US-Bound Asia containers want to go to the industrialised centres of America but export Asia-bound boxes want to return from agricultural areas, said Maersk Line, to explain its latest transpacific rate hike.
"Bulk shipping rates have increased to an extent that many cargoes such as grain, a natural US-to-Far East export commodity, have begun moving in containers," Maersk said in answer to inquiries about the January increase of US$160 per TEU, $200 per FEU, including high cube and $220 per high cube 45-footer.
"The main dilemma is that import containers move to industrialised areas, while a majority of equipment for export is required in agricultural areas," an unidentified source told American Shipper. "Getting boxes to areas where grain is loaded is often prohibitive."
"This further pushes westbound rates upwards," said Maersk. "New business had also made equipment scarce, even on the Pacific backhaul trade." |
