Rough Seas Ahead: Experts Are Forecasting New Headaches In 2026

While 2025 began with anxieties about the impact of new carrier alliances and continued Red Sea diversions, most of this year’s concerns focused on the Trump Administration imposing global reciprocal tariffs and the supply chain uncertainties that emerged from that policy.

Many industry leaders believe that this year’s tariff related issues will continue well into the next year, making long-term planning extremely difficult and complex. Additionally, experts are also predicting that shippers will be contending with new problems, namely congestion that is expected to result from the Suez Canal reopening and the arrival of vessels ahead of those rerouted around the Cape of Good Hope. This situation is expected to disrupt all Suez services for a significant period of time and trigger rate volatility as vessels return to their original rotations.

“In order to help maintain their profitability, carriers are expected to be more aggressive with pricing strategies in 2026,” said Anthony Fullbrook, president of OEC Group’s North American Region. “As a result, shippers should anticipate more problems with reliability and expect to pay a premium to secure space, especially during periods of high demand.”

Variable ocean freight rates could be even more unpredictable and erratic in 2026. These expected fluctuations could make budgeting extremely difficult and create significant financial risk, especially for shippers operating on tight budgets. Therefore, many experts believe that the best way to navigate this turbulent environment is to secure and strengthen relationships with logistics partners who have strong industry relationships and can advise on how to effectively manage these challenges, especially for shippers who need to take advantage of lower rates when available.

“Shippers need to prepare for volatility, be willing to be agile, and continue to stay informed on what is happening in the industry,” said Nick Klein, head of OEC Group’s Chicago branch. “Having the right person in your corner is the only viable contingency plan. This ensures that, regardless of the situation, your supply chain will remain fluid and economically viable – regardless of the circumstance.”