Source: Market average rates for 40‘ containers according to www.xeneta.com
Trade Analysis: Far East Westbound
Situation
Demand began to slow down at the end of August and beginning of September, which was reflected in more dynamic downward rate adjustments. By now, all holiday cargo should already be on the water, expected to arrive in Europe by the end of October.
Obstacles
Recent weather disruptions in Asia have created container backlogs at key ports such as Singapore, Shanghai, and Port Kelang, causing delays of 2-3 days. Some terminals are delaying feeder services to clear the backlog on the main routes, including FEWB. Schedule reliability remains crucial, and GEMINI is outperforming the market with over 90% reliability – well above other alliances and shipping lines.
Outlook
Demand for vessel space should remain stable in September. We do not expect a significant volume boost prior to Golden Week in China (first week of October). Shippers may postpone some cargo to take advantage of lower prices in the declining market, which could persist until at least mid-October. At that time, vendors of seasonal goods, such as garden furniture, shoes, and fashion items will start placing shipping orders on a larger scale.
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