Navigating 2025 Uncertainty with Peter Sand from Xeneta

In this insightful bonus episode, co-hosts Kevin Parkerson and Kevin Higgins welcome Peter Sand, Chief Analyst at Xeneta, for a deep dive into the volatile state of global container shipping as we enter Q2 2025.

Peter brings a data-driven perspective paired with real-world wisdom to explain what’s happening behind the scenes in ocean freight markets. He unpacks the latest Xeneta rate movements, blank sailing trends, and the shifting behavior of both large and small BCOs navigating unrelenting uncertainty. With demand signals fluctuating, geopolitical tensions brewing, and no “one-size-fits-all” playbook, Peter explains why flexibility and clear communication are essential for success.

Key Topics Covered:

1. 📉 Spot vs. Long-Term Contracts: Why shippers are leaning into the spot market and resisting long-term commitments amid uncertainty.

2. 📦 Supplier Exhaustion: How Tier 2 suppliers, often BCOs themselves, are caught in limbo waiting for direction from major importers.

3. 🚢 Blank Sailings & Capacity Shifts: What Xeneta’s data reveals about decreased blank sailings, capacity discipline, and a spike in volumes redirected from Asia to North Europe.

4. 💰 Risk Mitigation Through Mode Shifts: The strategic use of air freight—even at premium prices—as a tool for avoiding tariffs and managing uncertainty.

5. 📊 Rate Volatility Index Insights: Exploring connections between rate volatility, carrier financial health, and schedule reliability.

6. 🔮 Peter’s Outlook for 2025: Predictions for softening economic activity, fewer containers shipped, and how new carrier alliances like Gemini Cooperation are trying to improve schedule reliability.

Peter leaves listeners with this powerful reminder: “In times like these, there is no one winning strategy. The best companies adjust by product, mode, and moment. They stay calm, cool, and collected—and they stay informed.”

Whether you're a seasoned logistics executive or just trying to stay ahead of market shifts, this episode delivers the clarity and insight needed to navigate 2025’s uncertain waters.

🎧 Listen in to sharpen your strategy, gain perspective, and get the real-world logistics analysis you can only find on Kev Talks.