Markets/Trades

Transit time performance were mixed in the 4 main trades last week, with improvements seen in the PSW and USEC ports but worsening waiting times in the PNW as well as the North European and Med ports.

Average capacity is 17.7% higher to the USEC compared to a year ago, with cargo diversions from the USWC continuing in anticipation of a potential disruption at the west coast gateway ports from the ILWU contract negotiations.

There is still more capacity increases expected in the next 3 weeks, with an average of over 330,00 teu expected in June, comparing to 287,000 teu in last week. As highlighted previously, carriers are not removing any capacity on the European trade despite clear signs of demand softness.

Average capacity in the last 13 weeks has inched up 0.4% higher compared to the same period last year, as the easing congestion in LA/LB have encouraged the new carriers including CUL, BAL, TS Lines, Sea-Lead, Transfar and Swire to add capacity on this route

Transpacific spot freight rates have held their ground last week, with recent rate declines halted as the market prepares for a rebound from the extended lockdown in Shanghai.

Taiwanese liners' April top line came out as a positive surprise. The spot freight rates, as per SCFI, have fallen 7.5% MoM while Shanghai/Ningbo's combined port throughput was down 10% MoM in April. However, the Taiwanese liners' combined revenue ...

US port gridlock growing despite improvements in LA/LB

Container freight rates ended the year at record highs, with both the CCFI and SCFI rate indices reaching hitherto uncharted territories. The CCFI was up 102% at year end, and 166% on average over the full year 2021 as vessel capacity was tight throughout the year due to persistently high demand and soaring port congestion. Although the global containership fleet grew by 4.5% to reach 25.13m TEU by the end of 2021, the effective capacity shrank as a result of port congestion and longer port sta

Although spot freight rates to North Europe have declined from their peak in January 2021, various carriers are adding ad-hoc sailings on this route using MPP tonnage

2020 turned into the strongest year ever for container shipping, with soaring freight rates breaking all previous records.