Corrupt forwarders in India are taking undue advantage of “desperate” shippers, using inside information from shipping lines to create a “black market” for spot bookings, it is being reported.

There is a situation in India where there are no spot bookings available on routes to West Africa, North and South America or Oceania. Before even reaching mid-August,  shipping-lines were asking to check for bookings in September. Shippers are stuck with inventory, who have received the orders; which either forces them to wait for a booking or cancel the orders.

As per sources, adding to the misery, ‘spot booking’ black marketing is now an epidemic, due to a nexus between the sales teams of shipping lines and few bad apples.