Linerlytica

HMM follows MSC and CMA CGM, turning to pre-owned boxships

High charter costs have made HMM join two giant ocean carriers MSC and CMA CGM in buying elderly secondhand feeder ships.

HMM’s spokesperson told Container News that the company is currently in discussions to buy three 2005-built feeder ships. These are MPC Container Ships’ 2,500 TEU AS Paola and Regional Container Lines’ 2,400 TEU Wanda Bhum and Xutra Bhum.

HMM’s spokesperson said, “HMM actively seeks fleet expansion and diversification possibilities. We are considering second-hand boxships for...

https://container-news.com/hmm-follows-msc-and-cma-cgm-turning-to-pre-owned-boxships/

Mexico can be US West Coast alternative as volumes soar

An anomaly has arisen in container shipping data as US West Coast imports from Asia saw rates falling on fears of a US recession, while US dockers’ strikes on the East Coast and the election have raised fears of further disruption.

Xeneta chief analyst Peter Sand, however, considers Mexico a viable alternative for US imports, claiming that Mexican ports have already shown they can handle the increased demand, with China volumes increasing 30% year-on-year.

“Mexico effectively takes some risk off...

https://container-news.com/mexico-can-be-us-west-coast-alternative-as-volumes-soar/

Futures show more downside to freight rates in 2025

Shanghai container futures trades suggest that Asia-Europe freight rates could fall further in 2025, after appearing to have peaked now.

On 5 August, the index points of the EC2408 (August contract) closed at 5,627, while the EC2410 (October contract) closed at 3,585 points, losing 3% and 9%, respectively, from 29 July. The EC2504 (April 2025 contract) stood at 1,961 points, while the EC2506 (June 2025 contract) stood at 1,955 points, down 5% and 6%, respectively, from 29 July.

On 2 August, the Sh...

https://container-news.com/futures-show-more-downside-to-freight-rates-in-2025/

Vessel redeployment forces rate rises in secondary trades

Liner companies chasing the high returns on the major trade lanes are shifting tonnage from secondary services, with consultancy Xeneta warning shippers and forwarders that capacity constraints in second string services will force up rates.

Hong Kong-based Linerlytica believes these increases may have already begun with consultancy reporting today that capacity injections have been seen in the Indian subcontinent, Latin America and US West Coast routes, “where freight rates are the most...

https://container-news.com/vessel-redeployment-forces-rate-rises-in-secondary-trades/

Pioneering Virtual Container Freight Futures Trading Competition: An Exclusive Interview with BANDS Financial and Linerlytica

BANDS Financial and Linerlytica launch the first virtual container freight futures trading competition exclusively for companies and executives in the container shipping sector along the Asia-Europe route.

In an interview with Antonis Karamalegkos, Managing Editor of Container News, Johnson Leung, Director of Linerlytica, and Tiger Shi, CEO of BANDS Financial, discussed the competitive landscape, future project plans, and the goals driving this initiative.

  • To start, could you give us an overview...

https://container-news.com/pioneering-virtual-container-freight-futures-trading-competition-an-exclusive-interview-with-bands-financial-and-linerlytica/

Market panic triggers sharp rate surge

According to the latest analysis of the shipping consultancy Linerlytica, the market panic over tightening vessel space availability has sent the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) to its highest level since September 2022, rising by 18.8% after last week’s holiday break to hit a 20-month high.

Unlike the surge in January, when the rate hikes were largely limited to the Red Sea-affected routes, the gains are more broad-based this time with sharp rate hikes on all long-haul routes on the...

https://container-news.com/market-panic-triggers-sharp-rate-surge/

BANDS and Linerlytica launch innovative virtual container trading competition

BANDS Financial and Linerlytica launch the first virtual container freight futures trading competition exclusively for companies and executives involved in the container shipping sector along the Asia-Europe route.

Competition details

The competition is open to 20 companies and 200 individuals in separate company and individual leagues. Contestants receive virtual money to trade CoFIF, and the three contestants from each league with the highest equity at the end of the six-month competition...

https://container-news.com/bands-and-linerlytica-launch-innovative-virtual-container-trading-competition/

China backhaul costs mirror headhaul rate shifts

Rates on the Europe to Asia trades have mirrored headhaul trades with China’s import cargo paying more for carriage since the Red Sea crisis hit the industry in December.

At the end of last year, eastbound cargo out of European ports of origin was US$303/FEU, in January, as in the headhaul trade, rates started to climb as carriers diverted around the Cape, peaking at US$1,066/FEU on 1 February according to Xeneta, which shows rates on the slide again, now down to US$866/FEU.

“These developments...

https://container-news.com/china-backhaul-costs-mirror-headhaul-rate-shifts/

Carriers playing catch-up to further tilt supply-demand imbalance

Ocean Network Express (ONE) announced an aggressive midterm plan on 19 March to grow its operated fleet to 3 million TEUs by 2030, representing a 66% growth from its current fleet at an annualised growth rate of 10% per year.

The plan will demand capital investments of US$25 billion and a further US$10 billion in associated assets over the next five years, which could also include the transfer of some of the assets from its three shareholders, NYK, MOL and K Line.

ONE’s move represents a “belated...

https://container-news.com/carriers-playing-catch-up-to-further-tilt-supply-demand-imbalance/

Red Sea crisis spurs surge in TEU capacity: Newbuildings fully absorbed

The total container ship capacity deployed on trades affected by the Red Sea crisis has increased by 1.26 million TEUs since October 2023, driven mainly by vessel diversions to the Cape of Good Hope, according to the latest Linerlytica report.

The Far East-Mediterranean recorded the largest jump of 610,000 TEUs, accounting for half of the increased capacity over the period, followed by the Far East-North Europe route at 260,000 TEUs.

“The increased demand for tonnage has fully absorbed all of the...

https://container-news.com/red-sea-crisis-spurs-surge-in-teu-capacity-newbuildings-fully-absorbed/

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