Lloyd’s
List報導:由於運營商正在進行的運能管理產生效果，本周跨太平洋航線的現貨運價漲幅接近300美元。
Linton
Nightingale / Lloyd’s List 29 Mar
2019
Asia-US
west coast and Asia-US east coast spot rates on the SCFI have climbed to $1,626
and $2,634 per feu, respectively
TRANSPACIFIC
spot rates are on course to surge in the near future, with the partial success
of general rate increases finally offering carriers some respite following
weeks of rate pain.
The
news will also aid carriers in crucial negotiations for annual contract rates
with large shippers and beneficial cargo owners up for renewal at the start of
May.
The
latest Shanghai Containerised Freight Index, forecasting rates for the coming
week, shows spot rates per 40 ft box jumping more than 20%, or $297, to $1,626
on services to the US west coast from Asia.
Similar
gains were reported by the SCFI on the Asia-US east coast route, where spot
rates climbed by nearly $300, albeit by a lower percentage of 12.7%, to $2,634
per feu.
The
rate rise followed new lows for 2019 as carriers continued to count the cost of
lower demand after an extraordinary period of front loading in the closing stages
of last year.
By
last week, spot rates on the Asia-US west coast and Asia-US east coast trades
had fallen by 49% and 35%, respectively.
Shippers
had looked to bring as much cargo forward as possible before the extenuation of
tariffs on Chinese imports at the beginning of 2019, which in the end failed to
materialise.
The
scenario led to a cargo shortfall in early 2019, when typically, demand is
strong in the lead up to the Chinese New Year, while the traditional slowdown
after the holidays was exacerbated.
Carriers
moved to cut capacity in account of weak demand, which led to disappointing
monthly figures at US gateways in January and similarly in February.
Indeed,
analysts noted record blank sailings on the transpacific in the post-Chinese
New Year period.
However,
carriers have continued in their efforts to limit the supply influx with
further void sailings.
The
most recent coming from the Ocean Alliance and the Alliance, omitting several
services in late March and early April.
These
cancellations have also helped negate for the surprise addition of extra-loaders
by Taiwanese carrier Evergreen, which, according to Alphaliner, deployed two
panamax class vessels to the US west coast from the Far East in recent weeks.
Nevertheless,
carriers are still expected to push through GRIs on the transpacific trade,
having failed with previous attempts so far this year.
Carriers
including CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd and the Japanese contingent Ocean Network
Express, pushed for rate increases of 1,000 per feu.
Although
lines, as is customary, will fail to achieve the full extent of the price push,
preventing rates from falling further will be regarded as a win.
The
big test will be whether rates can hold.
With
weak freight rates, shippers are in a stronger position to negotiate discounts
from their carriers.
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