Easing volumes especially to the US West Coast are starting hit spot freight rates with SCFI rates to USWC dropping by 8% last week. Zim’s surprise decision to relaunch the eCommerce Express (ZEX) service has sparked another round of rate cuts which has prompted CMA CGM to reconsider its plan to launch a similar express service in December. USEC rates are holding their ground as carriers continue to raise concerns over the Panama canal transit restrictions (in number of containership passage pe
The SCFI transpacific rate assessments surged for a second straight week to pass $2,100/feu to the West Coast and $2,400/feu to the East Coast but these rates cannot be sustained in the traditional slack season in November, with spot rates settling into the usual routine of early month hikes followed by mid-month declines. The same pattern will be repeated through November, with capacity rising sharply this month on both WC and EC routes. Forward capacity forecasts for November currently shows a
The SCFI transpacific rate assessments have rebounded on the back of the 1 November GRI that has brought spot rates to the West Coast above $1,900 per feu and East Coast to above $2,350 per feu. Despite this, the positive momentum on the transpacific routes will be difficult to sustain as capacity will increase through November after the cuts in October while capacity utilization continues to weaken on services to both coasts. Spot Asia-Europe freight rates surged last week ahead of the 1 Nove
Transpacific rates were largely unchanged over the past week with rates to the West Coast rates remaining firmer than the East Coast but sentiment is improving on both coasts as capacity utilization has been stronger than expected with several extra loaders notably by Maersk being added to cater to the overflow cargo. THE Alliance’s announcement late last week of the withdrawal of the EC4 in November will help to remove the surplus capacity on the East Coast especially on the Suez route which i
Transpacific rates to the US West Coast enjoyed a minor rebound last week, on the back of strong e-commerce cargo demand after the Chinese Golden Week holidays coinciding with reduced capacity availability due to blanked sailings with week 41 capacity more than 40% less than usual. East Coast rates remained under pressure but the rate of decline has slowed due to reduced capacity availability. But more space will return in November, with current projections showing a 22% increase to the West Co
The SCFI assessment on the Transpacific shed a further 3.4% last week to the West Coast but it is the East Coast where carriers are facing greater pressure with rates dropping by 5.4%. Spot rates are available in the market at up to $300/feu lower than the SCFI rates, with carriers unable to fill the capacity available despite a 13% drop in average capacity in October on the West Coast and 23% drop in the East Coast. Rates to North Europe have cracked below the 2019 levels and appears to be in
Transpacific freight rates have continued to drop, but latest SCFI rates have not fully reflected the current market rates that are already $200-300 lower than reported, with rates to the West Coast reaching $1,500 while the the East Coast market is even weaker with rates as low as $2,000 are being offered. Although THE Alliance have announced the withdrawal of the PN3 service in October, the impact is limited as it only accounts for 3% of total capacity on the West Coast. Carriers have not adj
Transpacific freight rates are eroding rapidly, with carriers slashing rates on both the West Coast and East Coast by as much as $500 below the current SCFI assessments. There is little hope of a rate rebound over the October holidays in China despite the increase in the number of blank sailings that will mostly hit Asia last port departures on week 41, with up to 40% of the weekly capacity removed. The lack of permanent capacity cuts will continue to put pressure on transpacific rates. Rates
The 1 September rate gains on the transpacific have all but evaporated, with rates to the US East Coast falling sharply with the SCFI assessment registered a 8.4% drop last week. Capacity utilization has dropped on the East Coast with average capacity deployed in September reaching a record high of almost 250,000 teu per week or 12.5% higher compared to August. In contrast, average capacity to the West Coast is 7.4% lower in September, which has only partially stemmed the rate fall. Rates to