Container Bytes

Freightos
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 Container Bytes is your go-to podcast for quick insights on the latest global freight trends, condensed into easy-to-digest, under-ten-minute episodes. Each week, you’ll get key data points, actionable market movements, and forecasts to help you navigate the ups and downs of ocean and air freight. Tune in, stay sharp, and ship smarter. Brought to you by Freightos, the global freight booking platform.

Episodes

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Surviving Your 2026 Ocean Freight Procurement: Special Interview with Stephanie Loomis, Noatum Logistics

    Welcome to a special edition of Container Bytes, featuring 30-year ocean veteran Stephanie Loomis, who's navigated everything from Hanjin's collapse to pandemic-era chaos. Her market predictions are legendary, and she's not sugarcoating what's ahead for your freight procurement in 2026. Carriers have finally learned capitalism. The days of $500 China-LA rates are buried, and today's shipping giants won't touch freight that doesn't make money. "There are rates that will move freight and rates that will not." Smart shippers are securing space, not just chasing pennies. Annual tenders? Dead. With the pave of change, quarterly procurement is the new minimum.  Industry boundaries are blurring fast. BCOs working with forwarders, everyone building tech stacks, and carriers potentially timing their Suez return to create just enough chaos to boost rates. Share this episode or your next shipment might mysteriously end up on the blank sailing list. CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 — Reality Check: Why your cheap rate won't move jack 00:00:52 — This Ain't 2008: When carriers discovered profit margins 00:03:20 — New Procurement: Space security trumps rate chasing 00:06:34 — Tender Evolution: Why annual contracts are obsolete 00:07:34 — Industry Convergence: BCOs, forwarders and carriers blur lines 00:09:23 — Human Element: Why relationships still beat algorithms 00:12:39 — Suez Strategy: Calculating when carriers create profitable chaos This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

    15 min

  2. 10 DEC

    Episode #12: Air Cargo Defies Death, Rates Spike Past Last Year's Peak

    We're back and pumped to talk freight. Get your freight Christmas sweater on.🧣 Transpacific air rates hit $7.50/kilo, beating out last year's $7.30 peak despite recession fears and front-loading concerns (take that, 2024!). Meanwhile, Asia-Europe stays flat at $3.60/kilo as carriers shift more capacity there. And....the Red Sea is showing signs of life! I'm not crying - you are. Houthis released hostages that had been held since July, and CMA CGM is increasing vessel traffic through the area (though full return remains as elusive as my son's missing left shoes). Ocean rates continue their wild ride, with transpacific bouncing between $1,400-$3,000 in recent months, while Asia-Europe rates have climbed 40-50% since October lows. It's a rollercoaster. Also, don't miss tomorrow's session with Stanford's Neil Mahoney on trade war impacts.  If you don't share this episode, I'll blank sail your next three shipments and replace your BOLs with my 4-year-old's crayon drawings. NBD. CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 — Air cargo defies death, rates spike 00:01:23 — Red Sea: Signs of life or zombie twitches? 00:03:15 — Ocean rates: The rollercoaster that never ends 00:05:34 — How not to get fleeced in 2024 contracts This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

    7 min

  3. 4 DEC

    Episode #11: Red Sea Flippity Floppity and Air Cargo Peak

    BREAKING: So... the Suez Canal Authority is that friend who tells everyone you're definitely coming to their party when you clearly said "maybe next year."  Meanwhile, carriers are playing Red Sea chicken while rates do whatever the heck they want (mostly staying flat by YMMV). Air cargo is peaking harder than my acting career (I was a lollipop in Willy Wonka in second grade, nbd). , with China-US hitting $6.50/kg despite everyone's doom predictions. Who needs consistency when you can have CHAOS? Here's a link to the procurement planning webinar I casually dropped in while chatting. Also..share this episode or we'll blank sail your podcast feed. (Kidding! ...or are we?) Chapters 00:00:00 — Red Sea Confusion™: the world's most expensive game of "you first" 01:56 — Ocean rates refusing to behave, carriers blanking sailings 03:42 — Capacity management theater: Slow steaming and ship scrapping 05:04 — China→US rates climbing to $6.50/kg (because apparently people still buy stuff) 07:42 — Plot twist: People actually bought things on Black Friday/Cyber Monday! Supply chains acting surprisingly adult-like for once This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

