Capacity, freight rates and sustainability: We’re joining the conversations at Breakbulk Europe

After a two-year break due to the pandemic, Breakbulk Europe is taking place in Rotterdam from 17-19 May 2022. Bringing together OEMs, logistics providers, freight forwarders, terminals and equipment companies, the breakbulk event is the biggest of its kind in the world and offers an unprecedented opportunity to reconnect with customers and partners.

With wider supply chain disruptions affecting global logistics at large, there are a number of challenges facing the breakbulk industry currently. “There is no doubt that the market is experiencing a new kind of supply/demand pressure as a result of various disruptions and port congestions globally,” says Magnus Ödling, VP global industrial account development at Wallenius Wilhelmsen.

“On the demand side we see evidence that the disruptions in the container market are driving demand in the direction of RoRo. At Wallenius Wilhelmsen, we’re working hard to mitigate the impacts from these disruptions and to find solutions for our customers.”

Certainly, capacity and predictability of both rates and costs are among the most pressing preoccupations for the breakbulk market currently.

Keen to join the conversation, Carsten Wendt, Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s head of breakbulk sales in Germany will be taking to the main stage on Wednesday 18 May to discuss the outlook and impact of current freight rates, what bookings will look like in the next three to five years and how to navigate the situation.

Sustainability is another important topic at the conference. The following day will see Roger Strevens, VP sustainability at Wallenius Wilhelmsen take part in a session on the environmental agenda, which will explore future fuel sources and what can be done to achieve emissions targets across the breakbulk supply chain.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen will also have a booth in Hall 2. “While we’re looking forward to delving deeper into the key issues affecting the industry today, we’re most excited about catching up and reconnecting with our customers,” adds Wendt. “There is no substitute for meeting face-to-face, which is why the opportunity to finally meet again in person is cause for celebration – see you there!”