{"id":126268,"date":"2026-03-17T22:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T01:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shipping.einnews.com\/article\/900105852\/rH4A4NzfI8Z6E2LE"},"modified":"2026-03-17T22:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T01:00:17","slug":"freight-surge-forces-export-realignment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/2026\/03\/17\/freight-surge-forces-export-realignment\/","title":{"rendered":"Freight surge forces export realignment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"Freight <\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

As soaring ocean freight rates put pressure on exporters, Thai wooden furniture manufacturer Deesawat is urging exporters to explore closer markets amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

Jirachai Tangkijngamwong, director of Deesawat Industries Co, said both sentiment and rising costs caused by the war are hurting Thai furniture exporters.<\/p>\n

Before the war, exporters’ main concerns centred on US tariffs, which he described as “unfavourable but manageable”.<\/p>\n

The war is now driving up logistics and material costs, making it harder for businesses to plan and commit to long-term contracts, said Mr Jirachai.<\/p>\n

The company exports around 80% of its products to destinations such as the US, France, Italy and Japan, while Middle Eastern countries account for a small share.<\/p>\n

He said the war has caused price volatility, particularly in logistics. Insurance and sea freight rates have increased significantly, with shipping costs rising by 50-80%.<\/p>\n

Mr Jirachai urged producers and exporters to maintain their existing markets while exploring new ones.<\/p>\n

Markets in Southeast Asia could be a promising option during this period, as their proximity helps keep logistics costs relatively low.<\/p>\n

BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES<\/h2>\n

Wood stain prices are expected to rise, while travel expenses for attending international trade shows have surged, he said.<\/p>\n

The war has created negative economic sentiment, which is also affecting consumer behaviour. Many people are postponing furniture purchases, a trend that could occur globally, said Mr Jirachai.<\/p>\n

Manufacturers focused on mass-produced, low-margin goods will be hit hard by volatile costs, while those offering customised products may have more room to absorb price increases, he said.<\/p>\n

Companies may need to accept slimmer margins to maintain cash flow, said Mr Jirachai.<\/p>\n

He described the industry as being in limbo, uncertain about whether to raise prices.<\/p>\n

It is difficult to predict how much costs will rise in the future, especially as the products require long-term orders, Mr Jirachai said.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the Thai furniture export industry is shifting away from mass-market products towards more craft-oriented and project-based work.<\/p>\n

Other Asian competitors, such as China and Vietnam, have stepped up mass production, benefiting from greater economies of scale.<\/p>\n

In addition, he observed that the Thai furniture industry is becoming more focused on the domestic market. As many boutique hotels and restaurants expand, demand for crafted furniture remains strong, he said.<\/p>\n

Authorities and business operators should work together to identify and promote the unique qualities of Thai-made furniture, compared with competitors, said Mr Jirachai.<\/p>\n

Even though some of Thailand’s competitors are well known for mass-produced products, there are still market opportunities for Thailand, he said.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/strong> <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

… 06:34 As soaring ocean freight<\/span> rates put pressure on exporters … . Insurance and sea freight<\/span> rates have increased significantly, with shipping<\/span> costs rising …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-126268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","wpcat-1-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=126268"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/126268\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=126268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=126268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new7.shop\/zerocostfreehost\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=126268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}