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CONTAINER SHIPPING

Pilot boat, tug, and buoy in a quiet Suez Canal scene with no passing ships and empty waterway stretching ahead

The Suez Canal recovery that never arrived

The Suez Canal recovery should be in full swing. The Houthis stopped attacking ships in November. War risk premiums collapsed. Yet container traffic remains 60% below 2023 levels

A miniature sailing ship inside a glass bottle, reflected on a dark surface, photographed in vintage black-and-white style

Decks and Deals Weekly #32

During the week of 15–21 February 2026, global shipping was reshaped by Hapag-Lloyd’s $4.2bn ZIM bid, Hormuz tensions, surging tanker rates, container overcapacity, Ukrainian port strikes, and bold Greek newbuilding orders

Black-and-white photograph of a stormy sea with waves breaking against a line of wooden groynes extending into the water

Decks and Deals Weekly #30

From 31 January to 7 February 2026, global shipping markets confronted structural distortions: collapsing shadow fleets, resilient mid-size tankers, aggressive Chinese-led newbuilding orders, and a widening gap between macro narratives and physical trade reality

Aerial view of large container ships under construction at a major Asian shipyard, with cranes, dry docks, and multiple vessels visible

The 2026 global shipping outlook: A perfectly engineered glut

The global shipping outlook for 2026 is a masterclass in self-sabotage. After years of record profits, the industry has enthusiastically ordered enough new ships to guarantee a spectacular collapse in freight rates, creating chaos

Rocky shoreline with strong waves under a dramatic, cloud-filled sky at sunset, conveying a dynamic and unsettled seascape

Decks and Deals Weekly #29

Between 25–31 January 2026, global shipping trends revealed an industry under pressure, as freight rates softened, carrier earnings deteriorated, fleet expansion accelerated, and geopolitical uncertainty reshaped routing, risk pricing, and strategic decision-making across liner markets

Abandoned wooden vessel resting on a muddy shoreline near calm water under an overcast sky, conveying stillness and maritime decay

Decks and Deals Weekly #25

Holiday silence did not mean market calm. Between 29 December 2025 and 3 January 2026, global shipping freight rates spoke clearly: pricing discipline returned, volumes hesitated, and carriers tested how far leverage still stretches