Podcast appearances and mentions of caroline weaver

Rich Heath, NYSHEX's VP of Financial Products, joins Lars Jensen as the new co-host this week, stepping in as Caroline Weaver moves on to her next chapter. And there's plenty to dig into on his first episode.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Rich Heath cover:Why Asia-US East Coast rates jumped roughly $700/FEU even as North American import demand grew just 1% year-on-year, pointing to capacity, not demand, as the driverNew CTS data showing global trade grew 4.5% in July, and would have been closer to 8% without an estimated 3.7 million TEU of demand lost to the Hormuz Strait crisis since MarchRed Sea normalization now at 27% of Asia-Europe capacity, and the new risk building in Yemen as Houthi territorial gains give them more leverage over shipping accessHow the futures market is pricing 2027 Asia-Europe tenders, and where shippers may be missing an opportunity to lock in rates ahead of peak seasonSign up for weekly podcast highlights and never miss insider intel

This week's Supply Chain Secrets doubles as Caroline Weaver's send off as co-host, and she goes out with the market question everyone's been asking: why have Pacific spot rates gone so volatile? In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why June and July cargo data show no demand boom on the Pacific, and why the recent spot rate spikes are capacity driven insteadHow the Asia-Europe rate cooldown is following a normal seasonal pattern this time, backed by genuine demand growthEscalation in the Strait of Hormuz and new attacks on container vessels in the Black SeaWhy direct port to port service is less commoditized across alliances than most shippers assumeThank you to Caroline for your energy and insights on the show! And, don't worry listeners. The show will go on! Rich Heath, NYSHEX's VP of Financial Products, takes over alongside Lars Jensen starting next week. Sign up for weekly podcast highlights and never miss insider intel!

Ocean carrier reliability just hit its lowest point since before the current alliance structure took effect, with typhoon-driven port congestion in Asia dragging Shanghai down to just 21% on-time arrivals in July.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Global vessel reliability at 56% for July, and the 40 percentage point gap separating Gemini's 89.5% from Premier Alliance's sub-50% performanceNYFI's Asia-US sub-lane data, including Northeast Asia's role as a swing capacity market and a fresh split between US East and West Coast ratesSuez Canal normalization now at 19% of Asia-Europe capacity, and what it means for demand growth if that reaches 50%A reopened split between 20-foot and 40-foot rates on the Trans-Atlantic Westbound lane, plus Q4 bunker and emissions surcharge changes

New restrictions from the Panama Canal Authority are cutting daily transits starting in September, well ahead of the Chinese New Year peak season shippers depend on that route to serve.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why the canal authority is acting early, and what a 34% drop in rain inflow to Lake Gatun means for shippers who haven't built contingency plansA Transpacific market sending mixed signals: Southeast Asia rates spiking, Northeast Asia to US East Coast rates dropping almost 30% in a week, and a rate spread on Asia-US East Coast now as wide as it was at the summer peakUpdates on the Red Sea, the Strait of Hormuz standoff with Iran, and the new US-Canada tariff breakdownWhy the Northern Sea Route remains more hype than real capacity, and where FMC Chairman Laura DiBella's net zero framework comments leave the November IMO voteReceive weekly show notes and charts in your inbox

Pacific spot rates are flatlining on average, but the spread between the highest and lowest payers just hit its widest point in months, a sign the market has no real conviction on where this goes next. Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver break down what's actually driving ocean freight this week.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Asia-USWC/USEC spreads widening sharply while average rates hold flat, and what that phantom GRI risk means for shippersNOAA's latest El Niño forecast for the Panama Canal and the draft restrictions likely coming this fallRed Sea normalization update as more carriers shift back to Suez routingThe order book math: why fleet growth may already be outpacing true demand, and what that means for capacity heading into 2027 and 2028Subscribe to weekly podcast highlights

