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Episode 3: Straight Talk with Rolf Habben Jansen

Join Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd, for direct and insightful conversations on the key developments shaping container shipping, global trade, and maritime logistics.

“Straight Talk”

Hapag-Lloyd Podcast

From geopolitical tensions and supply chain disruptions to operational resilience and market developments, the podcast offers direct insights into the topics affecting global trade and logistics. Hosted by British maritime journalist Janet Porter, each episode explores current industry developments and the decisions behind them.

Straight Talk - Episode 1

The Strait of Hormuz and its impact on global supply chains

In the first episode of Straight Talk with Rolf Habben Jansen, maritime journalist Janet Porter speaks with Hapag-Lloyd’s CEO about the Strait of Hormuz crisis, stranded crews and cargo, rising costs, customer impacts, network resilience, and the outlook for a return to normal trade flows through the Gulf and Suez.

Listen now!

Straight Talk - Episode 2

In this episode, Rolf and Janet Porter, discuss how global trade is changing 70 years after the start of containerization.

With tariffs, sanctions, geopolitical tensions and disruptions to important trade routes, many people are asking whether the era of globalization is coming to an end. Rolf shares his view on this question and explains why he remains cautiously optimistic about the future of container shipping. The conversation also covers the growth potential in markets such as India, Africa, South America and Southeast Asia, the role of ocean transport as the most efficient way to move goods, and how trade patterns may continue to evolve.

Listen here or stream Straight Talk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer and Amazon Music.

Straight Talk - Episode 3

In this episode, Rolf and Janet Porter discuss mergers, scale and the future of container shipping.

Rolf looks back at two decades of consolidation in container shipping and the acquisitions that helped shape Hapag-Lloyd, from CP Ships and CSAV to UASC. He explains why people, systems and customers are key to making mergers work, where the biggest synergies come from, and why integrating cultures and teams is often the hardest part.

The conversation also covers Hapag-Lloyd’s approach to branding after a merger, its response to a takeover attempt in 2008, and how much further consolidation the industry could still see.

Listen here or stream Straight Talk on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Deezer and Amazon Music.