iContainers warns that reshaping alliances in the shipping industry will limit freight forwarders' options

It anticipates a further tightening of the industry

According to the online freight forwarder, business consolidation operations should serve to revitalize the maritime industry.
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iContainersThe 100% online freight forwarder assures that the new alliances of shipping companies The changes, which will come into effect next week, will reduce options for freight forwarders. From April 1st, the four previous alliances are scheduled to merge into just three: The Alliance, Ocean Alliance and 2M Alliance.

 

According to Carlos Hernández, co-founder of iContainersThe effect of this new restructuring will be a reduction in transport options, as a consequence of a further narrowing of the industry following the disappearance of the South Korean shipping company. The intestine.

 

“From a practical point of view, the fact that ships and routes can be interchanged will mean multiple carriers offering the same schedule. This way, instead of choosing between seven or eight carriers offering their own routes, we might only have to choose between three,” he says. Hernándezwho adds that “that means having fewer alternatives when customers need to meet certain deadlines, and that can be quite frustrating.”

 

Nevertheless, iContainers declares itself prepared to face this challenge. Its strategic location at the main global maritime transport hubs, such as Miami and RotterdamIt will allow you to learn, adapt, and maximize solutions for customers based on the available offering.

 

 

 

From April 1st, the four previous alliances are scheduled to regroup into just three: The Alliance, Ocean Alliance, and 2M Alliance

 

 

 

«iContainers “It is very close to the regions of the world with the highest number of small niche operators, and that can help us increase our market share by adding new services to our portfolio,” he notes. Carlos Hernández. 

 

The three new alliances represent 77,2% of global container capacity and 96% of all East-West operations. Of these, Ocean Alliance It offers most services, with around 40 links, while The Alliance 2M Alliance offers 32 services and 2M Alliance offers 25.

 

Hernández is convinced that the shipping industry will experience changes in its traditional way of operating, and that these changes will shake up the entire maritime transport sector. "Hopefully, these changes will shake things up a bit and we can see a healthier industry, where good service is an integral part of the shipping lines' offering, and not just the freight rate component," he states.