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“ Every organization will approach this cycle differently, but the principle is the same: use this time strategically.”
Eric Green
“ rading partners are adapting, and the freemarket trade that enabled specialization will likely be affected for years to come.”
Stuart Sandlin
“ When resiliency has been truly embedded into our business and operations, we succeed and overcome disruptions.”
Fulvio Fracassi
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catalyst for structural changes. Key impacts include severe demand distortion, which was evidenced by frontloading of shipments followed by sharp declines; accelerated relocation of manufacturing away from China; and operational challenges such as supply chain reconfiguration and container imbalances.
While tariffs and other geopolitical impacts can be viewed as temporary bumps on multi-annual seasonal demand cycle, current downturn is fundamentally different from past cycles. Unlike previous slowdowns driven purely by economic factors, this one is shaped by an unprecedented, sustained vessel overcapacity from a pandemic-era ordering boom. Furthermore, unique geopolitical fragmentation and trade policy shifts are permanently altering established global trade lanes, creating a more fragmented and less efficient global network that forces the industry into a lasting structural realignment.
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Hapag-Lloyd( America)
Stuart Sandlin
President www. hapag-lloyd. com
The latest US tariffs have significantly impacted the container shipping industry, primarily due to the lack of predictability for importers, resulting in inconsistent volume projections. The front-end loading of inventory in anticipation of tariffs led to a surge in demand for container movements as importers attempted to minimize the impact on operating margins. This has tested US supply chain resilience in a post-COVID environment.
Escalating trade tensions between the US and other countries may lead to shifting trade patterns and partnerships. Companies are reevaluating their sourcing strategies, with some shifting to lower-cost countries. However, the costs of landed goods will be recalculated to include tariff amounts, and margins will be adjusted to pass on some of the increased costs to customers.
The tariffs aimed to improve the US trade imbalance and encourage reshoring of manufacturing. However, the actual
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impact is a shift in the globalization trend that began with containerization. Trading partners are adapting, and the freemarket trade that enabled specialization will likely be affected for years to come.
Jacksonville Port Authority( Jaxport)
Eric Green
CEO www. jaxport. com
Cycles are a natural part of global trade. Demand rises and falls, much like the tides. As trends shift, the challenge for ports, carriers and shippers remains the same: moving goods efficiently and reliably while planning for what’ s next.
Periods of moderated growth offer valuable opportunities to invest in the
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Halifax Port Authority
Fulvio Fracassi
President and CEO www. portofhalifax. ca
Today, we live in a constant state of change. Balancing the change that is around us, and threading resiliency through every action we take, is what thriving ports require for moving forward.
In containerized shipping, a mindset and skill set focusing on resiliency keeps port operations fluid. When we commit to resiliency, we think ahead to assess our capacity and capabilities, anticipate issues, pivot with agility and provide visibility to meet our customers’ needs.
When resiliency has been truly embedded into our business and operations, we succeed and overcome disruptions by adjusting our processes or adopting new, collaborative and innovative approaches.
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future— upgrading infrastructure, modernizing operations and strengthening partnerships. These moments allow the industry to innovate without the immediate pressures of peak demand, positioning supply chains for long-term success.
At Jaxport, diversification across multiple trade lanes and business lines helps us maintain stability, even as market conditions fluctuate. Unlike ports more heavily concentrated in one cargo type or trade route, our balanced portfolio supports consistent performance through both growth cycles and slowdowns.
We continue to invest in our terminals and modernize our facilities to ensure we’ re ready for the next upswing. Equally important, we work closely with our terminal operators, ocean carriers and shippers to maintain an efficient operating environment that supports our partners’ success.
Our focus is not on short-term fluctuations but on the long horizon— making strategic investments in equipment, maintenance and workforce training to ensure that when the arrow swings
Resiliency in Port of Halifax operations is founded on partnerships, open channels of communication and shared data. Strong engagement between PSA Halifax, CN and the Port Authority though our Joint Operations Centre leads to realtime solutions for port users. Regular checkins and conversations with port partners and members of the community help build a trusted, deep network of support for port operations. Robust digital platforms help inform decisionmaking and are shared transparently within the port ecosystem.
It all contributes to quick ship turnarounds, and fluid dwell time through reliable intermodal and trucking connections. This is all thanks to the dedicated workforce at the Port of Halifax.
Looking ahead in 2026, ports that can provide resiliency will succeed. Change will continue. The key will be meeting change with resiliency every step of the way as we move forward to connect with the world.
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