According to The Loadstar, Hapag-Lloyd has reduced contracted capacity allocations under its Quality Freight Product (QFP) service by as much as 40%, prompting backlash from forwarders and raising concerns about the rigidity of its guaranteed-space offering during ongoing operational disruptions.
QFP’s binding structure and market impact
Launched in 2021, the Quality Freight Product is a contractual service that guarantees customers container space on specified services in exchange for committed shipment volumes. Both parties face penalties for failing to meet obligations — making QFP significantly more stringent than standard bookings or spot-market arrangements. One forwarder estimated that approximately 93% of Hapag-Lloyd’s eastbound transpacific volume was tied up in QFP contracts, limiting the carrier’s ability to allocate surplus capacity to the spot market.
“It’s much more stringent,” the forwarder explained, noting that most large forwarders had purchased QFP allocations. The source added: “I think that’s one of the reasons results are so much lower, because they don’t have a whole lot of extra capacity to sell on the spot market.” This structural constraint became especially problematic when Hapag-Lloyd moved to reduce allocations across the board shortly after Labour Day in September 2026.
The forwarder attributed the cuts to severe operational disruption in China and at the Panama Canal, stating: “It’s because it’s such a mess over in China, and QFP locks them [customers] in so stringently that they have no flexibility and no adaptability in this market.” The reductions applied specifically to transpacific QFP trades, with no indication of similar actions on other routes.
Reconciliation, penalties, and reputational fallout
The QFP programme includes a quarterly reconciliation process, under which financial penalties may apply for unmet commitments. As of 24 September 2026, the forwarder confirmed that “we haven’t even had the first reconciliation yet. We’re certainly going to expect it.” Despite being contractually entitled to penalty payments from Hapag-Lloyd, the forwarder acknowledged serious downstream consequences: “I just screwed some of our customers out of their allocation.”
A Hapag-Lloyd representative reportedly acknowledged internal misgivings, telling the forwarder the carrier “might need to reconsider its approach to QFP” and admitting they were “feeling very sheepish about it.” The source quoted the carrier’s rationale: “It’s just because they thought this is something different, giving people a sure thing.”
Hapag-Lloyd declined to comment on specific capacity allocations, customer contracts, or compensation arrangements, citing confidentiality. A spokesperson stated only: “The current operating environment remains challenging. These challenges affect all cargo types and are part of the broader operational pressures the industry is currently facing. We continuously adapt our network and operations to respond to such situations as effectively as possible, while maintaining flexibility.”
Source: The Loadstar
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
