The #SeaFreight industry has faced numerous disruptions in recent years. These disruptions have not only transformed the industry itself but also had a global impact. How can shippers proactively prepare their supply chains to mitigate the effects of such incidents on their businesses? In this “Shipping Insights” podcast episode, our host, Sara Vollmer, and her guest, Michael Aldwell, Board Member of Sea Logistics, explore the repercussions of these recent disruptions. They delve into both the challenges and opportunities arising from these forced transitions. Key topics of this episode are: The path ahead for the sea freight industry and for Kuehne+Nagel, how the delicacy of supply chains became visible due to the disruptions and how to plan resilient and agile supply chains in current conditions. Recorded in March 2024. Details: (01:28) Michael talks about what the sea freight industry means to him and briefly describes his role at Kuehne+Nagel. (02:41) Sara and Michael discuss how Kuehne+Nagel has always evolved with time, sharing what they see in the road ahead for Kuehne+Nagel and the industry. (05:03) Sara asks Michael about the disruptions and their impact, and he responds by sharing his perspective on the delicate system of the supply chains and how this delicacy has become more visible to us in the past few years due to the disruptions. (07:43) Sara brings up nearshoring, and they discuss how companies with a single sourcing strategy might experience such changes in their supply chains. Michael points out the advantages of such changes and their benefactors. (10:14) Michael talks about the big decisions companies must make and how they can ensure a more agile and resilient supply chain. (11:33) Sara and Michael discuss TPM 2024, and Michael shares his expectations and mentions what TPM means to Kuehne+Nagel. (13:07) Michael shares his advice for shippers and points out the importance of having agile, resilient supply chains.

Nowadays, we are used to the convenience of buying our favourite fresh products from the local supermarket all year round. But how do these products reach us when the shipping world deals with disruptions? In this episode, our host, Sara Vollmer, and her guest Marc Meseguer, Regional Sea Logistics Reefer Manager, talk about Reefer Logistics and the journey of temperature-sensitive cargo to consumers in times of regular disruptions. They also discuss FRUIT LOGISTICA, the world's most important trade fair for the fresh produce industry, and its significance in the world of cold chain. Key topics of this episode are: What Reefer Logistics is and its impacts on our world, how disruptions can drastically impact the temperature-sensitive cargo’s supply chain and FRUIT LOGISTICA and its significance in the world of cold chain. Recorded in February 2024. Details: (01:40) Sara and Marc discuss what Reefer Logistics is. (02:39) Marc talks about the popular time for fruit and vegetable transportation in the northern and southern hemispheres. (04:10) Sara asks Marc about what is happening right now (early February 2024) in the world of Reefer Logistics. (05:08) They discuss the privilege of having access to various fresh products all year round and where they come from. (06:22) Sara asks Marc what the downside to this privilege is.

In a market with approximately 60% global on-time schedule reliability, guaranteeing exact delivery dates has become a challenge—especially with the added complexities of current geo-political situations affecting supply chains. How can shippers successfully manage their supply chains in this unpredictable terrain? In this episode, our host Sara Vollmer and her guest Allison Macdonald, Global Key Account Manager Corporate Partner Consumer, discuss today's unpredictable shipping world and how to navigate its rough waters using the available digital tools. They particularly talk about seaexplorer and how it can be used to make better-informed decisions. Key topics of this episode are: Shippers' concerns in a world where disruptions have become a norm, seaexplorer and the valuable data it offers and how to plan shipments when on-time reliability is low. Recorded in January 2024. Link to seaexplorer: seaexplorer.com Link to SeaNews: mykn.kuehne-nagel.com/news Details: (02:25) Sara and Allison discuss customers' concerns in an ever-changing world. Allison points out customers' need for a platform with reliable information that enables them to plan better for tomorrow. (04:44) They discuss the challenges of shipping in a world with a 60% global on-time reliability. Allison then discusses seaexplorer and its benefits by sharing her memories of when she first introduced seaexplorer to the customers. (10:02) Sara asks Allison how to discuss carriers' unreliable delivery schedules with customers even though their contracts state certain delivery times. (12:54) Allison gives her advice to shippers who are interested in the podcast's topic. (13:49) Allison talks about SeaNews as a valuable source of information for her. (16:17) The episode ends with Allison’s advice on what to take away from the podcast.

