Tim Robertson, CEO for DHL Global Forwarding, tells CNBC this is the most atypical peak shipping season he has ever seen.

Traditionally, retailers order their remaining holiday goods for a late August/September arrival before manufacturing plants close to celebrate October's Golden Week in China. But comparing the holiday freight pulled in this year versus last year, Robertson has witnessed the same freight slowdown noted by many others in the shipping industry.

"Gold Week is a time that marks we are not that far out from Black Friday," he said. "Volumes into the United States are incredibly soft. This is very different compared to what we have seen in the previous years," he added.

The trade war has impacted volumes from China to the U.S., with some other Asia to U.S. trade routes ex

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