Hapag-Lloyd has struck an upbeat tone for the container-line sector, based on a 5% annual growth in volumes in 2018 and 2019 and a modest level of capacity growth globally. Yet, 2018 will likely be a challenge. While container freight rates out of China are 6% higher than a year earlier, they fell 7% in March. Current pricing matters for April’s annual contract negotiations. Rates have also lagged bunker fuel, with a 27% rise in prices on a year earlier far outpacing the growth in container-rates. Competition remains alive – and pricing discipline at risk – with COSC...