Freight forwarders expect no change in container market for months or years

The British International Freight Association (BIFA) has stated that it expects freight rates to remain at extraordinarily high levels, with capacity remaining extremely tight, ongoing service delays and container shortages, as well as punitive surcharges for months or even years.

The trade association, which represents UK freight forwarding and logistics companies, has prepared a report on the conditions in the container market in response to its members’ concerns.

Robert Keen, BIFA director general stated: “BIFA has been challenging the legitimacy of arbitrary surcharges on behalf of our members – and their customers – for many years. There is a suspicion that the container shipping lines and others are cashing in on a crisis in global container shipping, created in no small part by their own actions.