MSC will downgrade its Far East-US West Coast transpacific network to just 3 sailings per week, with the Orient service withdrawn from May 2025. It follows the earlier the suspension of the Mustang service launch in February. The Orient service called at Qingdao, Ningbo, Shanghai, Long Beach, Oakland, Busan, Qingdao turning in 6 weeks using up to 6 ships of 8,000 to 15,000 teu. The last sailing was made by the 14,952 teu MSC ORION that departed from Busan from 21 April 2025 and 11,037 teu CAPE
SITC will launch a new Far East-India Express 3 (FIE3) service from 10 May 2025 calling at Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou, Batam, Haldia, Shanghai. The new FIE3 service will turn in 4 weeks and will deploy 4 ships of 1,700-1,800 teu starting with the 1,781 teu SITC JUNDE at Shanghai on 10 May 2025.
SITC will launch a new China Malaysia Express (CMX) service from 13 May 2025 calling at Shekou, Kuantan, Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Shekou. The CMX will turn in 4 weeks and will deploy 4 ships of 1,032-1,150 teu starting with the 1,032 teu SITC HAKATA at Shekou on 13 May 2025. The service retains the current port rotation of the current Malaysia-India-Myanmar (MIM) service with the name changed to reflect the omission of India and Myanmar. The 4 ships of 1,700-1,800 teu on the MIM service is re
Global Feeder Shipping (GFS) and ONE will launch a new Spain Turkey Service 2 (ST2) from 10 May 2025 calling at Algeciras, Valencia, Barcelona, Alexandria, Damietta, Aliaga, Izmit, Algeciras. The service will turn in 3 weeks and will deploy 3 ships of 1,400-1,600 teu starting with the 1,440 teu CAPT. KATTELMANN at Damietta on 10 May 2025.
Carrier are pushing ahead with transpacific rate hikes in May despite the severe drop in Chinese volumes that has forced carriers to slash Transpacific capacity by over 20% while capacity utilization on the remaining services are down by more than 5%. The reduction in the cargo flow to the US will start to impact arrivals in May, raising the likelihood of an imminent Sino-US trade deal that could trigger a sharp rebound in Chinese cargo bookings to the US. This has helped carriers’ bid to hike t
Shanghai–North Europe EC freight futures remain in retreat as carriers continued to lower their FAK rate quotations. Maersk and ONE have reduced their offers for early May shipments to $1,650 per FEU, with even lower rates offered by Maersk this week at $1,450 per FEU for mid-May shipments. These moves are expected to prompt further selling by futures traders over the coming week, even after the SCFIS dropped by 5.2% on 28 April. The EC2506 contract that expires in June now trades at a 3% disco
Asia-Europe freight rates weakened across the board, with carriers dropping rates to less than $1,600-$1,800/feu in April and early May. Cargo volumes are expected to drop in the next 2 weeks with Vietnam celebrating the 50th anniversary of its reunification on 30 April followed by the Labour Day holidays across Asia on 1 May. Port congestion remains very serious in Benelux, German and UK ports that have been made worse by the Easter holidays but this has not been sufficient to stop the rate de
Register Free Trial Carrier are pushing ahead with transpacific rate hikes in May despite the severe drop in Chinese volumes that has forced carriers to slash Transpacific capacity by over 20% while capacity utilization on the remaining services are down by more than 5%. The reduction in the cargo flow to the US will start to impact arrivals in May, raising the likelihood of an imminent Sino-US trade deal that could trigger a sharp rebound in Chinese cargo bookings to the US. This has helped ca
Zim has withdrawn the Zim Central China Xpress (ZX2) with the last departure from China on 10 April 2025. The ZX2 was launched in July 2024 and called at Shanghai, Ningbo, Los Angeles, Shanghai using 5 ships of 4,500-5,300 teu. The last sailing was made by the 5,500 te MISSISSIPPI that departed from Ningbo on 10 April 2025 and will make its last call at Los Angeles on 24 April 2025. The withdrawal comes in response to a sharp drop in Chinese exports to the US following the imposition of puniti
Charter rates managed to hold their ground despite the market turmoil, but there are cracks appearing with Maersk seemingly pulling back from their recent charter spree with a panamax 4,400 teu fixture failing subs and the ship was reportedly retaken at a lower rate. Although some charterers are holding off requirements for the time being, market demand remains keen with open ships still able to secure firm fixtures. The USTR 301 action announced on 17 April provided a reprieve for Chinese buil