German container line Hapag-Lloyd has dismissed "absurd" conspiracy theories that liner operators are deliberately hiding scarce boxes to bolster record shipping container rates even further.

The seafood industry is among many sectors struggling to deal with a shortage of shipping containers that has driven up freight costs massively for US and European importers.

One of the main problems for the smooth flow of global trade is containers have become displaced around the world, far away from ports where they are needed, leaving many sectors struggling to deal with a shortage of shipping containers that has driven up freight costs massively for US and European importers.