Westbound Logistics

Dalian the latest China port to be hit by Covid restrictions as delays persist

Dalian is the latest port city in China to detect the Omicron variant, as forwarders warn of more shipping delays in the countdown to Chinese New Year.
So far, there has been no impact on Dalian’s port operations, but the outbreak is reportedly growing at nearby Tianjin, under lockdown and where car manufacturer Toyota has temporarily suspended production.
According to Westbound Global Logistics, Tianjin’s port is open, but “restrictions on truck drivers …

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Box lines firmly in control – charging ‘what they like’ on almost every trade

Container freight indices are on the rise again, but even at their highly elevated levels they mask the true cost of shipping.
For example, the Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) North European component jumped by 6% this week, to $7,791 per 40 ft – a huge 450% increase on the rate a year ago, but still unlikely to turn the heads of carriers that can easily fill ships with containers paying double …

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No slack season, no easing of spot rates, as cargo pours out of Asia

Shippers are resigned to the probability that container spot freight rates from Asia will remain at their current high levels for some time after Chinese New Year. 
Today’s beginning of the Chinese lunar new year would usually herald several weeks of downward pressure on freight rates, but so far there are no indications of a slack season developing in the first half of the Year of the Ox. 
“After a year of so …

The post No slack season, no easing of spot rates, as cargo pours out of Asia...

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No respite for congested UK container ports as carriers take evasive action

Container shipments from Asia to the UK continue to be subject to “unprecedented” delays and significant additional costs.
“It’s as bad as you hear, possibly worse,” Ryan Clark director and co-owner of UK-based Westbound Logistics, told The Loadstar today.
“Space is still an issue, as are ever-increasing rates,” said Mr Clark,
“We are constantly finding ourselves apologising to customers. If it’s not rollings, space problems or rate increases, it’s a berthing delay or …

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Carriers impose restrictions as container shortages in Asian ports get worse

All the major carriers are experiencing equipment shortages at Asian ports with popular 40ft high cubes in particular short supply at Chinese depots.
Anecdotal reports to The Loadstar suggest CMA CGM currently has a shortage of equipment at all of the main Chinese ports, while other carriers are advising of shortages at some docks and “near normal” availability at others.
However, one Chinese forwarding source said equipment availability was more about “what …

The post Carriers impose...

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Spike in Asia-Europe spot rates as space tightens and rollovers increase

There has been a significant spike in carrier short-term container rate quotes from Asia to North Europe this week, as rollovers become the norm.
According to eeSea data, ocean carriers on the route have withdrawn 28% of their headhaul sailings this month and reports from local agents suggest ships from China are sailing full, resulting in rollovers of non-VIP cargo.
Indeed, a local agent source told The Loadstar MSC had hiked its Shanghai …

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Container freight spot rates decline, but liftings are ‘still good’ – for now

Container spot rates from Asia to Europe and the US held up reasonably well this week, on good vessel utilisation levels, but the outlook for carriers is increasingly uncertain.
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) recorded a 4.1% decline for North Europe, to $764 per teu, which is still some 17% higher than the same week of a year ago, when even traditional heavy fuel oil was around a third more …

The post Container freight spot rates decline, but liftings are ‘still good’ – for now...

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Lack of cargo sees carriers forced into last-minute voyage cancellations

Despite ocean carriers discounting container spot rates from Asia this week, there was still insufficient cargo to sustain the already reduced alliance service networks.
Maersk and MSC were obliged to cancel this week’s 2M AE7/Swan loop from China to North Europe at the last minute after they were unable to secure enough cargo.
The 19,472 teu MSC Rifaiya commenced its loading programme in Ningbo, China on Monday, but rather than despatch the …

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Carriers accused of creating rollovers to get shippers to pay more

Carriers are being accused of an abuse of power by “weaponising rollovers” to force shippers into paying higher spot rates to get their goods moved.
Sources told The Loadstar they were being warned “weeks in advance” of rollovers on North Europe services, claiming carriers are artificially creating rollovers to drive up rates.
“How have they got this space? How do they know they will have a rollover in five weeks? It is …

The post Carriers accused of creating rollovers to get shippers to pay more

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Peak season, what peak season? ask worried Asia-Europe ocean carriers

There was a further slippage this week in container spot rates for the European components of the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI).
Of concern for Asia-Europe ocean carriers is that rates have so far failed to improve in the first month of the traditional peak season – for North Europe, they have now slumped by over 30% since the beginning of the year.
The SCFI recorded North Europe rates down another 1.7%, …

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