Container Shipping in Stormy Times – Analysis and Outlook

Almost 80 percent of EU exports to non-EU member states are transported by ship. Consequently, supply chain disruptions during the pandemic are closely linked to the container shipping market. Two important trends stand out: increasing market concentration and container ship size; their side effects are reduced flexibility, lower shipping frequencies, and more concentrated route offerings. The consequences of pandemic-related constraints and longer-term trends in the shipping industry indicate that container shipping is increasingly becoming a bottleneck for international trade.