An acute container shortage in China is driving global freight charges high, prompted by ships taking the longer route around the Cape of Good Hope instead of the Suez Canal, where Yemeni fighters, Houthi, have disrupted marine transport.
Traders in Kenya have raised concerns over the sharp increase in sea freight charges, paying some shipping lines Ksh1,113,500 ($8,500) for a 40ft container from China to Kenya, from Ksh222,700 ($1,700) in April – a 500 percent rise.