When a disaster strikes, relief logistics entities support charitable organisations in delivering aid and emergency items to the impacted areas. In this episode, our host Sara Vollmer and her guest Cormac O'Sullivan, Global Head of Emergency and Relief Logistics, discuss how Emergency and Relief Logistics experts at Kuehne+Nagel develop strategies to deliver emergency aid when most of the established logistics infrastructure is destroyed. They also talk about the potential paths of entering this sector. Key topics of this episode are: What emergency and relief is, how emergency and relief experts prepare before and act after a disaster, how to join this community or change from other fields of logistics to relief logistics and how we can prepare for geopolitical changes. Recorded in November 2023. Details: (2:08) Cormac talks about Emergency and Relief Logistics, its history, different sectors and community. (06:16) Cormac explains how the emergency and relief global community can predict which areas are more likely to be hit by disasters, which allows them to adopt pre-positioning strategies in various areas of the world. (10:05) Cormac then explains how Kuehne+Nagel works in these situations by giving some examples. 13:19) He shares how he joined the emergency and relief field to help those who would like to join this field as well. (17:22) He gives his advice on how to join the Emergency and Relief Logistics. (20:30) Sara and Cormac conclude this episode by suggesting that we are already in a decade of action, and Cormac emphasises the importance of the expertise of logisticians in keeping our world moving.

In this episode, host Sara Vollmer and her guest Yutaka Matsuyoshi, Global Head of Sea Logistics International Supply Chain at Kuehne+Nagel, talk about the current trends of International Supply Chains and the lessons learnt throughout the experience of a global pandemic. They specifically address the importance of not only leveraging advanced digital tools but also making sense of the data supplied for optimum transparency. Key topics of this episode are: The connection between International Supply Chain and Order Management, how strategies and supply chains have changed throughout the pandemic, post-pandemic measures seen by customers, the available platforms and tools and their technological improvements, as well as the future trends of the International Supply Chain. Recorded in October 2023. Details: (03:08) Sara and Yutaka discuss the connection between International Supply Chain and Order Management. (04:57) Yutaka talks about the changes in the strategies and supply chains throughout the pandemic years compared to those of the post-pandemic years. (08:00) The post-pandemic measures taken by customers are compared to their pre-pandemic actions. (10:54) Yutaka shares his thoughts about the available platforms and tools, how they have been improved and the areas where they need more improvements. (14:25) He then is asked how to deal with the issues that customers face when using these platforms and how to make the best decisions. (18:47) Yutaka shares his predictions for the future of the International Supply Chain in the upcoming years.

In this episode, host Sara Vollmer and her guest Knud Meyer, Global Sea Logistics Development Manager Dried Fruit & Nuts at Kuehne+Nagel, talk about the growing global dried fruit and nuts (DFN) market. Sara and Knud discuss the specific products, the trade lanes and the challenges in the DFN segment. Key topics of this episode are: The products that fall into the DFN category and their market size, the main import and export regions and the global trade lanes, the challenges that exist in the supply chain of DFN, and the role of sustainability in the DFN industry. Recorded in July 2023. Details: (02:58) Knud introduces the dried fruit, nuts and seeds (DFN) industry, its subcategories, and their production volume. (04:57) Sara and Knud discuss the factors that are driving growth in this industry. (07:14) Knud goes over the main import and export regions and global trade lanes of DFN products. (09:35) Knud talks about the challenges that exist in the supply chain of DFN. (12:19) He discusses the sustainability of DFN and the changes that are being made. (14:05) Knud mentions that the current trends in DFN could be because of health and economic changes. (15:32) Knud shares his thoughts on the future opportunities within DFM and where more growth might come.