NYFI held flat for a fourth straight week, and the June CTS data explains why the Transpacific demand story isn't what the headlines suggest.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why NYFI and SCFI track different things by design (SCFI is a forward-looking quote, NYFI reflects cargo already loaded), and how to spot a phantom GRI before you pay for oneJune CTS data showing Transpacific demand and capacity both flat year over year, while Asia-Europe, Asia-South America, and Asia-Africa post double-digit growthRed Sea normalization signals: OOCL's new Bab el-Mandeb service and Maersk/Hapag-Lloyd shifting the AE15 and AE19 Gemini services back to SuezPanama Canal draft cuts ahead of El Niño, plus low water on the Rhine and Amazon squeezing inland movesSign up for weekly podcast highlights

Ocean freight rates are past peak season on the Transpacific and Asia-North Europe, but a widening gap between the NYFI and SCFI on Asia-US West Coast is raising questions about which number actually reflects the market.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why NYFI and SCFI measure fundamentally different things, and how to spot a "phantom GRI" before it costs youWhat index-linked contracts actually protect you from, and how to pick the right index for your businessThe current East Coast/West Coast rate divergence and what's driving itEscalating Middle East shipping risk, including the attack on tankers in Damietta, and why carrier profits aren't proof of market manipulationSign up for weekly podcast highlights and never miss valuable intel.

Global schedule reliability slipped again in June, and the gap between carrier alliances is now too wide to ignore.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:June reliability data: global on-time performance down to 63% from 65% in May, holding well below pre-pandemic norms for months runningThe alliance breakdown: Gemini at 93.4%, its best showing since launch, versus MSC around 80%, Ocean Alliance around 70%, and Premier Alliance down near 55%How Sea-Intelligence actually measures reliability, including the three to four week lock-in window and why plus/minus one calendar day is the right yardstick, not the wrong oneNYFI this week: Asia-USWC down 1% to $5,818, Asia-USEC up 7% to $7,793, driven by a capacity split between the two coasts, and Asia-NEUR down 3% at $4,797.Sign up for weekly podcast highlights

Ocean freight this week is a study in divergence: Pacific rates are splitting by coast, Asia-Europe spreads are widening, and a new blockade declaration just widened the Middle East risk map. Even Lars's connection from France needed a reroute this week: his audio came through rough enough that part of the episode runs on AI voiceover instead. Turns out signal disruption isn't just a shipping lane problem.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why Northeast Asia is pushing USWC rates up 14.6% while pulling USEC rates down 1.6%, in the same weekThe Houthis' newly declared blockade on Saudi Arabia, and why it threatens the last working bypass route around the Strait of HormuzRising bunker costs, a new 25% Section 301 tariff on Brazil, and a US inventory picture that Lars calls "walking on a knife edge"Low water surcharges now hitting the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Rhine, and the Amazon, all at onceSubscribe to weekly highlights

President Trump says he'll charge a 20% toll on cargo transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Lars Jensen ran the numbers, and they don't hold up.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:The math behind why a 20% Hormuz toll could work out to record freight rate highs, and why no shipper would pay it.Who would even be billed, and why the US has no realistic way to collect if a carrier just refuses.Seven attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz this week alone, and what "open" actually means when ships are still getting hit.Asia-USWC rates flatten, but the shipper-to-shipper spread nearly tripled in a month.Maersk extends its Suez return with two more services despite the Hormuz risk.Subscribe for weekly podcast highlights

Pacific spot rates are holding flat while futures signal the peak may already be over, and Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd just made a move that could mark the beginning of a Red Sea normalization after two and a half years of disruption.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why Asia-USWC rates are flatlining around $5,200 while the futures curve still points sharply lower, and what that means for the rest of JulyThe Gemini alliance's AE15 service switching back to Suez routing and what it signals about carrier confidence in Red Sea stabilityPanama Canal draft restrictions tightening through August as El Niño risk grows, and what history says about the ceiling on disruptionMaersk's upward earnings revision and why it says more about Maersk's earlier pessimism than the overall marketUSMCA uncertainty and what a US pullback could mean for deeply intertwined North American supply chainsEU shipping emissions data: container vessels down 6.7% per TEU year over year, even as total emissions remain elevated versus 2023 due to Red Sea reroutingSubscribe to weekly episode highlights delivered to your inbox. 

