The global shipping industry is facing a severe challenge with a surplus of empty containers. Data indicates a surge in empty container numbers, while declining consumer demand and a fragile economic recovery are exacerbating storage pressures. Industry experts suggest that the future market environment will be more challenging, and shipping strategies need to be adjusted in a timely manner.
Rail freight transport demonstrated strong growth in 2023, reaching a record daily dispatch volume and highlighting its critical role as an economic lifeline. With industrial recovery and accelerating foreign trade, railways play a key role in the logistics system, optimizing transport organization and ensuring timely supply of essential goods, contributing to pandemic relief efforts. The railway sector continues to improve efficiency in modern logistics construction, promoting transformation and upgrading to provide robust support for future economic development.
The quality of global container shipping services has sharply declined, with on-time performance dropping to 56%, posing significant challenges for shipping companies. Routes from Asia to the U.S. have shown particularly poor results, with record-low on-time rates leading to shipper dissatisfaction. The rise in trade volume due to global economic recovery has exacerbated capacity constraints and high shipping costs. The shortage of container equipment needs urgent attention, and shipping companies must improve transparency and service quality to alleviate pressure on customers.
