Reading the 2023 freight market as China abandons zero-Covid policy

Chinese New Year traditionally sees a spike in air and ocean demand - and freight rates - ahead of factory closures for the Chinese New Year holidays which start on 22 January. But will tradition mean a thing in this inflation-ridden start to the year? How long will factories stay closed? And what does the unwinding of China’s zero Covid policy mean for manufacturers, international travel, air cargo and shipping supply chains in the coming weeks and the year ahead?

Host Mike King and his guests also explain what air freight markets are doing ahead of Chinese New Year and look at the outlook for ocean freight rates after the spot market collapse of 2022.

Guests:  

Steve Saxon, Partner, McKinsey & Company

Peter Sand, Chief Analyst, Xeneta

Neel Jones Shah, EVP of Air Strategy and Carrier Development, Flexport

Episode in more detail:

China opens for business; Covid let rip (1.28)

Chinese carriers ready to fly (8.34)

China + 1 (11.32)

A CNY boost for air cargo demand? (14.10)

How long will factories stay closed (16.00)

Air cargo supply-demand (17.57)

US demand (22.15)

Shipping freight rate analysis (25.00)

GRI failures (27.40)

More blanks to come (30.11)

Carrier gloom forecast (30.11)

Credits: Created, produced and hosted by Mike King

The Loadstar podcast www.theloadstar.com