Global trade is booming again in 2025 — the fastest growth since 2010. In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, supported by Ontegos Cloud, Mike King talks with DHL Express CEO John Pearson about the new DHL Global Connectedness Tracker and what it reveals about today’s trade surge. From China’s export expansion and Africa’s growing trade power, to tariffs, de-minimis changes, and shifting supply chains, Pearson explains how global commerce is evolving and why globalisation is far from dead.
Essential listening for anyone in freight forwarding, logistics, or international trade.

Full Description

DHL’s latest Global Connectedness Tracker shows global trade growth at its fastest pace since 2010.
In this episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, supported by Ontegos Cloud, the freight forwarder profitability specialist, host Mike King speaks with John Pearson, CEO of DHL Express, about what’s driving the remarkable rebound in global trade and supply chains in 2025.

They discuss China’s export boom, Africa’s rising influence in international logistics, and why globalisation is far from dead despite tariffs, shifting trade routes, and new supply chain pressures. Pearson explains how DHL is adapting to changing trade lanes, what record trade-lane deviations really mean, and why the world’s buyers and sellers are proving more creative and resilient than ever.

Expect clear insights on:

• The fastest global trade growth in over a decade
• The new trade corridors shaping global logistics
• China’s 26% export surge into Sub-Saharan Africa
• The US retreat from trade vs. global expansion elsewhere
• How DHL is positioning for long-term supply chain growth

The Freight Buyers’ Club — where the people who move the world’s goods talk straight about what’s really happening in global logistics and international trade.

In this Freight Buyers’ Club interview, produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud, host Mike King speaks to Rainer Haag, CEO of DHL Supply Chain Europe, at the grand opening of DHL’s new European Innovation Center in Troisdorf, Germany.

They discuss how DHL is turning innovation into action — applying AI, automation, and digitalisation to make supply chains more resilient, sustainable, and efficient — while navigating the trade and tariff shifts reshaping global freight.

Rainer shares insights on:

• How DHL decides which technologies to pilot and scale
• The impact of robotics and automation on people and performance
• Why “digital by default” is central to DHL’s operations
• How European trade flows are adapting to disruption and nearshoring
• The next wave of technology transforming logistics

️ Hosted by Mike King, The Freight Buyers’ Club
Supported by Ontegos Cloud — the freight forwarder profitability specialist
Recorded at the DHL Innovation Center, Troisdorf, Germany

#FreightBuyersClub #DHL #SupplyChain #Logistics #Trade #Freight #Automation #AIinLogistics #Warehousing #Innovation #LogisticsNews #OntegosCloud

Shipping analyst Lars Jensen, CEO of Vespucci Maritime, explains to host Mike King how carriers are responding to new US port fees on Chinese-built vessels, the reshuffling of fleets, and why global ship orders aren’t shifting away from China despite the new policy. This extended clip is from The Big Interview – Freight Buyers Club EP54, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group. https://dimerco.com/ #LarsJensen #FreightBuyersClub #ContainerShipping #USPortFees #CarrierStrategy #ChineseShips #ShipOrders #GlobalTrade #MaritimeLogistics #DimercoExpressGroup

DP World’s John Trenchard explains how one of the world’s largest port and logistics operators is cutting supply chain emissions and shaping the future of sustainable logistics in the UK and worldwide.

Recorded at Sustainable Logistics LIVE in London, this interview features Mike King, host of The Freight Buyers’ Club, in conversation with John Trenchard, Vice President for Sustainable International Supply Chains at DP World.

They discuss:
• How DP World is making its UK ports among the lowest-carbon in the world
• Practical steps to decarbonise freight and support retailers and shippers
• Real-world emission savings and cost impacts
• Plans to expand these sustainability initiatives globally
• Advice for procurement teams on achieving verified carbon reductions

This interview was produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud. [https://www.ontegos.cloud/]

#DPWorld #SustainableLogistics #SupplyChain #FreightBuyersClub #OntegosCloud #Decarbonisation #GlobalSustainability #Shipping #Ports

Join Mike King at DHL’s brand-new European Innovation Center (EPIC) in Troisdorf, Germany, for an exclusive conversation with Katja Busch, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of Customer Solutions & Innovation. Discover how DHL is using robotics, AI and digitalisation to transform supply chains, warehousing and last-mile delivery — and what the future of logistics could look like over the next decade.

