Freight Forwarders, Importers and Exporters sharpen their axes as ocean freight rates take declining trends.

🚨 Freight Market Alert: Ocean Rates Under Pressure Again

The global container freight index has fallen by 11.3%, now at $1,651 per 40-ft container — the 17th consecutive week of decline and the lowest point since early 2024.

Meanwhile, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) dropped by 3.1% to 1,160.42, with only a short-lived recovery around Golden Week and upcoming GRIs on Trans-Pacific routes.

These are not random fluctuations — they’re clear warning signs.

⚠️ The industry is once again facing excess capacity, pushing ocean freight rates into another phase of “commoditization”. When supply outweighs demand, pricing power evaporates, and the advantage tilts back to customers.

Those who’ve been in the trade long enough know this pattern all too well.

When markets tighten, carriers court freight forwarders. When they loosen, the same partners are quietly pushed aside. The cycle repeats — but those who prepare stay afloat.

Now is the time for importers, exporters, traders, and freight forwarders to take control of their strategies:

✅ Modernize how freight rates are sourced and managed.

✅ Use real-time insights to stay competitive and transparent.

✅ Protect your customers’ interests — not just your margins.

🌍 Across different regions and trade corridors, a new wave of digital adoption is already taking shape.

💡 The tides of global trade won’t wait.

This is why KD World Consulting Ltd. launched KARGO, precisely for that purpose — empowering forwarders and shippers to manage freight procurement with clarity, speed, and confidence. From Indian Ocean Islands, East and West Africa to Asia - small and mid-sized freight forwarders and trading companies are turning to KARGO to streamline their rate management, quotation, and shipment workflows.

These SMEs are proving that agility and digital readiness are now the true differentiators in global logistics — not size alone. To stay ahead, industry players need reliable digital systems that turn volatility into visibility.

We are glad to welcome the new joiners and encourage others to act proactively, to avoid the turmoil later. Before the wheels of freight rates turn again, this is the time to sharpen the axes and prepare to face future changes in global trends.