The contradiction is:
- Maersk’s CEO sees inflation pushing container rates up faster than 25% to 30%. This is aided by port and rail congestion
- Spot rates for containers are sometimes not below contract rates. The average rate per 40-foot container for shipping from China to the U.S. West Coast in June is $7,981, up 160% from a year ago and 2.7% higher than average spot rates, source: Xeneta.