The global freight market is navigating a turbulent start to 2026. A combination of seasonal volume spikes and ongoing vessel rerouting away from the Red Sea has created significant bottlenecks at key international trade gateways. Freight forwarders are facing tightened maritime capacities, extended transit times, and fluctuating spot rates. In response, top logistics firms are accelerating their M&A strategies—such as the massive post-2025 consolidation waves—to secure greater market share. To combat the unpredictability, forwarders are also heavily investing in integrated risk-intelligence platforms that provide shippers with end-to-end visibility and proactive cargo theft prevention.
Q1 2026 Freight Forwarding Volatility: Port Congestion & Market Consolidation
Published on February 21, 2026