• TPM25 | March 2-5, 2025
  • TPM25
  • March 2-5, 2025 | Long Beach Convention Center

Peter Sand

Xeneta

Chief Analyst

Peter Sand joined Xeneta in 2021, as the Chief Analyst. Heading a team that delivers expert insights on container shipping and air cargo industries - from a logistics perspective. Focus on the essential drivers, demand and supply - an obviously the freight rates that impacts us all.

Sand joined Xeneta after over a decade at BIMCO, where he was responsible for analysing commercial markets based on the global economic situation and its influence on trade. Prior to Sand’s Chief Shipping Analyst role at BIMCO, he worked with D/S NORDEN, a Danish shipping company operating in the dry cargo and tanker segments worldwide, as a Senior Analyst.

Throughout his career, Sand has been regarded for his widely read articles and industry insights, as well as his regular appearances on global news networks such as CNN, BBC, CNBC and Bloomberg.

He holds a Master’s in Economics from the University of Copenhagen.

Eager to share insights, Sand is also:

A widely used keynote speaker at shipping industry events. Setting the scene, with his perspectives on the global industry today and in future.

A former teacher of Maritime Economics at the Danish Shipping Academy as well as guest lecturer at

Copenhagen Business School - Blue MBA and Shipping bachelor.

Sessions With Peter Sand

Tuesday, 5 March

  • 02:15pm - 03:00pm (PST) / 05/mar/2024 10:15 pm - 05/mar/2024 11:00 pm

    Trade Lane Focus: Surplus Capacity and Weak Demand Will Extend Asia-Europe's “Transition to Normalization”

    Many in container shipping regarded 2023 as a “transition” year between the pandemic disruptions and a normalizing market, but judging from the weak demand and an unprecedented surge in capacity on the Asia-Europe trade, that transition will take longer. One of the greatest challenges for carriers over the next two years will be finding a way to somehow balance supply and demand. Estimates from various analysts put demand in 2024 at 3% while available capacity will grow by 7%. Maritime consultant Drewry estimates that 2.5 million TEU of capacity will be delivered globally by the end of 2023 and 3 million TEU in 2024. But at least 65% of the ordered tonnage consists of vessels with a capacity greater than 15,000 TEU, and the only place for most of that will be on the Asia-Europe trade. With little expectation of a great resurgence in demand among European consumers in 2024, the sheer capacity being deployed in 12-ship service strings will be difficult to fill. That spells disruption for cargo owners with carriers having little option but to continue aggressively blanking sailings, despite the strategy having little effect on plunging rate levels through the nonexistent 2023 peak season. With such a capacity overhang, carriers are simply unable to withdraw enough tonnage to make a material difference on rates. Where material differences are being made, however, is on service levels. Blank sailings, service cuts, and port emissions are preventing carriers from returning schedule reliability on Asia-North Europe to acceptable levels. Despite the almost complete absence of port and terminal congestion, vessels in the last quarter of 2023 were still struggling to reach an average on-time performance of 70%. Another costly issue looming over European importers and exporters is the European Union emissions trading system (ETS) that takes effect on Jan. 1, 2024. Starting in the first quarter, carriers will levy quarterly emissions surcharges on every container handled in the region. The actual surcharge per container will only become apparent early in 2024 when the trading in emissions allowances begins, but Asia-Europe shippers already are making it clear they want to negotiate the ETS surcharges within rate contracts.

    Related content:

    Spot rate gains puts pressure on shippers delaying Asia-Europe contracts: Xeneta

    Shippers to bring European ETS surcharge into carrier contract talks
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