Transpacific spot rates are skyrocketing while Asia-North Europe tells a completely different story, and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to most container traffic after a week of missile exchanges between Iran and the US.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why Asia-US West Coast spot rates are approaching East Coast levels and what that historically signals about market instabilityWhat the $1,600 gap between current Pacific spot rates and July futures is telling the marketThe latest in the Hormuz crisis, including the attack on the Ever Lovely and what the "evacuation" language from IMO actually means for container shippingPort connectivity winners and losers: how Khor Fakkan, Fujairah, and Sharjah are absorbing volume while Gulf ports go darkTariff uncertainty heading into July 24, when Section 122 tariffs expire with no clear successorSubscribe to weekly podcast highlights sent directly to your inbox.

Asia-North Europe rates are up another $400 week over week, the futures curve points higher still, and the Strait of Hormuz is open, closed, and open again depending on which hour you check. Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cut through the noise on all of it.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:NYFI update: Asia-North Europe spot rates at $3,563 and climbing, with July futures pointing $740 higher than current levels and August expectations also revised up. Asia-USWC at $4,264, up 6.3% week over week, with futures suggesting the Pacific apex may already be hereWhy the spread on Asia-USEC has widened to $2,000 between the 10th and 90th percentile -- and what that means for how you interpret the index relative to your own ratesThe Hormuz situation: an MoU, a declaration it was open, a declaration it was closed, vessels doing U-turns, and talks ongoing in Switzerland -- all within 72 hoursWhy CMA-CGM permanently shifting its FAL 3 service back to Suez on the backhaul is about capitalizing on peak season capacity, not just route normalizationA fifth piracy attempt in two weeks in the Gulf of Aden, why ultra-large container ships have a natural defense, and why smaller vessels are at greater riskWant to see the NYFI charts discussed in this episode? Upgrade to NYFI PROSubscribe to weekly podcast CliffsNotes sent directly to your inbox.

Rates on Asia-North Europe and Asia-US West Coast are surging, a US-Iran memorandum of understanding has been signed, and El Niño is now official with an 88% chance of being historically severe. This week Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cut through the noise on all three.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:NYFI update: Asia-North Europe spot rates up $1,000 in a month with futures pointing higher still, and Asia-USWC breaking above $4,000 per 40-foot with a volatility spike driving record hedging activity using the NYFI indexWhy the rate rally is being driven by supply and demand fundamentals, not Hormuz fuel surcharges, and what CMA-CGM's $4,000 peak season surcharge announcement signals about carrier confidenceThe US-Iran memorandum of understanding: what it says, what it does not say, and why AIS data showed no change in vessel movement through the strait in the first 48 hoursPiracy resurgence in the Gulf of Aden and three attacks in two days including one on a Maersk feeder vesselEl Niño confirmed and now forecast as potentially the strongest on record: what Panama Canal shippers need to plan for nowSubscribe to weekly podcast CliffsNotes sent directly to your inbox.

Spot rates on Asia-Europe and Transpacific are climbing fast. The easy explanation is Hormuz. The right explanation is supply and demand, and the data Lars Jensen pulled this week makes the case clearly.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:NYFI update: Asia-North Europe spot rates have now exceeded the Chinese New Year peak and are closing in on summer 2025 levels, with futures pointing higher. Asia-USWC and USEC continue their sustained upward trendWhy the rate surge is driven by demand outpacing capacity, not fuel surcharges: Asia-Europe demand up 12%, Transpacific up 11% in April, with capacity failing to keep pace on both tradesWhy the 22% capacity injection planned for Asia-Med in July is a Hormuz spillover effect, not a true demand signal, and what it means for peak seasonHormuz update: Iran-Israel escalation, EU sanctions on the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, Houthi re-entry into the conflict, and what closing Bab el-Mandeb would mean for Persian Gulf bypass routesPanama Canal draft restrictions effective July 3rd, what El Niño means for Lake Gatun water levels, and why Lars sees the early action as a positive signWhy Panamanian flag vessel registrations are dropping 1% per month and what the US-China geopolitical battle has to do with itDownload this week's NYFI ReadLog in to NYSHEX PRO and view the data: Asia-North EuropeAsia-USWC/USEC

