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In a world where materials and components traverse continents before converging in a single product, the shipping industry is the invisible glue that holds everything together. A simple smartphone might involve components from over 40 countries. The impact of container shipping does not stop at electronics. Our food supply chains are no different. From Ethiopian coffee beans to Indian rice, maritime transport ensures global delicacies reach your local grocery store shelves, writes Soji Thomas, the managing director of MSC Ethiopia.
Shipping is often overlooked as a foundation of global trade. Consumers easily recognise familiar brands, yet few can name the major maritime carriers that help deliver products worldwide. However, in recent years, logistics disruptions have thrust container shipping into the public eye.
Remembering the crucial role shipping plays may inspire us to broaden our perspective the next time we pick up an imported product. The mobile phone users hold, or the laptop on their desk, likely contains components sourced from multiple continents — some from factories in Asia, others from mining sites in Africa or electronics hubs in Europe — and all converged in a shipping container. Those who enjoy morning coffee should remember that there is a good chance the beans travel halfway across the world, perhaps from the lush highlands of Ethiopia to kitchens through a series of meticulously coordinated shipments.
Maritime transport underpins the global economy. According to the 2023 UNCTAD report, more than 80pc of international trade volume moves by sea, and in most developing countries, the figure is even higher. This scale is possible because containerisation has cut costs. Wherever we are — home, office, or outdoors — chances are we are surrounded by items that arrive in a shipping container. Pick up any object and consider where its materials originated.
Countries contribute components or raw materials. A smartphone might draw parts from over 40 countries on six continents. The interdependence of modern production spans the globe, connecting materials from one region with manufacturing centres in another.
Food supply chains also owe much to container shipping. Rice from India or Pakistan and fruit from South America or South Africa often arrive in local grocery stores at reasonable prices, thanks to ocean liners.
Coffee from Ethiopia reaches consumers in Europe, Asia, and the United States using the same method. Fresh produce, once deemed too perishable to travel, now crosses oceans in temperature-controlled containers that reduce spoilage. A few decades ago, the thought of enjoying a fruit grown thousands of miles away seemed impractical. Today, reefer containers equipped with ever-evolving technology maintain stable conditions en route, ensuring that products arrive in peak condition.
Containerisation fundamentally reshaped global commerce. Before the modern shipping container, goods moved in bags, barrels, or crates, and port operations were almost entirely manual, slow, and prone to damage. Transporting cargo by horse, camel, or donkey imposed severe constraints on volume and distance, and goods that did survive the trip were often too expensive for the average consumer. Railways, introduced in the late 19th century, helped speed cargo movement on land, but differences in package size and multiple handling points still caused delays and losses.
The two world wars revealed logistics bottlenecks, particularly for the United States, which needed a faster and safer way to move supplies across oceans. One early solution came in 1948 with the “Transporter,” a corrugated steel container able to carry four metric tons of cargo by plane, ship, train, or truck. While useful, its limited size capped its broader appeal.
A defining moment arrived in 1956, when Malcolm McLean, frustrated by the lengthy time it took to transfer cargo from trucks to ships, set out to streamline the process. Teaming with an engineer, Keith Tantlinger, McLean developed a 33-foot container with increased strength and specialised hardware. On April 26, 1956, the vessel Ideal X departed from the Port of Newark with 58 of these containers, which were loaded in under eight hours. Under the earlier breakbulk system, loading a comparable volume would take three days. The cost savings were profound. Moving one ton of cargo reportedly fell from around six dollars to sixteen cents.
As container technology matured, new models and larger ships emerged, boosting efficiency and lowering costs. These developments catalysed global commerce, connecting distant markets and enabling businesses to source materials and customers across international borders. Through these steel boxes, globalisation took on a tangible form.
Despite its crucial role, container shipping remains a mystery to many. In Cyprus, “Adopt a Ship” brings maritime awareness into elementary schools, linking classrooms with shipping companies so that students can track voyages and learn about ocean transport. Similar efforts could nurture a deeper appreciation elsewhere. Indeed, the resilience of mariners who keep global trade alive deserves recognition.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, seafarers faced prolonged stints at sea and limited shore leave due to strict quarantine measures. Yet they persevered, ensuring a steady flow of essential supplies.
However, shipping challenges are not limited to the pandemic. The sector struggles with fluctuating fuel prices, regulatory pressures to reduce emissions, and the complexities of coordinating multimodal networks. Each potential snag has far-reaching consequences, as disruptions can echo up and down supply chains, slowing manufacturing or delaying deliveries to consumers. Yet, the industry has proven remarkably adaptable, embracing digitisation, advanced tracking, and automation to drive greater transparency and efficiency.
In an interconnected world, shipping is the silent artery that keeps trade alive. The 97pc cost reductions might sound astonishing, but they speak to why consumers today can sample produce from around the globe; why a manufacturer can keep a production line moving; and, why retailers can stock items at prices accessible to a broad consumer base. It is a marvel of modern efficiency, and yet, for the most part, it operates far from public view.
PUBLISHED ON
Feb 01,2025 [ VOL
25 , NO
1292]
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