Global Market Trends

Global economic activity maintains momentum, with 2024 growth projected at 2.7%. In the U.S., we expect a 2.7% increase, driven by strong consumer spending, although a rising savings rate could impact this. Europe faces volatile inflation and geopolitical tensions, keeping Euro-area growth at 0.7%, despite a Q3 retail sales rebound. Germany narrowly avoided recession due to weak industrial output. In China, growth is projected at 4.8%, with challenges in real estate and high savings affecting domestic demand. However, recent policies and expanding manufacturing are supporting growth, with exports remaining a key driver. (Source: Maersk Strategic Insights)

The Network of the Future is officially now open for bookings. Click here for details and scheduling information.

Transpacific trade

On the West Coast, we are still seeing constraints to our network for Canada-bound cargo in December, while performance into the Pacific Southwest is stable as we see additional capacity in the market being available.

On the East Coast, we have not seen much variation in demand from November to December, and the overall network is still projected to be full in the coming weeks. Operational constraints have been identified for some sailings in the second half of December; however, vessels have been induced to cover the missing sailings.

Elsewhere, the Chinese New Year period has significantly impacted global shipping due to the sheer volume of factory closures and a sharp decline in production. In 2025, Lunar New Year officially begins on January 29, however many businesses start their preparations early and reduce production up to three weeks in advance. Normal production levels are expected to return by the second or third week of February.

Typically, businesses face a race to get cargo out of China before operations wind down and celebrations begin. Our teams are on hand to assist with your planning should you need to ship out of China urgently. For more information on the impact of Chinese New Year 2025, please click here.

ILA-USMX Negotiations

We want to keep you informed about the ongoing negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX), which may impact your operations.

On October 3, a tentative wage agreement was reached, but discussions on technology-related issues stalled negotiations when both parties met in November. The situation remains dynamic as we await further developments, with the possibility of a strike on January 15 increasing without a settled contract.

Our teams have identified potentially impacted vessels and are preparing contingency plans. If a strike occurs, we expect vessel operations to halt by midnight on January 14. The team is working on contingency plans to ensure operations are completed on time and that vessels are not docked during the work stoppage.

In the event of a work stoppage, US East Coast and Gulf terminals may halt operations, and gate and rail services could be suspended. You will receive more details as the January 15 date approaches. Similarly, terminals and nearby depots will not be open to accept empty returns. Please hold your empties until the terminals and depots reopen. Escalations can be sent to NAMEQUEDO@maersk.com

Should disruptions occur, we stand ready to assist our customers explore options to keep their supply chains moving best as possible via alternate routes, modalities, or distribution schedules. Customers are asked to stay in close contact with their Maersk representatives now as communicating supply chain requirements will be key to developing tailored contingencies if needed.

We will provide updates as the situation unfolds.

Sign up for ETA notifications to receive the latest updates on your cargo. To stay up to date on updates from the negotiations, visit our advisory page.

This growth partly stems from businesses stockpiling inventories in anticipation of potential disruptions, such as a US port strike on the East Coast and Gulf. Global manufacturing also rebounded in October, with the PMI indicating growth, though new export orders showed continued uncertainty.

Inflation trends varied, with US inflation rising to 2.58% in October, ending a six-month decline. EU inflation also increased to 2.33%, while China's consumer inflation fell to 0.29%, raising concerns about economic slowdown. These economic indicators highlight the dynamic and uncertain environment facing the air cargo industry.

At Maersk, we are committed to our customers and provide them with air freight solutions amid ongoing ocean disruptions. We have a seamless service offering running via our Tanjung Pelepas (TPP) to our Singapore and Kuala Lumpur hubs as an intermediate transit and cost option between Air and Ocean. Customers can take advantage of our unique TPP service, with our first leg on Ocean being short haul via TPP. This ultimately provides a significant reduction of transit time from 23-60 days to approximately 12-16 days for our customers moving into different markets from Asia.

For more information on this specific service or our other air freight solutions please contact your sales rep or contact our team via this form.

Topics, Trends and Insights

The EU ETS is being implemented in stages. In 2024, only 40% of applicable emissions were covered, but that number will increase to 70% in 2025 and then to 100% in 2026 and onward. We are also expecting an increase in the cost of the allowances, which shippers must purchase to pay the emissions bill to the EU in 2025. Both factors will increase the overall cost of shipping to and from Europe.

FuelEU Maritime is the world’s second regulation to target ocean shipping emissions and the first to target the emissions intensities from the burned fuels. The EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime impact cargo with origins and destinations in EU-designated ports, and both are meant to be layered together. While the EU ETS is more of a penalty targeting emissions, FuelEU Maritime differs in that it sets several requirements for the fuels combusted in the EU with a timeline to reduce emission intensities by 2050, exponentially. The lower emissions of intense fuels are more costly, thus increasing the cost of shipping to the EU yet again.

While The EU is leading the way in reducing emissions and pollution through effective regulations, we anticipate that other regions and governing bodies will also implement carbon taxes or Emissions Trading Systems (ETSs) for maritime shipping. We are actively monitoring conversations taking place in other regions of the world. Any new need of compliance may result in costs, which will be managed through the surcharge code: Maersk—Emissions Surcharge (EMS).

EMS is a penalty for emissions – cargo holders gain nothing from paying this. To exempt your European cargo from EMS, you can always choose to ship your cargo with Maersk ECO Delivery Ocean B100, which eliminates emissions on the water, thus the need for a penalty.

Learn more about how to navigate the EU ETS and Fuel EU Maritime Regulations in 2025.

More News from Maersk from around the world

• Lufthansa Cargo and Maersk launch cooperation to support decarbonization of airfreight
• Maersk completes first large container vessel conversion to dual-fuel methanol engine
• Syngenta and Maersk extend partnership in more sustainable and innovative supply chain solutions
• Maersk opens its first own-licensed bonded warehouse in north Vietnam, further enhancing its integrated customer service capabilities

You can also learn what’s happening in our regions by reading our Maersk Asia, Europe and Latin America updates in November.

Updated subscription center

To sign up for the Maersk North America Market Update newsletter, click here and update your preferences when prompted via email.