Capacity imbalances force shippers switch to breakbulk

As container pricing and related supply chain challenges rise amid wild demand swings and capacity imbalances, Indian and Bangladeshi shippers and freight forwarders – in co-ordination with government logistics leaders – have begun switching to breakbulk and other unconventional modes.
Mumbai-based Allcargo Logistics, parent company of less-than-container-load (LCL) consolidation heavyweight ECU Worldwide, is among many freight forwarders offering customers such alternatives.
According to Shalin Shah, VP of business development at Indian digital freight forwarder Freightwalla, “commodities like rice and sugar, often shipped on liner routes, have lately found their way onto bulkers. Though this change has happened only for a few commodities, it has brought some relief to a few traders who were struggling to find space at a reasonable cost,” he said. “But we believe this is a temporary phenomenon.”