In this episode, host Sara Vollmer talks to her guest Boris Herrmann, a world-class skipper from Team Malizia, about the race we all are in against climate change and time. They also discuss The Ocean Race, one of the toughest professional sporting events in the world, and Team Malizia’s upcoming plans. Team Malizia's and Kuehne+Nagel's partnership aims to create a more sustainable future by sailing and raising awareness for ocean health. Key topics of this episode are: Team Malizia’s experience at The Ocean Race, global warming and clear warning signs for those in regular contact with the oceans, and "A race we must win", Team Malizia’s and Kuehne+Nagel’s joint goal and programmes. Recorded in June 2023. Details: (02:50) Sara and Boris talk about what the Ocean Race is, Team Malizia’s experience at the Ocean Race, and some of the incidents that happened to the competing boats. (04:33) Boris discusses global warming and its clear warning signs for those in regular contact with the oceans. (06:05) Boris shares his experience with the seaweeds in the oceans and how the boat goes through them without getting damaged. (07:10) Sara and Boris discuss "A race we must win" and Team Malizia and Kuehne+Nagel’s joint goals and programmes. (08:34) Boris expands on Team Malizia's educational plans, its target group and what they do. (11:20) Boris shares what awaits Team Malizia in the Ocean Race, how the team prepares for what is coming, and what happens next. (15:45) Sara and Boris discuss the impact of the pandemic on the last Vendée Globe. (16:31) The story of Greta Thunberg and Team Malizia is brought up by Sara.

In this episode, host Sara Vollmer and her guest Matthias Blan, Senior VP Sea Logistics South and Central America at Kuehne+Nagel, talk about the Latin American sea freight market. Sara and Matthias explore the features and challenges of this unique market on a global scale and discuss the customer needs and characteristics of the region. Key topics of this episode are: The significance of the Latin American market in the global scheme of trade, the main import and export commodities of the region, the impact of currency fluctuation and inflation on the Latin American trade scene and what influences customers’ decisions and how they navigate their supply chains. Recorded in May 2023. Details: (02:14) Matthias talks about the significance of the Latin American market in the global scheme of trade. (03:40) Matthias explains why the Latin American (LATAM) region has a certain reputation. (05:25) Sara and Matthias discuss the main import and export commodities of the region. (08:32) Matthias discusses the impact of currency fluctuations and inflation on the Latin American trade scene, and how Kuehne+Nagel can help customers overcome these challenges. (10:50) Matthias mentions the high level of service expected in the LATAM region, and how Kuehne+Nagel plans to combine a traditional approach with a modern digital standard. (12:47) Matthias explains what 'Great Place to Work' is and its importance to Kuehne+Nagel. (16:29) Matthias shares his predictions for the future of Kuehne+Nagel in the LATAM region.

In this episode, host Sara Vollmer and Michael Aldwell, Board Member Sea Logistics at Kuehne+Nagel, talk about the customer focus of the Kuehne+Nagel Sea Logistics Roadmap 2026 and Vision 2030 and how it is being put into practice. They specifically address the expansion of the network of Customer Care Locations (CCLs) and further measures to improve the customer experience. Key topics of this episode are: Growth as a natural driver for a business, how can growth and a customer-centric set-up and culture be combined, and how do local, personalised service and a global network play a role in this? Recorded in April 2023 Details: (03:44) Sara and Michael discuss growth and how excellent customer service works. (06:10) Michael talks about the difficulties in delivering great customer service in the past three years and ensures that Kuehne+Nagel is here to help customers navigate the rough waters. (07:31) Michael explains how Kuehne+Nagel engages and supports the customers from an operational standpoint by opening more customer care locations. (09:29) Michael shares how Kuehne+Nagel aims to deliver excellent customer service by implementing a structured on-boarding experience. (10:58) Michael brings up the net promoter score and how it helps businesses see how they are doing. (10:29) He mentions how Kuehne+Nagel is suitable for both small and large companies, and it helps them sort out their shipping challenges. (10:45) Michael shares Kuehne+Nagel's future plans for extraordinary customer service.

Do you know what innovation changed the entire sea freight industry from 1965 onwards? In this episode, host Sara Vollmer and Bill Rooney, Vice President Strategic Development at Kuehne+Nagel, talk about Malcom McLean’s famous invention and its effects on the entire world. They take a look back at the beginnings of container shipping and the development of the global sea freight industry. Join them on a journey back in time. Key topics of this episode are: What was the background of Malcom McLeans innovation and how did the first containers look like? How has the sea container changed the world and influenced globalisation? How did the economic aspects of the sea freight business develop? Recorded in February 2023. Details: (01:50) Bill starts the podcast by giving a brief introduction to the history of container shipping and Malcolm McLean's genius idea. (03:43) Sara and Bill discuss the potential reason why it took ten years for this genius idea to become a global phenomenon. (05:16) Bill shares the history behind SeaLand. (05:52) Bill explains how container shipping changed the world and its other enormous impacts on globalisation. (08:51) Sara and Bill talk about the current impacts of container shipping on how people live: how it has changed and continues to change our lives. (10:22) Bill mentions new shoring and its impacts on the sea freight industry. (11:37) Sara asks Bill what he thinks Malcolm would say today about the state of sea freight. (13:10) Bill brings up the low level of financial returns in the industry in the past and how it has recently changed. (17:47) Bill shares his thoughts on the future of the sea freight industry and its trends.

