CARGOCONNECT-AUGUST 2025 - Flipbook - Page 18
FOCUS : GLOBAL SHIPPING
Congestion to Cancellation:
Responding to Imbalances and
Navigating a State of Flux
In the ever-volatile world of global logistics, the cycle of congestion,
blank sailings, 昀氀uctuating rates, and unpredictable demand has
become a de昀椀ning feature. The disruptions faced by shippers and
logistics providers today are not merely
incidental, they are often calculated
responses to restore a sense of balance
India is emerging as a amid skewed supply-demand dynamics.
Srivastava views the current trend
strategic trade alternative, of voyage
cancellations not as abrupt
driven by initiatives like disruptions but as deliberate maneuvers
‘Make in India’ and diversi- by carriers recalibrating their operations.
surge in voyage cancellations is not a
fication efforts. New trade “The
disruption—it’s a strategic recalibration by
lanes are opening, boost- carriers attempting to restore equilibrium.
ing regional manufactur- While the market remains tight, we continue
to work alongside our partners to anticiing, exports, and global pate
rate movements and align capacity
integration amidst shifting accordingly.” At Triton, Srivastava explains,
supply chain patterns. the focus has shifted from reacting to
uncertainty to planning within it. “Triton’s
strength lies in its ability to turn volatility
into visibility and planning into precision.”
One of the stark illustrations of the challenges facing the sector
has been the congestion at major global gateways, particularly on
the US West Coast. Srivastava emphasises that the issue isn’t only
logistical, it’s structural. “The West Coast congestion highlights
the fragility of concentrated trade routes. At Triton, we have been
agile in our response—expanding our global footprint across
Southeast Asia and India, and deepening client communication
18 | CARGOCONNECT AUGUST 2025
channels.” The strategic pivot is about much more
than simply finding alternative routes. “This is not
just about rerouting cargo; it’s about reimagining trade
with adaptability and foresight at its core,” he adds.
Transparency and trust have become central themes
in logistics management, particularly during times
of high volatility. “Resilience today is built on trust,”
Srivastava agrees, and reveals, “We’ve invested heavily
in platforms that o昀昀er our clients real-time shipment
intelligence and tailored 昀氀exibility—because in uncertain
times, transparency becomes a di昀昀erentiator. Our teams
are not just service providers; they’re strategic partners
navigating this complexity together.”
On a broader trade level, Govil brings attention
to how global sourcing strategies have been forcibly
restructured in recent years. “The imposition of tari昀昀s
on hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of goods has
signi昀椀cantly altered trade volumes between the US and
China.” This redirection has had ripple e昀昀ects across
the entire supply chain, with companies scrambling to
diversify sourcing options. “US importers have looked
to circumvent tari昀昀s by diversifying their sourcing
away from China, turning to countries like Vietnam,
India, Bangladesh, and Mexico.”
However, this shift, while economically strategic,
has not been without consequences. “This ‘China+1’
strategy has redirected shipping routes and shifted port
call patterns, often leading to congestion in emerging
hubs ill-equipped for surging demand,” Govil notes.
These growing pains are not just a matter of logistics
infrastructure; they represent a deeper challenge in
aligning capacity with altered trade behaviours. The
resulting congestion at newer or secondary ports
complicates supply chain predictability, especially for
time-sensitive cargo and high-frequency shipments.
At the operational front, the daily grind for logistics
teams re昀氀ects a microcosm of the larger turbulence.
Chaitaly describes the impact in terms of real-world
execution di昀케culties. “It has been tough for certain
sectors—rebooking and then struggling to secure
containers. The team does get harrowed sometimes,”
she admits, highlighting the relentless coordination
logistics requires, especially under tight shipment
timelines. “Our clients have been cooperative, but there
are deadline shipments—it’s genuinely challenging to
plan when, for some reason, the ICE GATE systems
decide to throw a tantrum on the very day!”
Chaitaly’s experience also brings attention to how
systemic or technological hitches—such as unpredictable
electronic customs gate downtimes—can compound
already strained operations. These challenges are
reflective of the fact that, even as companies make
strategic pivots at the macro level, the everyday realities
of logistics operations remain immensely demanding.
In this ecosystem of shifting priorities, where
congestion collides with cancellation and long-term
planning must coexist with daily adaptability, logistics
providers are operating in a high-stakes environment.
Capacity alignment, sourcing strategies, infrastructure
readiness, and technological dependability all play an
intertwined role in determining how well the supply
chain weathers the next wave of disruption.
