The global ocean container trade maintained strong momentum in the early months of the year, with volumes increasing by 4.7% year-on-year between December 2024 and February 2025, according to a new analysis from Maersk Strategic Insight. The report highlights Far East Asia as a significant driver of this growth, fueled by sustained export activity that supported higher import volumes into key markets including Latin America, Europe, and North America.
However, the analysis also points to increasing complexities within the global logistics landscape. Imports into Far East Asia saw a 7.4% decline, attributed to the typical post-Lunar New Year slowdown and ongoing inventory adjustments. Furthermore, the report underscores the growing impact of a volatile policy environment and trade tensions, emphasizing the critical importance of agile and robust supply chains.
Maersk is closely collaborating with its customers as they navigate this uncertain business landscape. Many are adopting a cautious “wait and see” approach, focusing on maintaining the flow of goods while carefully evaluating their options in response to potential shifts. The prevailing uncertainty is expected to lead to continued caution regarding inventory levels and a sustained focus on building greater flexibility into supply chains.
The Trans-Pacific trade lane has experienced a notable increase in cancelled sailings in recent months. Sea-Intelligence data indicates a 19% reduction in deployed capacity on these routes, with potential for further reductions.
Despite these market adjustments, Maersk remains steadfast in its commitment to providing customers with a stable and reliable schedule. Dennis Bøttern Bai, Regional Head of Transpacific and Asia-Latin America for Maersk, stated, “In a time of heightened uncertainty, maintaining a predictable and dependable network is critical for our customers’ supply chain planning. To date, Maersk has prioritized operating a full sailing program on the Transpacific corridor, and in some instances, we are deploying smaller vessels to free up larger ones for trades experiencing higher demand.”
Maersk has successfully maintained a full sailing schedule across the Transpacific corridor, prioritizing reliability and resilience for its customers amidst market-wide adjusted schedules and blanked sailings. The company’s newly launched East-West network, combining mainliner strength with shuttle agility, further ensures consistent and dependable services across Asia Pacific despite ongoing volatility.
Looking ahead, the impact of new tariffs is expected to increasingly shape the dynamics of the Intra-Asia market, which experienced strong demand in the first quarter of 2025. These tariffs could influence the movement of raw materials and semi-finished goods destined for re-export. Maersk is actively monitoring these developments and maintaining flexibility within its network to respond swiftly to evolving trade patterns.
