The Mexican Association of Freight Forwarders (Amacarga) has predicted that ocean freight rates on routes connecting Asia with Mexico could increase by up to 100% in the coming weeks due to equipment shortages.
The source of this increase has been emerging in recent weeks, as importers in the United States have generated excess demand for shipping containersin the international market to anticipate purchases, taking advantage of the truce in the tariff conflict with China.
This situation has significantly altered the availability of containers in global trade operations, generating, for now, a 50% increase in tariffs in this sector, according to Eva María Muñoz, president of Amacarga.
“We’re seeing that buyers in the United States have sharply increased their purchases of goods from China, and this has led to them literally monopolizing containers on the international market, impacting rates for this service to Mexico,” he emphasized.
Eva María Muñoz acknowledged that it is in these scenarios that freight forwarders’ professional skills come into play , seeking the best options for their clients (importers and exporters) so that they suffer the least possible impact on the cost of their goods.
“We definitely won’t be able to enjoy the same advantages we had a year ago in terms of rates due to the international environment that has affected us all, but with our knowledge and the relationships we have with shipping lines, we will try to find new routes and support foreign trade companies as much as possible,” he emphasized.
Finally, he expressed confidence that once the 90-day grace period granted by the United States to China to maintain tariffs ends, the market may level out, “but frankly, uncertainty prevails ,” he concluded.
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