People often say that there is volatility in the ocean freight industry, but what exactly do they mean by this statement? From a business standpoint, volatility describes the measurement of a price during certain times. But what could this mean in terms of the shipping industry? We all know that the industry is constantly changing. There are new carrier partnerships, like the P3 alliance, and other variables that impact the prices that shippers are paying for ocean freight containers. The international freight shipping market is volatile.