Rates are climbing, carriers are piling on surcharges, and peak season is arriving ahead of schedule. This week Lars Jensen runs the numbers on why the market is where it is and it has everything to do with the Red Sea and almost nothing to do with how consumers are feeling.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why Pacific and Asia-Europe spot rates continue their upward momentum and what the futures curve is signaling for peak season, including a sharp expected pullback as early as SeptemberThe statistical relationship between US consumer sentiment and container volumes: Lars ran the analysis and the correlation coefficient is 0.3. There effectively isn't one.Hormuz update: no deal, drone strikes on Kuwait, a suspected mine in Omani waters, and an MSC 18,000 TEU vessel that went dark for five days and reappeared off West AfricaHow CMA-CGM continues to quietly expand its Suez routing while every other carrier goes around AfricaChina PMI at exactly 50, and why the raw materials sub-index shooting above 60 post-Hormuz is the inflation signal worth watchingGlobal trade imbalances since 2019: full containers up 17%, fleet up 43%, TEU miles up 41% and empty container movements up 102%

Freight rates on both Asia-Europe and Transpacific are strengthening and this week Lars breaks down why the driver is fundamentals, not Hormuz. Meanwhile, a vessel explosion in the Gulf of Oman adds fresh tension to an already fragile situation.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why capacity injection on Asia-North Europe and Transpacific is running well below demand growth, and what that means for peak season ratesA breaking report of a vessel explosion in the Gulf of Oman and what it signals about the state of the Hormuz conflictThe five and a half billion dollar added fuel cost burden on the container shipping industry over the past three months and how it compares to total industry EBITGemini Alliance reliability bouncing back to 85% and a standout 98.5% on Asia-US West CoastThe UK ETS taking effect July 1st and the loophole it closes for carriers routing through UK portsUS consumer sentiment hitting its lowest reading since 1952, and whether that translates to freight demand

Pacific rates are flatlining but peak season signals are building, with freight futures pointing to a $900 per FEU jump on Asia-North Europe by July. Meanwhile, the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, global container demand fell 2.4% year-on-year in March, and Maersk posted a second consecutive quarter of negative EBIT.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Rate movements across Asia-US West Coast, Asia-US East Coast, and Asia-North Europe, including what freight futures are signaling for peak seasonThe latest Hormuz developments including two new vessel attacks and the short-lived US military escort operationMarch global demand data: why the headline -2.4% masks a world that is otherwise still growing at 5-8%Maersk Q1 results and what two consecutive quarters of negative EBIT signals for carrier health

The Strait of Hormuz has been closed for two months, yet TransPacific and Asia-Europe freight rates are barely moving compared to the disruptions of 2024-2025. This week, Lars and Caroline put the Hormuz crisis in proper context and cover the other headlines reshaping ocean freight.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why Pacific and Asia-Europe spot rates are rising on seasonality, not the Hormuz crisis, and what the futures market is signaling for peak seasonLive updates from the Strait of Hormuz: vessel escorts, Iranian attacks, and why seafarers face higher risk inside a military convoy than outside oneHow Khor Fakkan scaled from 100 to 6,000 trucks per day to route cargo around a closed straitChina's new blocking statutes, the EU analog that already exists, and why compliance is now a lose-lose for many companiesThe MEPC decision expanding ECA coverage to the Northeast Atlantic and the net zero framework clinging to life support ahead of November

Iran has seized two MSC vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, bookings into the Persian Gulf have collapsed 66% year over year, and Somali pirates are back. The maritime risk picture is deteriorating fast.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Transpacific NYFI movements by subtrade, including why Northeast Asia rates are more volatile than other originsWhy 20-foot and 40-foot rates on the Transatlantic have completely decoupled -- and what that means if you're shipping dense cargoAsia-North Europe spot rates weakening toward pre-crisis levels, while futures markets signal a recovery into MayIran seizing MSC vessels, the Hormuz closure, and the return of Somali piracyPlastics supply risk: why a Dow Chemical warning about ethylene and polyethylene shortages should be on every importer's radarOcean carrier reliability at 62% -- why the industry has systematically underperformed pre-pandemic norms, and what that means for global capacity

