[Vince Ferrer]

Are they not moving because of shipping costs, or because of lack of orders?

For the most part, they are not moving because retailers here have severely cut back on their inventories, even into the Christmas season. Smartly, I might add. But there are probably some things shipped that are marginal and depend on the price of shipping. Those may be left on shore at the new rates.

[steveab]

“Those may be left on shore at the new rates.”
Wouldn't on shore storage “goods” confirm your theory about price or volume? If China's on shore warehousing are “near empty” then I would question "is this do to shipping price or orders? ". But then one would have to look to manufacturer's warehouse data. Are they “empty” or “full” do to lack of orders? Then one would also check to the China's cardboard industries. Personalty, I think is do to lack of demand.