In this episode, host Sara Vollmer and Steffen Bergholz, Global Head NACORA International Insurance Brokers Group, talk about how a manta ray school video led to a pioneering collaboration to protect endangered marine life, and explain how maritime insurance provides safety of goods in transit – especially when unexpected things happen. Key topics of this episode are: How the idea of the cooperation with the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) came about and what is supports, why insurance is so important in sea freight as well as what the principle "General Average" means and how you can protect your cargo from it. Recorded in December 2022. Details: (02:12) Steffen introduces Nacora Blue and how it protects the environment. (03:09) Sara and Steffen discuss the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF), and Steffen shares how the idea of cooperating with the Marine Megafauna Foundation (MMF) came about. (05:02) Steffen talks about an environmental award that Nacora won in Switzerland. (06:00) Steffen shares his hopes for this initiative and how it could help others to start similar initiatives. (09:30) A brief history of insurance in the sea freight industry is given. (11:17) Sara asks Steffen about what happened to businesses that had cargo on the vessels in the Suez Canal in the 2021 incident. Steffen responds by explaining the notion of the general average. (15:06) Sara and Steffen discuss what could happen if a business does not book insurance for their cargo. (15:40) Steffen shares the figures of the highest general average costs he has encountered. (17:14) Steffen mentions the percentage of the insured cargo and discusses how customers can be made aware of the benefits of cargo insurance, especially in the current climate of the world.

In this episode, host Sara Vollmer and Marcus Reimann, Regional Sea Logistics Manager for North America at Kuehne+Nagel, talk about what working in the sea freight industry is really like, how it differs from other industries and what you can learn for life in this profession. Key topics of this episode are: How the sea freight specialists coped with the last two challenging years for the industry, what requirements the industry sets on employees and what qualities one should have in order to succeed in this field of work, what rewarding experiences working in this industry can provide you with in return and future outlook for working in the sea freight industry. Jobs at Kuehne+Nagel: https://jobs.kuehne-nagel.com/global/en. Recorded in November 2022. Details: (01:37) Marcus starts the podcast by saying how the Coved-19 years were a roller coaster for the sea freight industry, especially in the USA. (04:07) He shares how he entered this industry. (07:55) Sara and Marcus discuss what type of people would find this field a good place to work and the characteristics that would be beneficial in becoming successful in this industry. (13:42) Marcus talks about the new Kuehne+Nagel office concept, how it works and what makes it different. (16:51) He explains more about who is in good hands in the sea freight industry and with what interests and passions.

Today, it is possible to transport by sea with carbon neutrality. But how? In this episode, Sara Vollmer and Kai Miller, Trade Manager - Energy and Emissions at Kuehne+Nagel, talk about the alternatives to conventional fuels. From LNG to next-generation biofuels they discuss options for how shippers can reduce their carbon footprint. Key topics include: The regulatory landscape in which the sea freight industry operates, Kuehne+Nagel’s visibility tool for CO2e emissions, the different fuel options, e.g. “Brown grease”, Kuehne+Nagel’s biofuel mass-balance concept and available services as well as progress of renewable technologies for vessels. Recorded in September 2022. Details: (02:38) Sara and Kai discuss what low-carbon fuels or biofuels are and what brown grease is. (03:23) Kai explains why biofuels are the best available option when it comes to the scale at which they can be used. (04:23) Sara and Kai discuss the alternative options to biofuels such as ammonia, methanol, and batteries. (05:34) The topics of liquified natural gas (LNG) and its characteristics are brought up. (07:48) Kai goes over what Kuehne+Nagel offers in terms of sustainable fuels. (08:43) Kai mentions the Kuehne+Nagel seaexplorer and how it helps customers make more sustainable decisions when shipping their cargo. (09:42) He explains what the carbon intensity indicator (CII) is. (10:23) Kai talks about what the carriers have in terms of sustainable fuel options and ships that can burn these fuels. (11:34) Kai shares his thoughts on the necessity of a joint move towards sustainable fuels and the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) impact on this change. (13:54) Kai talks about Kuehne+Nagel's plans for sustainable fuels, which include moving towards an even greener sea freight industry and collaborating with our partners to reach our sustainable goals. (14:54) He explains how customers can use seaexplorer to analyse their options and reduce their emissions.

