by Nicolette van der Jagt, Director General, European Association for Forwarding, Transport, Logistics and Customs Services (CLECAT)

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has quickly emerged as the number one global risk in 2020, affecting virtually all spheres humans are involved in.

There is an overall recognition that this crisis will be longer, deeper, and more transformational than expected.

Lockdowns have drastically reduced the level of economic activity, and there is great uncertainty about the rate and nature of recovery.

Projections for global forwarding remain extremely challenging for the year ahead.

Container lines at the end of June announced further significant service cancellations to take effect from the third quarter, trying to maintain the freight rates they have achieved in recent months despite the drop in demand.

Freight forwarders are expecting further disruptions in their supply chains in view of this.

Due to blank sailings, maritime logistics supply chains are becoming more and more unreliable, reducing supply chain efficiency and parameters such as capacity, sailing frequency, transit times, ports of call, and associated service quality.

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