Vietnam has stepped into the big port league in the last 18 months or so and the country’s rapid growth of containerised exports is changing shipping patterns in the region.

In line with this inability to glean what the future holds for their industry through conventional channels, liner executives must have been on their knees every night praying for an increase in China exports.

As China’s labour costs continue to rise, talk is again turning towards the “China-plus-one” sourcing strategies.

Even the stunning increase in container exports from China is not enough to get the party started.

The rise of China’s domestic sector could begin to change trading patterns.

Under the terms of the agreement, the country can continue to market itself as “Greece” for the foreseeable future.

When containers began to run short the costs were always going to be passed on.

Talk of fierce competition between the container terminals of Hong Kong and those across the river in Shenzhen ignores one minor point – there is no competition between the container terminals of Hong Kong and those across the river in Shenzhen.

Aggressive hunt for profitability is leading to a host of surcharges that insult shippers’ intelligence.