We have uncorked a new podcast episode. Hosts Sara Vollmer and Horst Mueller, Global Head of VinLog, tell the story of how VinLog got its name and became a full-fledged service. They discuss the latest trends and why the beverage business is a people's business. Key topics of this episode are: Customer behaviours and buying patterns during COVID, key global wine markets and VinLog's shipping solutions: from wine to coconut oil to spirits. Recorded in July 2022. Details: (02:45) Horst introduces VinLog, presents a brief history, and explains why the name VinLog was chosen. (04:13) Horst goes over the various products that VinLog handles, including beer, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic drinks. (05:48) Horst discusses current trends within the drinks logistics industry and compares them with the years of the pandemic. (07:47) He expands on the topic of the changes in trends, introducing different factors such as consumer behaviour and inflation. (09:38) Horst describes what the beverage industry has been like in the last few years. (10:56) Key global wine markets and their characteristics are discussed. (12:26) Horst goes into detail on the above topic, bringing up the change of wine culture from restaurants to consumers’ homes and the regulations imposed on the import and export of wine. (17:07) Sara and Horst talk about the opportunities to drive sustainability within the industry, including flexitanks. (20:00) Horst shares his thoughts on what the beverage industry, its logistics side in particular, will look like in future, going over topics such as e-commerce and environmental issues.

In this episode, host Sara Vollmer and Paolo Montrone, Kuehne+Nagel's Global Head of Sea Logistics Trade, talk about the volatility in the sea freight market, the current development and how customers can handle the situation the best possible way. Key topics of this episode are: Transformations in sea freight trades over the last years, importance of partnerships within the sea freight industries and the path to a sustainable future for container shipping. Recorded in June 2022. Details: (03:24) Paolo and Sara begin the podcast by discussing the transformations in sea freight trades over the past years in terms of consolidation, alliances and prices. (08:56) Paolo mentions how the challenges in the supply chains changed as the world came out of the COVID-19 era. He points out that these challenges should be tackled through cooperation between all the parts of the supply chains. (14:54) Paolo explains the difference between doing business and establishing partnerships and emphasises the value of partnerships within the sea freight industry. (17:27) Paolo and Sara talk about the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and how much more attention is given to sustainability. There will be new regulations for emissions, which will cause some constraints to asset owners and the players within the industry. These new limitations will create some constraints for asset owners and market players. Even though these new rules will have consequences for the sea freight industry, they are necessary for a shared greener future. (21:26) Paolo goes over the financial impacts of the mentioned changes. (22:51) He states what he believes the shippers can look forward to, including realignments, adjustment of prices, and changes in contracts and agreements in the industry. (29:19) Sara rounds off the conversation by asking Paolo for a piece of advice for the listeners.

In this episode, John Costigan, Kuehne+Nagels's Senior Vice President Sea Logistics Middle East & Africa, and host Sara Vollmer talk about the potential of the African continent, the current expansion of Africa, and how, despite all the challenges, we are well into our journey towards entrenching our foothold on the continent to bring unique and comprehensive logistics solutions. Key topics of this episode are: What is special about the African market, Kuehne+Nagel's history in logistics in Africa and plans for expansion. Recorded in April 2022. Details: (02:23) John starts this episode by introducing the African Market, its characteristics, and opportunities. (04:40) John then expands on the qualities that make the African market unique, including rapid growth and numerous opportunities due to the number of customers and the volume of their consumed products. (06:23) John and Sara discuss various commodities and businesses in the African market and the development of the region both in exports and imports. (07:55) They then touch on the common misperceptions of the region and how they could be changed. (08:50) John then presents a brief history of Kuehne+Nagel's presence in the region, followed by what the company is doing now. (09:40) The challenges and opportunities of the region are once more brought up, followed by Kuehne+Nagel’s solutions and services. (11:49) John explains why Kuehne+Nagel uses partners in certain countries of the region, and why a hybrid model works best in particular situations. (13:01) John goes over the potential routes for the customers to enter this market and gain access to its opportunities. (14:35) Sara and John round off this episode by talking about Kuehne+Nagel's plans for supporting our customers further and sharing our expertise with our partners within the African continent.

