might have missed last week and puts you ahead of the curve on this week’s happenings.

3 Mai 20249min

In this episode, host Mike King and guests examine what the latest escalation of conflict in the Middle East means for freight markets, who might be paying for the Dali tragedy at the port of Baltimore, and why e-commerce is driving air cargo demand. Drewry’s Eirik Hooper explains how the de facto closure of the Suez Canal is impacting Mediterranean ports and shipping services. And Flexport’s Neel Jones Shah explains what’s next for him and his company. And reporting ‘live’ from IATA’s CNS Partnership conference in Dallas Fort Worth, the Loadstar’s Alex Lennane asks the Airforwarders Association’s Brandon Fried about fentanyl, US infrastructure failings and why some airline executives still do not understand the importance of forwarding.   Guests Neel Jones Shah, EVP, Global Key Accounts and Chief Customer Officer, Flexport Alex Lennane, Publisher, The Loadstar Brandon Fried, Executive Director, Airforwarders Association Eirik Hooper, Senior Analyst for Ports and Terminals, Drewry   Episode in more detail: Dali: General Average declared (2.33) Middle East erupts – no-fly zones, ship seizures and pirates (4.48) IATA CNS (8.37) Neel Jones Shah to leave Flexport (10.25) More restricting at Flexport? (11.29) Deliverr and the loss of Dave Clark E-commerce and air cargo demand (15.35) Fentanyl and resisting legislators (19.50) US infrastructure failings (24.04) Carriers vs air forwarders (26.07) The future of the CNS Partnership (27.52) Drewry’s Mediterranean update (29.25)

17 Apr 202434min

This episode looks at the supply chain and insurance fallout following the tragic Dali incident in Baltimore in March. Host Mike King and guests also examine the decline of the port of Hong Kong, why air cargo demand is surprising analysts, and the latest detention and demurrage cases being filed with the US Federal Maritime Commission. How the Red Sea crisis is currently impacting air and ocean networks, why trans-Pacific contract negotiations have stalled, and whether rejigs of the container alliance system will be beneficial for customers are also on the agenda. Guests Stephanie Loomis, Head of Ocean Freight, North America, Rhenus Logistics Niall van de Wouw, Chief Airfreight Officer, Xeneta Gavin van Marle, Managing Editor, The Loadstar   Episode in more detail: Baltimore’s ‘Dali’ disaster (3.13) USEC capacity tightens (5.00) Who pays and why no insurance? (9.12) Shadow boxing on Transpac contracts (17.19) Box rates and existential normalisation (20.26) Air cargo demand ‘surprise’ (24.41) Red Sea sea-air shift (26.46) Where next for air freight markets? (29.24) US import demand drivers – tariffs++(30.44) The Loadstar, D&D and the FMC (34.13) Gemini – the good, the bad and… (38.21) The decline and fall of Hong Kong (40.21)   Credits: Created, hosted and produced by Mike King & Associates

11 Apr 202444min

In this episode, The Loadstar Podcast has recaps from the biggest trade shows of 2024 and all the latest breaking news, not least recent lurches in container shipping rates and surges in air cargo volumes. DP World’s ambitious plans to expand its forwarding operations are the subject of a major exclusive interview.Host Mike King and guests also unpack what a China/Russia deal with Houthi militias means for container markets, whether IATA is serious about air cargo, why sea-air and e-commerce volumes are surprisingly strong, and how US legislators are targeting the Shanghai Shipping Exchange. Guests:Glen Clark, CEO, DP World US/Mexico Peter Sand, Chief Analyst, XenetaAlex Lennane, Publisher, The Loadstar Episode in more detail:A welcome Loadstar return to Hong Kong (2.56)Is IATA taking cargo seriously? (5.56)Steps to make air cargo more sustainable (7.39)The Asia-Europe box trade (10.36)Implications of China/Russia deal with Houthi militias (14.21)Transpac contract negotiations update (16.51)New Trump tariffs and shipping strategies (18.47)The Mexico backdoor (20.57)Air cargo markets outlook (23.46)Is e-commerce sustainable? (24.39)Container line financials (28.25)US legislators target SSE (30.03)DP World - US gateway options (32.20)Stable supply chains in an unstable world (34.23)Sourcing diversification (36.51)Rolling out a new forwarding network (40.02)Leveraging scale in logistics (43.14) Credits: Created, hosted and produced by Mike King & Associates for The Loadstar www.theloadstar.com

26 Mar 202446min