Ocean container carriers pulled around 100,000 20-foot equivalent units of capacity from the Asia to North Europe route during the Chinese vacation week as freight rates decline rapidly on weaker-than-expected cargo demand, according to a leading analyst.
The cuts, which will take effect from Oct. 1 during China's National Day Golden Week vacation, is equivalent to 40 percent of average weekly capacity on the trade, Paris-based consultant Alphaliner said.
At least 11 of the 29 Far East-North Europe carriers will skip one sailing during the week-long vacation from Oct. 1 to Oct. 6.
Some carriers have simply postponed their sailings with double sailings planned for subsequent weeks, according to Alphaliner.
Some of the sailing cancellations appear to have been made at short notice in reaction to a decline in cargo volume and are aimed at stemming the drop in ocean freight rates.
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index has been suspended from September 24 to October 8 due to the Chinese vacation.
But spot market rates from China to North Europe have fallen further from the latest SCFI level of $1,690 per TEU reported on Sept. 17 with shippers saying rates of $1,500 or less are being offered, the lowest level since December 2009.
But carriers have not yet withdrawn services, likely to putting further downward pressure on freight rates in the run up to the winter slack season, Alphaliner said.
Weekly capacity on the Far East-North Europe routes increased by 14.9 percent in September from a year ago.
Capacity currently stands at 247,000 TEUs per week, 6 percent lower than the peak of September 2008 when it reached 264,000 TEUs.
Maersk Line, CMA CGM, and MSC, the three largest carriers on the trade, have significantly increased their market share during the period due mainly to the introduction of vessels of above 11,000 TEUs capacity over the past nine months.
Maersk chief executive Eivind Kolding said this week the carrier will reduce tonnage from the beginning of October because there is "simply too much capacity in the market."
It is expected the capacity cuts, likely involving the temporary idling of ships, will initially impact the Asia-Europe trades.
The cuts, which will take effect from Oct. 1 during China's National Day Golden Week vacation, is equivalent to 40 percent of average weekly capacity on the trade, Paris-based consultant Alphaliner said.
At least 11 of the 29 Far East-North Europe carriers will skip one sailing during the week-long vacation from Oct. 1 to Oct. 6.
Some carriers have simply postponed their sailings with double sailings planned for subsequent weeks, according to Alphaliner.
Some of the sailing cancellations appear to have been made at short notice in reaction to a decline in cargo volume and are aimed at stemming the drop in ocean freight rates.
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index has been suspended from September 24 to October 8 due to the Chinese vacation.
But spot market rates from China to North Europe have fallen further from the latest SCFI level of $1,690 per TEU reported on Sept. 17 with shippers saying rates of $1,500 or less are being offered, the lowest level since December 2009.
But carriers have not yet withdrawn services, likely to putting further downward pressure on freight rates in the run up to the winter slack season, Alphaliner said.
Weekly capacity on the Far East-North Europe routes increased by 14.9 percent in September from a year ago.
Capacity currently stands at 247,000 TEUs per week, 6 percent lower than the peak of September 2008 when it reached 264,000 TEUs.
Maersk Line, CMA CGM, and MSC, the three largest carriers on the trade, have significantly increased their market share during the period due mainly to the introduction of vessels of above 11,000 TEUs capacity over the past nine months.
Maersk chief executive Eivind Kolding said this week the carrier will reduce tonnage from the beginning of October because there is "simply too much capacity in the market."
It is expected the capacity cuts, likely involving the temporary idling of ships, will initially impact the Asia-Europe trades.