Ocean freight markets are sending mixed signals this week: Asia-Europe spot rates are falling, Pacific rates are ticking up, and Atlantic rates jumped sharply, but the bigger story is the widening spread between what different shippers are paying and what that uncertainty means.In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver cover:Why expanding rate spreads across Asia-Europe, Transpacific, and Atlantic trades signal growing market uncertaintyThe Strait of Hormuz situation: the failed opening, vessel U-turns, Iranian attacks on ships, and what comes nextBunker fuel prices in context: why current levels, while high, are not the crisis they appear to beU.S. consumer sentiment hitting a 66-year record low and what that means for container volumes

The Strait of Hormuz crisis has abruptly changed the tone of the ocean freight market.In this week's Supply Chain Secrets episode, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen are joined by Peter Stallion of Clarksons to unpack what is happening right now and what it means for shippers, carriers, and NVOCCs navigating another wave of volatility.Peter brings the perspective of one of the world's largest shipping brokers and futures market participants, explaining how financial tools are beginning to complement traditional freight procurement strategies.In this episode: • Why the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed to container shipping • How fuel spikes and emergency surcharges are spreading across global trades • Why freight indices have not yet fully captured the market shock • What freight futures actually are and why adoption is accelerating • How procurement teams can use hedging as a complement to carrier relationships and market expertiseThe big takeaway: volatility is no longer rare. The industry is beginning to develop tools designed to operate in it.

This week's Supply Chain Secrets is jam-packed. Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver dig into sharp post–Chinese New Year moves: loaded spot rates falling faster than expected, spreads tightening across Pacific trades, and what that means for market certainty. We unpack carrier results, network changes from Ocean Alliance's “Day 10,” and real operational risk in the Red Sea return.The headline story: Hapag-Lloyd's agreement to acquire most of ZIM's fleet: what it means for Gemini, MSC, and competitive dynamics in the Transpacific and beyond. Lars breaks down why the deal matters strategically (fleet composition, charter vs. owned tonnage, and network implications), and why shippers, NVOCCs and carriers should be watching service reshuffles closely this contract season.If you want data-forward insight into where rates are actually moving, how to read market spreads (not just headlines), and what consolidation means for your routing and negotiation strategy — press play.

Freight markets are turning earlier—and faster—than seasonal patterns would suggest. In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen unpack why Pacific spot rates are collapsing well ahead of Chinese New Year, how this downturn compares to historical seasonality, and what that means for carriers and shippers alike.Lars also introduces a deeper way to look at the market: not just the headline rate, but the spread around it. Using real NYFI data, he explains how wide or narrow spreads reveal market uncertainty, negotiating power, and whether shippers are truly “in market.”The conversation then shifts to the latest on tariffs, global demand bifurcation, carrier earnings, and early steps toward a Red Sea reopening, including Gemini network moves and what a gradual return could look like in practice.A data-driven look at where the market is weakening, where risk remains, and how alignment—not headlines—matters most heading deeper into 2026.

Rates are rolling over earlier than expected, and the gap between quoted and paid freight rates is widening again.In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down what's driving the post–Chinese New Year slowdown, why quoted spot rates tend to exaggerate both peaks and troughs, and what that means for shippers heading into contract season. Lars also shares a concrete example showing how index choice alone can materially change freight costs—especially when proxies are used instead of actual loaded-rate data.The conversation then turns to trade policy and geopolitics, including fresh tariff threats, the EU–India trade deal, Q4 carrier earnings, Panama Canal developments, and renewed uncertainty in the Red Sea.For anyone planning budgets, contracts, or capacity in 2026, this episode offers timely perspective on where the market may head next—and where hidden risk still lives.