In this episode, host Sara Vollmer, talks with Kathrin Wolf, Kuehne+Nagel's Sea Logistics Product Manager for seaexplorer, about the innovative digital platform 'seaexplorer'. Key topics of this episode are: What is the seaexplorer platform, the data compared in the platform, benefits of using seaexplorer and a future outlook. You can request access to the platform via seaexplorer.com. Recorded in March 2022. Details: (2:04) Kathrin introduces seaexplorer and how it works. (4:49) Kathrin talks about how seaexplorer combines route details, carrier service information, and schedules transparently to inform the users about the disruptions and visualise port conditions around the globe. (07:04) Kathrin explains how data is collected and then fed into seaexplorer. (10:00) Kathrin expands on how seaexplorer counts released CO2 and creates visibility over these emissions. By showing the customers this data, seaexplorer provides them with the chance to choose between various shipping options with different emission levels. Kathrin also mentions that the greenest option is the most cost-efficient and reliable option in many cases. (14:00) Other features of seaexplorer are discussed, such as visibility over vessel waiting times. (20:05) seaexplorer can be reached on its website or myKN application. More information on how to get access is given. (24:26) Kathrin talks about the future features of seaexplorer. Despite having concrete plans to improve functionality, the seaexplorer team will also stay flexible to the continuous changes of the world.

This episode is about less than container load (LCL) shipments. Host Sara Vollmer interviews Thomas Boenert, Kuehne+Nagel's Global Head of LCL. They speak about actual examples how LCL can bring more flexibility, risk management and sustainability into today’s challenged supply chains. Key topics of this episode are: The current market situation and the role of LCL in it, benefits of LCL and how LCL can help to reduce risks in supply chains. Recorded in December 2021. Details: (03:06) Sara and Thomas talked about the market at the time of the recording (December 2021) and how it was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The confusion of how to get the products delivered on time, the lack of capacity, and issues with on-time scheduling are discussed. (06:28) Thomas then goes into the benefits of less than container load (LCL) as an alternative to full container load (FCL). He draws upon the experience of his friend, a small business owner, to expand on the topic. (09:55) Sara shared a similar story of how one of her customers, realised the importance of managing your supply chain based on the market situation and customer needs. (11:32) Thomas mentions how planning right and selecting less than container load (LCL) can help customers manage their costs better and avoid making emergency decisions to fly their most important cargo. (12:18) Sara and Thomas discuss the Kuehne+Nagel sustainability approach towards LCL including providing visibility to our customers. (15:28) Thomas talks about customers' positive feedback on Kuehne+Nagel’s sustainable initiatives. He also mentions that although many carriers have already taken measures toward a greener future, there are also challenges and limitations along the way. (18:21) Thomas touches on how the focus has shifted from price to quality and sustainability in recent years.

Welcome to Kuehne+Nagel’s Shipping Insights, a podcast where sea freight news meets supply chain solutions. Your host is, Sara Vollmer, Vice President of Global Sea Logistics Customer Engagement & Events at Kuehne+Nagel. Join us on a journey through the dynamic world of logistics and sea freight as we explore the latest trends, challenges, and solutions. Get ready for compelling episodes such as "Resilient International Supply Chain," where we delve into the industry's evolution during the pandemic. Explore the roots of sea freight transformation in "The History of Container Shipping," and discover the unique world of "Drinks Logistics" and its impact on the beverage business. Our podcast promises a monthly release schedule, featuring interviews with industry experts, partners, customers, and experienced Kuehne+Nagel colleagues. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a curious newcomer to logistics, our content is tailored for you. Hit that follow button to stay tuned and join us on this exciting voyage.