This content is produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud. [https://www.ontegos.cloud/]

#DHL #KatjaBusch #Logistics #FreightBuyersClub #AI #Robotics #SupplyChain #Innovation #ontegoscloud

Global liner shipping expert Lars Jensen joins Mike King on the Freight Buyers Club to break down new US port fees, tougher IMO rules and the 2026 container shipping outlook.
They discuss:
• How carriers are reshuffling fleets in response to US port fees
• The impact of IMO carbon charging and green fuels
• Transpacific, Asia–Europe, Africa & Australasia trade trends
• What happens if the Suez Canal fully reopens
Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/]
#FreightBuyersClub #LarsJensen #ContainerShipping #ShippingForecast #LogisticsPodcast #DimercoExpressGroup
Chapters
00:00:00 Cold Open – US Port Fees, IMO Rules, Suez & 2026 Outlook (Produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group – https://www.dimerco.com/)
00:01:00 Intro, Credits & Guest – Lars Jensen joins Freight Buyers Club (+ events & sponsor)
00:02:20 US Port Fees Explained – Who pays, when it starts, and how carriers are reshuffling fleets
00:05:00 USTR Uncertainty – COSCO/OOCL tactics, China–Mexico shifts, and Seaspan reflagging
00:06:20 Competitive Impact – Can carriers pass costs on? COSCO $1.5bn hit and surcharge reality
00:09:00 Transpacific Snapshot – Demand, inventories & spot rates
00:15:00 Beyond Transpacific – Africa/South America/Europe growth; “cargo finds a way”
00:18:00 Asia–Europe Rates – Not ‘free fall’: normalization, capacity via Cape, GRIs & CNY timing
00:23:00 IMO MEPC Carbon Charging – Why the October vote matters for green fuels & ship orders
00:27:00 2026 Playbook – Recession risk, schedule reliability ~65%, Suez reopening scenario to 2027

Where is air cargo headed next? In this Freight Buyers Club air cargo special, host Mike King is joined by Tom Crabtree, Managing Director at Transport Research Advisors and former Boeing air cargo analyst, and Robert van de Weg, CEO of ‘mas’ Cargo Airline.

Together they cut through the noise to explain today’s air cargo market outlook:

✈️ Global demand and capacity shifts across major trade lanes

Why air cargo rates are holding up better than many expected

The impact of e-commerce growth, tariffs, and de minimis changes

Which regions and commodities are driving opportunities

How airlines and shippers can pivot for the next peak season

This is essential listening for freight buyers, forwarders, and supply chain professionals who want straight-talking insights into the future of air cargo and air freight.

Episode 53 of the Freight Buyers Club is produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group [https://dimerco.com/].

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Every 60 days, a container ship fire makes headlines — costing insurers, carriers, shippers and freight forwarders tens or even hundreds of millions. But who really pays when cargo goes up in smoke?

In this episode of the Freight Buyers’ Club, recorded at London International Shipping Week and produced with the support of Ontegos Cloud, Mike King speaks with Chris Grieveson, Managing Partner at Wikborg Rein, about the rising threat of container ship fires, the role of misdeclared cargo, and why “cutting corners” on dangerous goods can come back to burn the entire supply chain.

We dive into:

• Why container ship fires are increasing in frequency
• How liability, fraud, and general average affect shippers and forwarders
• What new screening tools and best practices are emerging
• The importance of insurance (and what happens when you don’t have it)

Whether you’re a shipper, forwarder, insurer, or just want to understand the legal and financial fallout from these billion-dollar incidents, this is a must-listen.

Subscribe for more straight-talking insights from the global freight industry.

#Shipping #ContainerFires #FreightForwarding #MaritimeLaw