New data from Sea-Intelligence reveals that approximately 30% of all global container shipping activity, measured in TEU-miles, is dedicated to repositioning empty containers. This represents a substantial increase from the pre-pandemic figure of 25%, highlighting a growing inefficiency within the global supply chain.
This trend is largely attributed to ongoing trade imbalances, where certain regions import significantly more than they export, or vice versa. Consequently, carriers are forced to move a large volume of empty containers back to export-heavy regions to meet demand, rather than finding cargo for return journeys.
For freight forwarders and shippers, this situation can lead to several implications. Increased empty container repositioning contributes to higher operational costs for carriers, which may eventually translate into elevated freight rates. Additionally, while there might be an abundance of empty containers in some areas, their availability in high-demand export locations could still be constrained, causing potential delays or equipment shortages for bookings. Forwarders need to factor in these dynamics when planning shipments and negotiating contracts, as the underlying cost structure for ocean carriers is being impacted by this inefficiency.
