Xeneta Summit 2024 – Day One Recap

The first day of the Xeneta Summit 2024 has drawn to a close and delegates at the Beurs van Belage in Amsterdam experienced an outstanding array of insight from experts across the ocean and air freight industry.

The Summit was opened by Tonia Luykx, Xeneta Chief Revenue Officer, before handing over to CEO and co-founder Patrik Berglund, pictured below, who reinforced the importance of data-driven freight procurement strategies in increasingly complex and volatile ocean and air supply chains - particularly through the use of index-linked contracts.

He said: “When we set out to build Xeneta we had a clear goal of providing visibility into a volatile and opaque market - and to use that visibility to make better, data-informed decisions.​

"We can further leverage what we’ve already built to collectively transform how this industry buys and sells freight.​

"These problematic periods put strain on the supplier and customer relationship. It’s been like this for decades. It’s either a carrier’s market or a shipper’s market - that’s incredibly challenging and not healthy in the long run. It also means that both sides are exposed to unnecessary risk."

Fabio Brocca, Xeneta Chief Product Officer, pictured, took to the stage to announce a new in-platform machine learning product which predicts how ocean freight rates are likely to develop up to six months into the future.

He said: “While nobody can predict Covid-19 or the Red Sea Crisis, procurement professionals are constantly making decisions based on their outlook for the next few quarters. When there is so much volatility and uncertainty across global supply chains, providing market guidance feels like an impossible task.

“The industry has come a long way using technology and data to improve every procurement process, but thanks to advancement in machine learning and AI we can now go even further by providing explainable predictions on how the market is likely to develop in the future.”

To find out more about Xeneta’s machine learning Ocean Market Rate Outlook click here.

Gemini Cooperation

The two individuals leading Hapag-Lloyd AG and A.P. Moller - Maersk into the new Gemini Cooperation joined together on stage at the Xeneta Summit in Amsterdam today.

Kenni Skotte, Vice President and Head of Ocean Network Product at Maersk, and Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, addressed a range of topics on the major new alliance during a panel discussion – including Gemini’s ambition to achieve 90% schedule reliability.

Skotte said: “We are not scared by the 90% number because we believe we can do it. But I recognize when people look at schedule reliability in the market today it’s hard to imagine.”

A full summary of the panel discussion with Skotte and Habben-Jansen will be published on the Xeneta website - not to be missed.

Skotte and Habben-Jansen are pictured below with Journal of Commerce Europe Editor Greg Knowler who led the session.

A further 17 panel discussions took place across the two main stages on Day 1 of the Summit, a selection of which are summarised below.

Erik Devetak, Xeneta Chief Technology and Data Officer, was joined by Bjorn Vang Jensen, Founder and CEO of Nanook Management Consultancies, and Sami Nazar, Category Manager International at Decathlon, to discuss index-linked contracts on ocean freight procurement.

Nazar, pictured center between Devetak and Vang Jensen, told the Summit why Decathlon uses index-linked contracts.

He said: “It felt like we were playing tennis with a hole in our racket and we needed to find a new mechanism to navigate the market - that’s why we started on an indexing journey. By using indexing we are reducing volatility. 

“You need to find the right partners ready to commit. Indexing is about more than just rates – it creates a strong relationship with your supplier. When you have this type of agreement, carriers value it and it gives you more time to discuss strategy.”

Supply chain expert Wolfgang Lehmacher, pictured below left, shared insights on how supply chains are preparing for disruption and the solutions available.

Gavin van Marle, Managing Editor of The Loadstar, hosted a discussion on changes in ocean freight seasonality with Michael Aldwell (pictured below right), Executive and Vice President Sea Logistics at Kuehne + Nagel, and Yi Yin, Category Lead – Global Sea Freight at The Kraft Heinz Company.

Niall van de Wouw, Xeneta Chief Airfreight Officer, and Wenwen Zhang, Shipping Analyst, looked back on a turbulent 2024 for the air freight industry as well as looking to what 2025 may have in store.

Download the latest Xeneta report on the storm heading to air freight market here.

Peter Sand, Xeneta Chief Analyst, and Emily Stausbøll, Senior Shipping Analyst (both pictured below) presented the 2025 Ocean Market Outlook to the Xeneta Summit this afternoon.

The Outlook covers insight on freight rate developments, demand forecasts and key themes that could impact the next 12 months, such as fleet growth, shifting alliances, ongoing conflict in the Red Sea and decarbonization.

If you weren't at the Summit, you can download a copy of the 2025 Ocean Outlook here.

Fabio Brocca hosted a session with Eric Topp, Head – Worldwide Solutions and Strategy, Transportation and Logistics at AWS Supply Chain, as well as Dennis O’Connor, VP International Transportation at PVH.

Topp, pictured, discussed how data and AI can be used to optimize operations across ocean and air.

He said: “One of the biggest challenges we see in the marketplace is the data itself - you need to turn that into usable information. You won’t be able to do anything until you cleanse and harmonise your data.

“Amazon routing and optimization is super complex – we couldn’t do what we do without advanced tools and being on the cloud.

“But every organisation is different. Aim small, miss small but you need to start playing with it and introducing it into your operations.”

Xeneta CEO Patrik Berglund discussed how shippers can manage supply chains in unpredictable markets with Paolo Montrone, Senior Vice President, Global Trades at Kuehne + Nagel (pictured).

Erik Devetak held a panel discussion on political risks in ocean supply chains with Annukka Partanen, Container Shipping and Freight Forwarding Manager at Lyondellbasell; Edwin Lampert, Executive Editor and Head of Business Relations at Riviera Maritime Media; Gavin van Marle, Managing at The Loadstar; and Steffen Blumhofer, Head of Transport and Logistics Sourcing at Hitachi Energy (all are pictured below).

Day 2 will include another host of industry experts sharing their insights on ocean and air freight shipping. Further updates will be published on the Xeneta website.