As the Chinese New Year approaches, set between February 10 and February 16, it is a good idea to plan accordingly. Most factories typically close one week before the celebrations and may remain closed for 1-3 weeks afterward.

If you are importing from China, please consider the following

• Ensure orders are placed well in advance to accommodate factory closures
• Plan ahead with your freight forwarder as schedules and available capacity may be affected
• Check when factories resume operations again after the holiday period

Impact on freight rates

During this period, you might experience a significant price increase due to rising demand. Furthermore, the current situation in the Red Sea has added extra pressure on capacity and containers, resulting in longer transit times, additional surcharges, and increased freight rates.

We recommend our customers book well in advance during this period to avoid delays or disruptions in their supply chains. Moreover, a sea-air solution could also be relevant for your company. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your local contact at FREJA or David Nielsen, Head of Business Development Air & Ocean, if you wish to explore how we can support your business.

General shipping tips for the Chinese New Year

1. Pre-plan Deliveries
   Coordinate in advance with suppliers and freight forwarders.
2. Avoid Short Notice Orders
   Try to minimize last-minute orders.
3. Advance Booking
   Book transports early—ideally 2-3 weeks before departure for sea freight.
4. Terminal and Warehouse Congestion
   Expect congestion around the New Year; verify sailing plans for LCL movements.
5. Consider Alternatives
   For urgent deliveries, consider a sea-air solution, but schedule flights a few weeks ahead.
6. Confirm Schedules
   Recheck and confirm schedules with all involved parties before the holiday period.

16-1-24

It is still unsafe to sail through the Red Sea, and many container carriers appear to have adopted the new normal of navigating south of Africa. The extended route naturally impacts transfer times, but at FREJA, we are closely monitoring the Estimated Time of Arrivals (ETAs).

Given the situation in the Red Sea and the upcoming Chinese New Year, we recommend that our customers book well in advance to prevent potential delays. We offer sea-air services, and we are in close dialogue with our customers to find the right solutions that meet their needs during these challenging periods.

Feel free to contact your local representative at FREJA to learn more about our sea-air solutions.

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8-1-24

There are still tensions in the Red Sea, and many container carriers have suspended their vessels or redirected them to sail around Cape of Good Hope.

The Red Sea crisis had resulted in various challenges within the sea freight market, including longer transit times, additional surcharges and increased freight rates. These challenges affect the supply chains due to the unpredictable market conditions.

Moreover, with the Chinese New Year approaching, factories typically close not only during the holiday but also both before and after it. Therefore, we recommend our customers to book well in advance in this period to avoid delays or disruptions in their supply chains.

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2-1-24

The new year has begun, and the ongoing uncertainty persists due to the risks in the Red Sea. Additional attacks have been reported, and the decision of whether or not to use the Red Sea passage is up to the individual container carrier.

The latest update regarding surcharges remains valid – PSS and CAC (Contingency Adjustment Charge) have been applied since the 1st of January, leading to an increase in prices.

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21-12-23

We have been notified that container carriers will be implementing a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) effective from the 1st of January, 2024, impacting your shipments.

Please note that PSS details may vary among different carriers. FREJA will ensure to inform you about how this will affect your shipping costs.

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19-12-23

Over the past weeks, several commercial vessels have been attacked by drones and missiles in the Red Sea. Consequently, many container carriers are rerouting their vessels from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal to ensure the safety of their crews, vessels, and cargo.

Several container carriers have already informed us that they are sailing around Africa via the Cape of Good Hope, as this is the only viable alternative. We anticipate that more will follow suit. However, the effects are longer transit times as the route is approximately 4,000 nautical miles longer, which equals approximately 7,300 kilometers.

The consequences of this are delays of 2-4 weeks and potentially increased costs for customers – although this is not yet confirmed. At FREJA, we support the container carriers' decisions, considering safety's crucial role in this situation. However, we regret any inconvenience this might cause for our customers.

Please reach out to your local contact at FREJA if you have any questions regarding this matter.

We are closely monitoring the situation and will ensure to keep you updated.

We appreciate your understanding.

When the WCA Conference 2024 takes place from the 24th of February to the 2nd of March in Dubai, UAE, FREJA will once again participate in this global event.

For several years, FREJA has taken part in the annual conference held by WCA, as it provides excellent opportunities for networking, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing with other industry peers and potential partners from across the globe. Furthermore, it gives FREJA a great opportunity to showcase products and solutions and increase our visibility worldwide.

The WCA Conference facilitates one-on-one meetings during the day, providing businesses with a chance to connect with potential partners and gain insights into local opportunities and challenges across different countries. Additionally, attendees can extend their networking opportunities by participating in evening conversations over dinner.

FREJA’s representatives are excited to meet with industry professionals and look forward to exploring new trends and business opportunities at the WCA Conference.

You can locate FREJA at stand A17, and for those interested in scheduling a meeting, bookings can be made through the following links:

• WCA First Conference 24th – 26th of February: 23rd WCA First Annual Conference
• WCA Worldwide Conference 27th of February – 2nd of March: 13th WCA Worldwide Conference

See you at the WCA Conference!

The weather situation in Scandinavia is causing us some challenges these days. The snowfall is heavy, the roads are slippery and passability is reduced. We therefore experience some delays in deliveries.

We apologies for the inconveniencies, and encourage you to reach out to your contact person in FREJA for more information.

30-1-24

On Monday 29 January and again today 30 January, we have experienced blockades around Hamburg, where farmers block tracks on motorways as well as entrances and exits. We expect that we will experience more spontaneous blockades at hubs during week 5. Delays may therefore occur both for distribution in Germany and for shipments transiting through Germany.

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10-1-24

The ongoing strike continues, with German farmers and certain hauliers blocking roads, highway entrances, and borders.

Delays may occur and can potentially impact transit times into week 3.

We apologize for any inconvenience this strike may cause our customers.

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8-1-24

Today there are strikes all over Germany as a result of dissatisfaction from farmers, drivers, locomotive drivers, etc. due to new legal interventions in Germany.

All transportation in Germany is affected by this. Therefore, we expect delays today and the rest of the week.

Please contact your ordinary contact person in FREJA for further information.

At the moment we see that Spanish farmers establish blockades at the Spanish-French border but also further inland in Spain.

Unfortunately, this causes delays and problems in delivering on time.

Please contact your usual contact person in FREJA for more information.

At the moment we see that Polish farmers establish blockades on nearly all highways in Poland and borders with Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Ukraine.

The protests are caused by an attempt to block the new EU regulation - The European Green Deal.

Unfortunately, this causes delays and problems in delivering on time.

Please contact your usual contact person in FREJA for more information.