China's factory output and retail sales growth slowed sharply and missed expectations in July, as new COVID-19 outbreaks and floods disrupted business operations, adding to signs the economic recovery is losing momentum.

The analysis of global trends in the development of the principal logistics directions and routes for delivery of сargoes between continents and countries shows that over the past ten years, the first-level carriers and operators have intensified the struggle for transit container cargo flows, and a number of countries are taking important, forward-looking steps to increase the attractiveness of container shipping.