MSC has cancelled the launch of its new Asia-Med Phoenix service that was originally scheduled to start at the end of February 2025 but have been repeatedly delayed before the service was finally withdrawn altogether in May 2025. The Phoenix service was to turn in 15 weeks using up to 15 ships of 6,000-14,000 teu to call at Busan, Ningbo, Shanghai, Shekou, Singapore, Iskenderun, Piraeus, Trieste, Koper, Iskenderun, Mersin, Singapore, Busan. The Phoenix service was 1 of the 6 Asia-Med services
MSC will combine their FE-ME Clanga service with the FE-USWC Sentosa service turning it into a ME-FE-USWC pendulum service. The new Sentosa - Clanga service will call at Qingdao, Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Singapore, Karachi, Dammam, Hamad, Bahrain, Colombo, Port Klang, Singapore, Laem Chabang, Cai Mep, Ningbo, Shanghai, Long Beach, Oakland, Yokohama, Qingdao and is expected to start from 17 May 2025 with the newly delivered 11,400 teu MSC FLORA. The Sentosa - Clanga service will turn in 112 day
MSC and Zim will withdraw 2 of their Far East-US East Coast services from May 2025 in response to the sharp drop off in China-US volumes and retain 4 of their remaining FE-USEC services with revised rotations as follows: * America/Zim Seven Seas (Z7S) : Yantian call is dropped and replaced by Haiphong as the service turns around in Vietnam and omits China. Revised rotation Colombo, Singapore, Laem Chabang, Haiphong, Cai Mep, Singapore, New York, Baltimore, Savannah, Jacksonville, Colombo from
CK Line has launched a new Busan Russia Express (BRX) service connecting Busan, Vladivostok, Busan from 4 April 2025 using the 679 teu XING LUO 7.
Ocean freight traffic slowed over the past week across Asia due to the Labour Day holidays but average freight rates largely held their ground despite the continuing market turmoil triggered by the US tariffs. Transpacific rates bucked the downward pressure as carriers moved swiftly to remove excess capacity that allowed them to secure rate hikes in both the spot and contract markets, although the rate strength is due more to an anticipated cargo surge if a Sino-US trade deal could be reached.
Shanghai–North Europe freight futures declined further in a shortened trading week due to the May Day holidays from 1 to 5 May. Open interest dropped by 8% week on week as traders liquidated their positions ahead of the holidays with the market outlook remaining negative. The value of the open EC contracts dropped to $829m as it closes in on the 18-month lows. Carriers continue to slash freight rates with capacity utilisation on the Far East–North Europe route remaining subdued as blank sailing
SCFI rates to North Europe dropped by 4.8% last week reflecting carriers rate actions over the last 2 weeks as market rates dropped to $1,600-$1,800/feu. The additional capacity shifted from the US routes has not helped the market, with volumes negatively affected by the Labour Day holidays in most parts of Asia. Port congestion across North Europe remains critical especially in Antwerp where a nationwide strike has halted port operations last week, with delays also impacting ports downstream.
CMA CGM and its intra-Asia arm, CNC will extend the Bohai Manila Express (BMX) service to South Korea with new calls at Busan from 15 May 2025. The extended BMX will call at Busan, Dalian, Xingang, Qingdao, Xiamen, Shantou, Shekou, Hong Kong, Nansha, Manila(N/S), Davao, Busan turning in 35 days using 5 ships of 2,700 teu to 4,600 teu.
Register Free Trial Ocean freight traffic slowed over the past week across Asia due to the Labour Day holidays but average freight rates largely held their ground despite the continuing market turmoil triggered by the US tariffs. Transpacific rates bucked the downward pressure as carriers moved swiftly to remove excess capacity that allowed them to secure rate hikes in both the spot and contract markets, although the rate strength is due more to an anticipated cargo surge if a Sino-US trade dea
MSC will split its North Europe-Asia-US West Coast Swan-Sentosa service into 2 separate services with the Asia-North Europe service renamed as the Swan that will call at Busan, Ningbo, Shanghai, Xiamen, Yantian, Singapore, Sines, Le Havre, Rotterdam, Gothenburg, Aarhus, Hamburg, Antwerp, Port Klang, Singapore, Shekou, Busan from May 2025 with the Cape routing retained. The Yokohama call on the former Swan-Sentosa service will be dropped, along with eastbound calls at Laem Chabang and Vung Tau.