any easing of the record high rates on the major transpacific and Asia to Europe tradelanes in the last few weeks, with the current lockdown at Ningbo’s Meishan terminal ensuring space will remain extremely tight right up to the national holiday.
Forward bookings from Asia to the US remain especially strong, with BCOs and NVOCCs engaging in daily combat for space on ocean carriers’ extra loaders, as well as on the few new charter carrier sailings that have emerged.
Jon Monroe, of Washington state-based Jon Monroe Consulting commented that “NVOCCs are finding it difficult to find space and many are turning to extra loaders and new charter carriers, at least four new charter carriers already in operation with rumors of more to come”.
Meanwhile, a straw poll of The Loadstar shipper contacts in the UK on Friday suggested that, prior to the Ningbo terminal shutdown, there had been “a slight easing” of market rate offers for prompt shipment from Asia.
“The first week for some time that I haven’t seen a $20,000 rate in the ‘offers’ we get in from China, I’m not holding my breath, the Ningbo crisis is surely going to push up rates again as we all scramble for space before the October holiday shutdowns. And I’m hearing whispers from a friend at a carrier that there are already discussions in their alliance about a new blanking programme in October, which would mean no chance of rates coming down any time soon.”
Traditionally, carriers cut capacity around…
