There have been pandemics before, but never at a time when the global economy was this interconnected. There have been global recessions before, but never one driven by the mix of forces seen in 2020.
With all the uncertainty, there’s an intense hunger for leading indicators, and ocean shipping — particularly container shipping — has offered an early warning system ever since the coronavirus crisis began in late January.
Container lines “blank” (cancel) sailings well ahead of scheduled departures...
https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/qa-inside-the-early-warning-system-of-global-trade