Freight markets are turning earlier than usual. In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down sharp declines in quoted rates, early signs that the Chinese New Year peak has already passed, and what actual paid spot rates are signaling across key trades.Lars also walks through a real-world example showing how choosing the wrong index in an index-linked contract can materially impact costs, underscoring why detail matters as indexing gains traction. The conversation then turns to tariffs and the Red Sea, where new signals—from carrier routing decisions to a fresh Houthi warning—suggest risk may not be fully behind us yet.A practical discussion on what shippers should watch as volatility continues into 2026.

As 2026 gets underway, early signals are already diverging. In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen are joined by Matthew Chicalace of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics to break down the growing gap between quoted and paid rates, early NYFI movements post–Chinese New Year, and what those signals really say about the market.The conversation also dives into rising interest in index-linked contracts, how forwarders and carriers are approaching contract season, and why volatility remains structural. Finally, Lars unpacks the latest developments around the Red Sea reopening, geopolitical risks tied to Iran and Greenland, and how quickly trade lanes could shift again in 2026.A timely discussion on how shippers are navigating uncertainty—and why flexibility and alignment matter more than ever.

As 2026 gets underway, early market signals are already diverging. In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down where freight rates are heading post-Chinese New Year, what the latest Container Trade Statistics reveal about global demand, and why North America continues to lag the rest of the world.They also explore escalating geopolitical risks — from Iran and the Strait of Hormuz to Greenland and terminal ownership — and what these flashpoints could mean for global shipping lanes, capacity, and pricing. Finally, the conversation returns to a familiar conclusion: volatility isn't going away, and understanding the gap between quoted and paid rates is becoming more critical than ever.A timely look at what's shaping early 2026 — and why shippers should stay alert.

We are getting you set for the holiday season with local shop enthusiast Caroline Weaver, aka, The Locavore. She will join us each week through the holiday season, to go to explore each borough's local shopping options, for shoppers who want their holiday spending to support their communities. Today, the Locavore takes on Queens.

We are getting you set for the holiday season with local shop enthusiast Caroline Weaver, aka, The Locavore. Each week through the holiday season, she offers her insights to help explore each borough's local shopping options, for shoppers who want their holiday spending to support their communities. Today, the Locavore takes on the Bronx.

We are getting you set for the holiday season with local shop enthusiast Caroline Weaver, aka, The Locavore. She will join us each week through the holiday season, to go to explore each borough's local shopping options, for shoppers who want their holiday spending to support their communities. Today, the Locavore takes on Brooklyn.

Amid Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday sales, owner of The Locavore Caroline Weaver discusses consumers shopping locally this holiday season. President Trump told reporters over the weekend that he's decided on his pick for the next Fed Chair, prompting renewed conversation about reported front-runner Kevin Hassett. Economist Mohamed El-Erian considers the big economic picture, including the Federal Reserve's path forward. Plus, Nvidia is taking a $2 billion stake in Synopsys and an Airbus glitch affected planes flying over the holiday weekend.  Caroline Weaver - 15:40Mohamed El-Erian - 23:28 In this episode:Mohamed El-Erian, @elerianmBecky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Local shop enthusiast Caroline Weaver, aka, The Locavore, prepares us for the holiday season. She joins us each week through the holiday season, to go to explore each borough's local shopping options, for shoppers who want their holiday spending to support their communities. Today, the Locavore takes on Manhattan.

This week on Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen are joined by Sagil Capital Partner Mark Hendricks to break down how freight rate volatility is affecting both shippers and investors. They cover the latest NYFI and SCFI movements, widening differences between sub-trades, the newest global reliability numbers, and updates on the ONE Henry Hudson and Red Sea routing. Mark shares how equity investors value shipping companies in unstable markets and why futures and hedging tools matter as 2026 looks increasingly unpredictable.In this episode:Rate swings across Pacific and East Coast tradesHow investors model volatility in shipping equitiesWhy futures and hedging could lower financing riskUpdates on reliability, general average, and Red Sea trafficA fast, digestible look at the forces shaping container shipping and financial markets heading into 2026.

We are getting you set for the holiday season with local shop enthusiast Caroline Weaver, aka, The Locavore. She will join us each week through the holiday season, to go to explore each borough's local shopping options, for shoppers who want their holiday spending to support their communities. Today, the Locavore takes on Staten Island.

