CARGOCONNECT-AUGUST 2025 - Flipbook - Page 20
FOCUS : GLOBAL SHIPPING
reallocating vessels or revising schedules, our goal
is simple: precision where it matters, flexibility
where it’s needed.”
With air shipments, it’s really tough
This balance—between precision and adaptbecause sometimes rates are only
ability—is particularly essential given the erratic
valid for a day or two, then the whole
nature of container movement across major trade
process starts again. We inform
hubs. Govil observes how this unpredictability is
clients in advance, and honestly, I’ve
straining some of the busiest ports in the world. “As
told our team that no matter what
trade volumes have become less predictable, major
happens, we won’t go around in circles
ports like Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Shanghai
or make promises we know we can’t
have experienced wild swings in container tra昀케c.
keep. The delays in transit are such
This unpredictability strains terminal operations,
a nightmare that one of the most
warehousing, and inland logistics.”
frequent questions I ask my ocean
At the same time, emerging hubs are 昀椀nding
themselves in unfamiliar territory. “Ports in Southfreight team—no matter where I am
east Asia, meanwhile, are experiencing growing
in the world—is: ‘Are the ETD and ETA
pains, trying to scale up quickly to handle new
on track? Any changes? Has the client
CHAITALY MEHTA
trade 昀氀ows,” Govil notes. These secondary ports,
been informed? The cost is too high
Chairperson – Mumbai Region,
now at the centre of global re-routing strategies,
Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) and if the information is given late, so we
are dealing with bottlenecks not only in physical
Director, EKF Global Logistics
need to be on the top of our game.
capacity but also in systems, infrastructure, and
local logistics support.
The strategic recalibration isn’t just about
Consolidated disruptions moving cargo differently—it’s about
That honesty is matched with a relentless pursuit of
up-to-the-minute shipment updates. Chaitaly stresses
such as blank sailings, reassessing where and how products
sourced and delivered. “With the
the importance of not just tracking shipments, but acting
congestion, and rate are
tariff war highlighting the fragility
on that information in real time. “The delays in transit
fluctuations are deliberate of global supply chains, shippers are
are such a nightmare that one of the most frequent
questions I ask my ocean freight team—no matter
responses by carriers rethinking their logistics strategies,”
Govil says. The resulting movement
where I am in the world—is: ‘Are the ETD and ETA on
to restore balance. toward nearshoring, friend-shoring, and
track? Any changes? Has the client been informed?”
Transparency, real-time regionalised manufacturing is beginFor logistics providers, today, the margin for delay or
miscommunication is razor-thin. “The cost is too high
updates, and adaptable ning to change the demand pro昀椀le for
containers and the routes they follow.
if the information is given late, so we need to be on the
planning are crucial for “North American shippers are increastop of our game,” Chaitaly attests.
managing supply chain ingly sourcing from Latin America,
The above views presented by the experts paint a
picture of an industry that is actively reengineering
uncertainties. while Asian manufacturers look to serve
Western markets via transshipment
itself in response to fragmentation, unpredictability,
hubs or free trade zones.”
and urgency. The interplay between agile strategy,
From the air cargo and ocean freight
adaptive schedules, and enhanced client support is not
perspective, such unpredictability is having a direct impact on pricsimply a matter of e昀케ciency—it has become a necessary
ing, client expectations, and operational timelines. Chaitaly shares
foundation for continuity in an increasingly uncertain
the very real operational stress of working within this unstable
global trade environment.
environment. “Genuinely, for projects or larger lot enquiries, we face
From Con昀氀ict to Continuity:
many challenges. Rates keep changing, and overseas clients often
Rethinking Freight in a
don’t understand the short validity of these rates,” she explains.
Reordered World
Chaitaly highlights a common struggle in air freight, where
rate validity windows have shrunk to days or even hours. “With
In today’s volatile global climate, where trade lanes are
air shipments, it’s really tough because sometimes rates are only
increasingly reshaped by geopolitical con昀氀ict, regulatory
valid for a day or two, then the whole process starts again.” This
pressures, and shifting economic priorities, the freight
constant recalibration is not only operationally exhausting—it
and logistics sector is undergoing a profound and lasting
also creates friction in client communications and trust. “I just
transformation. This is not merely a phase of adaptawish we could have some time frame and no one deviates from
tion to temporary disruptions—it marks a structural
it unless it is catastrophic.”
realignment of global supply chains. As uncertainty
Despite these pressures, Chaitaly’s approach has been to focus
becomes a constant, logistics strategies are evolving
on transparent and proactive communication as a safeguard
from reactive adjustments to proactive redesign.
against misinformation or delayed reactions. “We inform clients
Srivastava characterises the shift as fundamental and
in advance, and honestly, I’ve told our team that no matter what
enduring. “What we are witnessing is not a temporary
happens, we won’t go around in circles or make promises we
detour but a structural realignment of global trade,” he
know we can’t keep. It’s honesty all the way, regardless of the
states. In his view, the way forward lies in diversi昀椀carepercussions.”
tion—not just of routes, but of the very networks and
20 | CARGOCONNECT AUGUST 2025
