The market now rewards planning, not urgency
Peak season is no longer confined to a single time of year. In 2026, demand spikes are being driven by harvest cycles, promotional retail windows, and sudden restocking — often with little warning.
Shipping lines are responding by allocating space to forecasted volumes first, leaving late bookings exposed to higher rates, rolled cargo, or limited equipment options.
For Australian SMEs, last-minute freight decisions are becoming one of the most expensive mistakes in the supply chain.
Where SMEs feel the pressure
- Limited container availability during peak weeks
- Higher spot rates compared with forecast bookings
- Reduced options for direct or faster services
How SMEs can stay ahead
- Forecast volumes at least four to six weeks ahead
- Lock part of the volume early and keep flexibility
- Align sales planning with logistics capacity
Source: Sea-Intelligence, industry shipping data (2026)
Disclaimer – Market data is from public sources we consider reliable but has not been independently verified; accuracy is not guaranteed