In this special two-part episode of The Freight Buyers’ Club, produced with the support of Dimerco Express Group, we tackle some of the most pressing issues in global trade and supply chains. First, we dive deep into the container shipping markets with Torsten Hartmann, Senior Director of Trade Management for the Transpacific at Hapag-Lloyd. Torsten provides critical insights on the disruptions in North American freight due to recent rail worker lockouts in Canada and looming dockworker strikes on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts. We also explore how Hapag-Lloyd is navigating the complex challenges of balancing capacity, demand, and service reliability amidst global market upheavals, not least the Red Sea crisis. And Torsten outlines the carrier’s high Transpacific service reliability ambitions when its new partnership with Maersk – Gemini Cooperation – begins operations next year. In the second part (from 30 mins onwards), we shift our focus to the sports industry. Chris Rogers, Head of Supply Chain Research at S&P Global Market Intelligence, joins host Mike King to discuss the surprising decline in sports clothing and equipment demand, despite a summer of high-profile sporting events. Chris unpacks the latest data, examining trends in U.S. and global demand, the impact of supply chain disruptions, and the shifting landscape of sports product sourcing. Guests Torsten Hartmann, Senior Director Trade Management, Transpacific, Hapag Lloyd Chris Rogers, Head of Supply Chain Research, S&P Global Market Intelligence