The China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) (source: SSE) came out just now fell below its level a year ago, registering the first YoY drop since week 50 2019. This weekly published counter tracks both spot and contracted freight rates of outbound shipments from China. The recent peak of CCFI was 3,588 recorded on 11 Feb 2022. At 2,993, CCFI has fallen 17% from its peak. Container freight rates are one of the most trend sensitive price indices in all markets. Being trend sensitive means that
TP eastbound volume may not have collapsed as some may believe these two days. Utilization for vessels heading to North America has been healthy since end of May. The number of sailings have dropped in the last two weeks but schedule slippage and bunching have been the norm since 2020
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