Vang Jensen: Venezuela to Suez, spot vs contract strategy & what freight buyers must know in 2026

Bjorn has worn every hat in freight: buyer, forwarder, consultant, and shipping executive. With 38 years in container shipping — including major buying roles at global electronics and automotive companies — he brings a perspective you won't hear anywhere else.

And he's not pulling punches on 2026.

Here's what we covered:

→ Venezuela intervention and Greenland threats: What actually impacts freight markets vs. what's just noise

→ Why carriers will drip-feed the Suez Canal return (not flood it) — and what that means for Asia-Europe capacity

→ The 70/30 contract strategy: Bjorn analyzed 13 years of freight rate data and found contract rates have been MORE stable than spot post-pandemic

→ Container shipping reliability: Can carriers charge more for it? Should you pay for it?

→ Why "China+1" is becoming "3+China" — and what that means for your sourcing strategy

→ The biggest shift: "Geopolitical upheaval used to be a checkbox risk. Now it's line item #1 in every budget."

Bjorn's take? If you're planning tenders for Asia-Europe or Trans-Pacific, this episode is required listening.