Rates are dropping, pirates are reappearing, and demand is diverging across the globe. In this episode, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver unpack what last week's NYSHEX London event revealed about market volatility — and why the container industry's “old normal” isn't coming back.They cover:Sir Richard Dearlove's surprising optimism on the Red Sea crisisWhy NYFI data shows loaded spot rates collapsing againThe widening gap between 20' and 40' ratesWhat's behind North America's lagging demandAnd yes — the return of Somali piracy.Because in container shipping, stability isn't the new normal — adaptability is.

Container shipping just won't sit still.This week, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen unpack the latest volatility across global trades — from Pacific spot rates showing strange regional “vibrations,” to a 20–30% capacity surge on the transatlantic that's pushing rates to decade lows.They also break down the temporary pause in the U.S.–China trade war — what it really means for importers heading into 2026 — and why a new uptick in Somali piracy adds one more layer of complexity to an already unsettled market.Topics include:Pacific rate patterns after Golden WeekMSC's mega-vessels reshaping the AtlanticThe U.S.–China tariff “ceasefire” and its 12-month deadlineRenewed piracy risks off East Africa

Freight rates might look like they're holding steady — but when you adjust for inflation, the real story tells a very different tale.In this week's Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down why inflation-adjusted freight rates on major trade lanes have quietly slipped below pre-pandemic levels, even as indices like the SCFI show nominal increases.They also discuss how politically charged tariffs are blurring the line between trade policy and politics, and why a single Caribbean port closure could trigger ripple effects across the Americas.

What happens when AWS failures disable your Stop Recording button?You let Lars Jensen keep talking — and you get one of the most in-depth updates yet. In this week's Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars unpack:Why IMO's “Net Zero” framework just became a zombie proposal,How that decision could stall billions in green-fuel investment,Why spot-rate spikes may be more sentiment than substance, andThe latest on the Red Sea ceasefire and tariff tension between the U.S. and China.This episode proves that when you can't stop recording, you might just capture your best conversation yet.

Tariff whiplash, “China's USTR,” and a carbon levy vote—yet spot rates look oddly calm. Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen cut through the chaos: Trump's 100% tariff warning vs. the Nov 10 tariff snap-back, China's mirror policy (including the 25% ownership twist), and last-minute U.S. duties on ship-to-shore cranes (with 150% proposed on terminal gear). We also unpack why Trans-Pac spot rates paid are at ~12-month lows despite $3k GRI filings, and what CTS load-date demand says about where volumes are really headed.What you'll learn:How (and whether) to front-load, and what carriers' GRI filings signal vs. what's likely to stickThe operational ripple effects of China's mirror rules—beyond US–China lanesMEPC carbon levy timing (2027 processes, 2028 payments), plus U.S. retaliation talk and practical impactPlaybook: procurement timing for port equipment, contract/GRI strategy, and communicating risk to your CFOActionable guidance in under 30 minutes—so you can protect margins before the next headline hits.

In this week's Supply Chain Secrets podcast, hosts Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen unpack the latest developments shaping container shipping and global trade.Lars calls in from Curaçao with an update on freight rates across the Pacific and how carriers' blank sailings are reshaping capacity as Golden Week slows volumes. He dives into the USTR's new restrictions on Chinese-owned vessels — and how China's maritime legislation hints at potential retaliation against U.S. shipping interests.The episode also explores:Why “booked vs. shipped” rates can tell two very different stories — and how indices like NYFI reveal what's actually moving in the marketHow the IMO's new charcoal transport regulations aim to prevent vessel firesThe latest on Red Sea security after another Houthi attack on a Dutch multipurpose vessel, and the EU's ongoing Operation Aspides responsePacked with context, clarity, and real-world insights, this episode breaks down how data, policy, and geopolitics continue to collide across the global supply chain.

In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down the latest volatility in container shipping. Asia–Europe rates continue their seasonal slide, while the Pacific faces a dramatic collapse in demand just as carriers push blank sailings. Lars explains why the gap between quoted and paid spot rates matters, why blank sailings may slow—but not stop—rate erosion, and how Golden Week timing is shaping strategy. The conversation also covers the looming U.S.–China tariff pause deadline, MEPC decarbonization politics, and CMA-CGM's latest move in intermodal rail.

