The Economist

INSIGHT & OPINION

INSIGHT & OPINION

We are entering a new world with little clarity of the future as we face either a return to the old ways or live in a state of perma-crisis.

15th December 2022

What comes after normal and new normal?

15th December 2022

INSIGHT & OPINION

INSIGHT & OPINION

Misguided policies are causing an unprecedented collapse in global economic confidence leading to further inflation and rising costs of living and a global recession.

15th November 2022

Economic chaos caused by zombie policies

15th November 2022

INSIGHT & OPINION

INSIGHT & OPINION

Typically, when it comes to July and August, summer vacations are the main focus for many people as they disappear from their normal routines and try to “switch off”.

27th October 2022

The silly season: shortages and inflation

27th October 2022

INSIGHT & OPINION

INSIGHT & OPINION

Will port congestion and labour shortages ever end as inflation rises with economic output declining? Should we plan ahead for recession as central banks have few tools available. Maybe, maybe not.

15th September 2022

LOGISTICS PROBLEMS AND UNCERTAINTY CONTINUES

15th September 2022

INSIGHT & OPINION

INSIGHT & OPINION

Congestion, excess shipping capacity and manpower shortages are blamed for inflation and shortages in shops. 

31st July 2022

PORT CONGESTION AND SUPPLY CHAIN DIFFICULTIES PERSIST

31st July 2022

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

Recession is in the news but there is no consensus as to when this might occur. The good times may be over before they really took hold.

31st May 2022

GOOD NEWS AND BAD NEWS: TAKE YOUR PICK

31st May 2022

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

Congestion and supply chain problems continue to be with us and now the Ukraine war has caused a thick fog over our industry.

30th April 2022

THE COLD WAR IS BACK, A NEW NORMAL LOOMS

30th April 2022

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

Shortages in shipping capacity cannot be put down to excessive levels of trade volumes.

3rd January 2022

COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS NOT BEEN DISASTROUS FOR GLOBAL TRADE

3rd January 2022

NEWS

NEWS

Pent up demand with consumers continuing to spend their money on goods, together with oil, coal and gas shortages will ensure on-going pressures on the supply chain well into next year.

1st November 2021

COVID-19 TRIGGERED VULNERABILITIES SET TO RUN

1st November 2021

NEWS

NEWS

The logistics supply chain is finding it extremely difficult to deal with the repercussions of the global outbreak of the COVID-19 Delta variant. It is slowing the expected economic recovery.

11th October 2021

COVID-19 DELTA PACKS A WALLOP

11th October 2021

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

COMMENT: An unprecedented increase in shipping profi tability has generated a newbuilding bubble that ports may not be prepared for, writes Ben Hackett.

1st September 2021

MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES… …The Shipping Bubble is Bound to Burst

1st September 2021

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

COMMENT: Ports struggle with congestions, carriers with lack of capacity and countries with more COVID-19. The pressure is not letting up, writes Ben Hackett.

3rd July 2021

GLOBALISATION AND SUPPLY CHAIN REMAIN AT RISK

3rd July 2021

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

COMMENT: The World Bank and IHS/Markit Container Port Performance Index is well off the mark and does not reflect reality, writes Ben Hackett.

22nd June 2021

NEW PORT PERFORMANCE INDEX – GOOD TRY BUT WRONG

22nd June 2021

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting pressure on globalisation beyond the Trump Administration impacts, writes Ben Hackett. The question is: What has gone wrong?

13th May 2021

GLOBALISATION STUMBLES UNDER COVID-19 PRESSURE

13th May 2021

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

COMMENT: As the pandemic rolls back with vaccinations rolling out, the maritime industrybecomes overly optimistic from ports, terminals, carriers and shipbuilding, writes Ben Hackett.

16th April 2021

EUPHORIA IN SHIPPING FINANCES MAY IMPACT PORTS

16th April 2021

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

COMMENT: The economics, such as they are, of the COVID-19 crisis is playing havoc at the ports as is the virus infection as well, writes Ben Hackett.

6th March 2021

PORTS ARE STRUGGLING

6th March 2021

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

COMMENT: Harping on a familiar subject, we really do need to ask ourselves what relevance economics has on international trade? writes Ben Hackett.

1st March 2021

The relevance of economics on international trade and ports?

1st March 2021

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

COMMENT: The life of an economist is currently about as satisfying as a that of a scientist trying to understand COVID-19, writes Ben Hackett.

12th November 2020

THE ECONOMIST’S FOG

12th November 2020

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

COMMENT: Container carriers appear to have found the “yellow brick road” to recovery this year with strict capacity management, while the rest of the industry is in the doldrums, writes Ben Hackett.

14th October 2020

NEW NORMAL IS AS CLEAR AS MUD

14th October 2020

THE ECONOMIST

THE ECONOMIST

COMMENT: The maritime industry has been a bastion of hope over many decades even when supply and demand disparity grew, and excessive capacity was built both in the vessel and port terminal…

24th July 2020

REALITY OR JUST A FALSE SENSE OF HOPE?

24th July 2020