    8 min

  4. 13 NOV

    Episode #10: The No Big Deal 48% WoW (!) China - US Rate Increase

    Got good news and bad news for your today, freight podcast friend. Good news? The Houthis said they would stop firing on ships in the Red Sea (but container liners aren't holding their breath). The bad news? A 48% increase in China - US West Coast rates (and a confusing 3% drop on China - US East Coast). Ready for a game of GRI Madness? Then how about throwing in a healthy dose of tariff Supreme Court indicators to round it out? Also, do us a solid and share this episode with someone. Chapters 00:00:00 — Red Sea “ceasefire” headlines: what it could mean for ships, transit times, and rates. Suez talks, risk tolerance, and the first-mover dilemma 01:44 — Tariff tea leaves: Supreme Court arguments and what a “low tariff window” could trigger 03:25 — Macro vibe check: peak season fades (ocean), ramps (air), FAA blip, and capacity watch 03:58 — Ocean: GRI Madness edition—China→US West Coast up ~48% and holding, blank sailings in play 05:08 — Air cargo: China→US at ~$6.30/kg, Europe near ~$4/kg, ecom shifts and capacity agility This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

    7 min

  5. 6 NOV

    Episode #9: Wut? More Stability but Ocean Rates Are Still Up?

    That's not how this was supposed to work. I'm taking my ball and going home. Ocean freight rates climbed despite increased stability, with some major drivers of stability for the next year on China-US trade. Judah breaks down air cargo rates, ocean rates, why the GRIs might be sticking and which ones aren't. Also, yolo, no port fees! Party time! This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

    7 min

  6. 30 OCT

    Episode #8.5: The "Trade Summits Mean We Do .5 Episodes Now Too" Episode

    Bro, how am I supposed to run a podcast if everything changes every day? Less than 24 after the last weekly podcast was published, a trade summit between China and the United States changed everything. So we tacked on our quick view on what that means at the end of this episode.  Just another reminder of how everything can change, every day. This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

    8 min

  7. 29 OCT

    Episode #8: "The Soybeans and Port Fees Episode"

    Soybeans! Port fees! GRIs! This week has all the drama that Shakespeare forgot. Journal of Commerce put out estimates of $42M (!) in reciprocal port-call fees, we touch on the upcoming 🇺🇸-🇨🇳 summit and more.  Plus...blanked sailings pushed Transpacific and Asia–Europe spot rates up (Asia→USWC jumped ~18%, and Asia→EU is back towards ~$2,300/FEU). We also talk early peak season demand in air cargo pushing China→US air rates  to about $5.60/kg. Come on, just listen, bro. This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

    5 min

  8. 23 OCT

    Episode #7: Ocean Rates Jump 18% (The “Questionable GRI” Edition)

    What's up in freight? Thought you'd neve ask. Asia→US West Coast popped from ~$1,400 to >$2,000/FEU and Asia→Europe to ~$2,300—driven by mid‑month GRIs and capacity pulls, not tariffs.  We break down why this smells opportunistic in slow season, whether Nov 1 sticks, and what carriers are blanking next, we talk about the impact of the new port‑call fees' minimal impact and air demand’s increase...with rates still still staying stable. Also, if you are still reading this, share our podcast! Show us the love! This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

    6 min

  9. 16 OCT

    Episode #6: Red Sea Rumblings (But Rates Are Still Dropping)

    Sorry, we kinda said it all in the title. But you're here so let's keep going. Ceasefire chatter isn’t sending carriers sprinting back through Suez...and even when they do, expect a short scheduling mess, then more capacity and more downward pressure. We break down where rates are (hello, 2023 vibes), the tariff/port‑call fee volley (USTR vs. China, rare earths), who’s actually exposed, and what to do now. Also, be kind, leave a review! This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

    7 min

  10. 8 OCT

    Episode #5: Port Fees are Coming (But Rates are Loooow)

    Sorry, we kinda said it all in the title. Port fees for Chinese vessel calls are coming soon. We break down what it means, how rates are responding, the costs that Chinese carriers are swallowing, and more.  This podcast is a little experiment from Freightos—and may not be around forever—so if you dig quick bites of freight wisdom, let us know. For more detailed weekly freight updates delivered straight to your inbox, check out our weekly freight email. Want the freshest freight data on demand? Hit up terminal.freightos.com.

    8 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

 Container Bytes is your go-to podcast for quick insights on the latest global freight trends, condensed into easy-to-digest, under-ten-minute episodes. Each week, you’ll get key data points, actionable market movements, and forecasts to help you navigate the ups and downs of ocean and air freight. Tune in, stay sharp, and ship smarter. Brought to you by Freightos, the global freight booking platform.

Information

  • Creator
    Freightos
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    10
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Container Bytes