Register Free Trial The proposed levy on Chinese ships calling at US ports could trigger moves to switch out Chinese built ships from US trades that would cause widespread disruptions over the coming months. Chinese carriers would be most affected by the levies and their potential exodus would create a void in the market as they account for 17% of US container imports from the Far East. These uncertainties add to the current challenges that carriers are facing, with freight rates continuing to
MSC will have better market coverage and a larger market share compared to the Gemini Cooperation despite operating as the sole independent carrier on the East-West trades following the alliance reshuffle in February 2025. MSC will be able to offer the same or a larger number of weekly sailings on all of the 4 main routes than Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, using its self-operated services as well as selective partnerships with Premier Alliance on the North Europe and Med routes and with Zim on the US
TS Lines have restarted the Japan-Hong Kong-Taiwan (JHTN) service calling at Hong Kong, Shekou, Xiamen, Osaka, Kobe, Busan, Kwangyang, Keelung, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong from 19 February 2025. The service retakes the JHTN name that was formerly used for the Japan-Hong Kong-Thailand-North Manila service. The revised JHTN will turn in 2 weeks and deploys the 1,182 teu TS MAWEI and 1,081 teu TS SHENZHEN. TS Lines has also restarted its Hong Kong-Thai Express Service (JHTS) calling at Nansha, Shekou, Ho
COSCO and X-Press Feeders have launched a new Chancay Express / Chile X-Press (CHX) service connecting Chancay, Callao, Lirquen, San Antonio, Chancay from 27 February 2025. The CHX will turn in 14 days using 2 ships, starting with the 1,686 teu A. IDEFIX from X-Press Feeders at Chancay on 27 February followed by the 2,586 teu LAKONIA from COSCO on 6 March. The service will provide transhipment connections at COSCO's new West Coast South America hub of Chancay to Peru and Chile.
Freight futures of Europe Contracts (EC) declined yesterday and today as Maersk and MSC reduced their quotations to $3,200-$3,940 per forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU) from $4,000-$4,340 for shipments departing in March12. The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI) to be released after market today is expected to fall by 7-10%, as last week's rate of $1,608 per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU), or about $2,650 per FEU, remains significantly above current spot rates of around $2,200 per FEU
Zhonggu Shipping and Vietnam Maritime Corporation (VIMC) have teamed up to launch a new Qinzhou-Haiphong-Kolkata service. The service was launched on 18 February 2025 with the 529 teu XIN HAI XIU at Haiphong. The service will operate on an irregular 2-3 week frequency.
CMA CGM will join Asyad Line and Folk Maritime on the India-Red Sea Service (IRS), with the French carrier branding the service as the India Red Sea Express/India Gulf Express 3 (BIGEX3). CMA CGM will join the IRS/BIGEX3 service that calls at Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Salalah, Jeddah, Nhava Sheva from 22 February 2025, adding a 3rd ship to the service as the sailing frequency is upgraded from 10 days to 7 days. The 3 partners will operate 1 ship each with CMA CGM's 2,524 teu ZHE CHENG XIN ZHOU joini
EC contracts continued to rally as traders anticipate a recovery in freight rates over the next two months, despite the liners' target of $4,000 per FEU by March 1 not being fully achievable. Half-day trading volume has already reached 86,000 lots, with open interest increasing by 7,000 lots. Weekly capacity departing from Singapore and Malaysia will hit a trough this week due to blank sailings. Utilization for the few vessels that recently departed Singapore and Malaysia has begun to drop, refl
The charter market remains very active with rates still holding very firm on very strong demand across all size segments. Last week saw notable gains in the Bangkokmax segment where demand has picked up especially for intra-Asia deployment. In the past week, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd dominated the fixtures list as they continue to fill the open vessel slots in their new Gemini network. Maersk’s recent capacity additions have seen it breach its own self-imposed fleet cap of 4.3m teu that it has mai
SCFI spot rates to Europe continue to weaken in the week ended 14 February with no pick up in cargo volumes after the Lunar New Year holiday in the Far East. SCFI spot rates fell by 10.9% with actual spot rates slipping to $2,400-$3,000/feu to North Europe although carriers are aiming to raise rates above $4,000/feu again on 1 March as bookings are resuming after the holidays. Port congestion in Europe could disrupt the schedules of the ships returning to Asia in the next 2 months, which could