Nearly two years of the pandemic have brought significant changes to the international maritime freight industry and related costs. During the crisis’s peak, the freight cost per container skyrocketed to over US$13,000. This was due to bottlenecks in various supply chains, port closures, and reduced space on ships. The effects of these disruptions extended beyond 2021. In July of last year, the average freight cost reached US$6,500. While the pressures have eased this year, with the current freight cost standing at around US$3,000, it is expected that prices in the second half of this year and 2024 will remain higher than at pre-pandemic levels. Asia Shipping, an international logistics company, estimates that costs could fluctuate between US$3,000 and US$5,000 around next year. One of the factors putting pressure on prices is the investment in ship renovations and more sustainable fuels by 2030.
Sources: Valor Econômico/Datamar News