By Mike Wackett 01/12/2020 Some container vessels have been sailing from Asia to Europe under-utilised in recent weeks due to an acute shortage of empty boxes. A carrier source told The Loadstar: “We have had to sail light a few times recently as there are just not enough boxes at depots [in China] to meet the demand.” All carriers […]
Category Archives: News & Events
Liners highly unlikely to slash service for Chinese New Year
Every year, the global supply chain grapples with a major disruptive event: Chinese New Year (CNY). Volumes at sea plunge as Chinese factories shut down. Carriers temporarily “blank” (cancel) sailings due to lack of outbound boxes. Importers pull cargoes forward before the holiday to ensure they have enough inventory. CNY falls on a different date […]
Trans-Pacific shipping rates just popped to new all-time high
Is this the end of the mysterious trans-Pacific rate plateau? The good news for ocean carriers — and bad news for shippers — is that rates are rising yet again. Base spot rates for container shipments from Asia to the U.S. West Coast had been curiously flat since late September. Rates kept to a narrow […]
Demand growing for priority trans-Pacific services from Vietnam
Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Aug 24, 2020 12:38PM EDTPrint APL Logistics now serves 13 load ports in Asia with its OceanGuaranteed product, including Haiphong and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam. Photo credit: Shutterstock.com. APL Logistics Monday announced the addition of Haiphong, Vietnam, to its OceanGuaranteed product, a move that capitalizes on importers’ requirements […]
Shippers brace for wave of carrier charges as service suffers
Carriers have announced a stream of rate increases and surcharges across multiple trade lanes that will go into effect over the next month as unprecedented demand continues to overwhelm the global supply chain and drag service levels to fresh lows. With carriers in complete control in a sellers’ market, prior rate increases and surcharges imposed […]
Huge congestion at ports across Asia, Australia, and the USA
Posted in Container Shipping by Ankur Kundu on Nov 11, 2020 at 08:45. Qingdao, Lianyungang, Ningbo, and Shanghai are some of the biggest ports when it comes to the Asian and Chinese markets at large. These ports are now reporting a dearth of equipment, with increasing delays in vessel berthing operations adding to the woe of port authorities. Coming to the US market, […]
Container shortage crisis spreads to intra-Asia trades, driving prices higher
By Sam Whelan 11/11/2020 What a major shipping line called the “black swan” container shortage has hit intra-Asia trades as carriers prioritise transpacific profits. With some 30m teu carried each year, the intra-Asia tradelane is the largest in the world, comprising around 100 port pairs. Costs have traditionally been kept in check, there’s been less carrier consolidation […]
Holiday ‘shipageddon’ update: Container sector scrambling
Latest data reveals trans-Pacific constraints are getting worse Greg Miller, Senior EditorFollow on TwitterWednesday, October 28, 20202 4,273 3 minutes read ’Twas the night before Christmas and all though Shenzhen, not a container was stirring; they’d been “rolled” yet again. This is the holiday “shipageddon” fear for ocean shippers. Amid heavy rolling — delays of loadings until subsequent voyages […]
Container slots sell out, risking holiday ‘shipageddon’
No respite yet for trans-Pacific container-shipping demand frenzy Greg Miller, Senior EditorFollow on TwitterMonday, October 19, 20200 6,810 4 minutes read “The ships are 100% full. The containers are 100% full. You can’t get a container built. You can’t pick up a ship from the spot market. The whole container-shipping cycle is at absolutely full pelt,” exclaimed Jeremy […]
Transpacific carriers pile on extra tonnage as US west coast imports soar
By Mike Wackett 30/09/2020 Transpacific carriers have reacted to a robust demand outlook and record container spot rates by deploying extra loaders on the tradelane. With October advance vessel load data for the port of Los Angeles running 30% to 34% higher than last year, carriers are also looking at more permanent network upgrades on the route. […]
