Overview

Bradley recently interviewed Burak Yolga, founder of the digital freight‑forwarding service Forceget, in episode #324 to assess how the global shipping landscape has settled after the Chinese New Year break. The conversation confirmed that ocean‑carrier capacity is still below pre‑holiday levels, spot freight rates remain markedly higher than historic norms, and transit windows on the busiest China‑to‑North‑America lanes have lengthened by several days. Sellers who source from Chinese manufacturers must factor these realities into their replenishment strategies or risk costly stock‑outs and surprise expenses in the coming quarters.

Key Points

• Capacity remains tight — Ocean vessels are still sailing with fill rates well under the 80‑90 % range seen before the holiday, forcing exporters to book space weeks in advance; a Shenzhen electronics supplier now secures a slot three weeks ahead, whereas a month ago a one‑week lead time sufficed.
• Freight costs stay elevated — Spot quotes for a 20‑ft container on the Shanghai‑Los Angeles route are consistently above the $2,500‑$3,000 pre‑CNY benchmark, with many shippers reporting rates in the $3,500‑$4,200 band, eroding profit margins on mid‑tier goods.
• Transit times have stretched — The typical sailing window from Shanghai to Los Angeles has expanded from 14 days to an average of 18‑20 days, and additional port‑side delays add another two to three days before containers are released.
• Air freight demand is surging — Companies with high‑value or time‑sensitive SKUs are opting for premium air cargo despite a 30‑40 % price premium, as illustrated by a cosmetics brand that shifted 1,200 units to air to meet a seasonal launch deadline.
• Alternative ports are gaining traction — Shippers are diversifying away from congested Chinese gateways by routing cargo through Southeast Asian hubs such as Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore, which currently offer shorter booking windows and modestly lower rates.
• Digital freight platforms are accelerating adoption — Tools like Forceget are being embraced for real‑time capacity visibility and rapid price comparison, with early adopters reporting up to a 15 % reduction in the time needed to lock in a shipment.