In this week's episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down the latest shifts across major trades.Asia–Europe: Spot rates dip below spring levels, but Lars explains why it's not yet a full collapse.Trans-Pacific: A striking bifurcation—rates out of Southeast Asia/China erode while Northeast Asia (Korea, Japan) surges by $500/FEU.Atlantic: After months of stability, head-haul rates slide from $1,800 to $1,500 per FEU.Capacity Updates: Carriers move beyond blank sailings, with Gemini canceling an entire service for Q1 2025.Tariff Watch: Mexico considers hikes on Chinese imports, raising the specter of retaliation.Safety & Compliance: Nearly 11% of cargo is misdeclared—new AI initiatives aim to reduce fires, accidents, and container losses.Get the latest maritime news here!

In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen unpack the latest twists in global trade. They cover falling Asia–Europe spot rates, unexpected tariff exemptions affecting hundreds of commodities, and the stark divide between booming global container demand and declining U.S. volumes. Lars also sheds light on rumors around HMM's ownership shift and the sudden tightening of U.S. visa rules for seafarers—changes that could complicate crew logistics for ocean carriers. 

In this episode, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down the latest shifts in ocean freight rates, revealing why long-term contracts offer far less insulation from spot market volatility than many shippers think. They compare NYFI and CTS data to show the hidden correlation between contract and spot pricing, then dive into a volatile week in trade policy—from unpredictable “reciprocal” tariffs to a surprise penalty on Indian imports that could hit cargo loaded before the rules even existed. 

This week on Supply Chain Secrets, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver dive deep into the tariff chaos rattling US importers, a collapse in 20-foot container rates with big implications for US exporters, and why equipment shortages could blindside your bookings. Plus, we unpack reliability stats, looming Q4 deadlines, and the twist in the Hutchison Ports deal that's reigniting geopolitical tension in Panama. 

This week on Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen break down the rollercoaster of recent Trans-Pacific rates—why they surged, why they collapsed just as quickly, and how tariffs are reshaping peak season entirely. They explore how geopolitical uncertainty and shifting trade policy are leaving both carriers and shippers scrambling. Plus, Lars explains why August 1 could be a breaking point for U.S. importers trying to plan amid chaos. 

In this episode of Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver returns from Iceland to catch up with Lars Jensen on a whirlwind of global trade developments. They unpack the escalating U.S.-Canada dispute triggered by Canada's Digital Services Tax, analyze softening Trans-Pacific rates despite high quotes, and spotlight a surprise spike in Atlantic westbound rates. Lars also breaks down the unusually tight Asia–East Coast South America market and a sudden border closure between Thailand and Cambodia. Plus, for once—some good geopolitical news as tensions ease in the Iran–Israel conflict. 

In this week's episode of the Supply Chain Secrets Podcast, Lars Jensen and Caroline Weaver unpack the sharp spike in spot rates out of China, dissect new capacity injections, and clarify the latest legal developments around U.S. tariffs. From NYFI and SCFI comparisons to the ripple effects on global reliability and port congestion, this episode offers timely insight for shippers navigating a market in flux.Sign up for free NYFI freight index data at nyshex.com/indices

This week on Supply Chain Secrets, Caroline Weaver and Lars Jensen unpack the realities behind recent shifts in container pricing and trade policy. With U.S.–China tariffs in limbo, and equipment imbalances starting to ripple across the market, Lars estimates up to 500,000 TEU of cargo could be waiting in China—setting the stage for potential U.S. port congestion and a spot rate surge.Also on deck:-Why 20-foot containers are sometimes more expensive than 40s—and how NYFI reveals the volatility-What makes NYFI different from other indices when market pressure builds-A breakdown of the USTR revision and its overlooked inland impacts-The UK–EU trade deal as a sign of more non-U.S. alliances to comeGet the facts. Spot the trends. Subscribe to the NYFI: