2026 Ocean Freight Outlook

2026 could be the year procurement leaders turn crisis into advantage.

With demand growth lagging behind new vessel capacity, the balance of power is shifting toward shippers. But with USTR fees, geopolitical tension, and new countermeasures from China, challenges remain. 

The 2026 Ocean Outlook outlines key challenges for the year ahead, helping procurement teams use market intelligence to secure the right rates, carriers, and resilience.  

Key Value Points: 

• Six key factors shaping ocean freight in 2026 

• Why falling rates don’t mean shippers should relax 

• How tariffs, trade wars, and geopolitics could still bite 

• Market intelligence to turn volatility into opportunity 

• New: ee-Sea data integration on service reliability, transit times, and network resilience