Southbound container freight rates from Asia to the east coast of South America rose by 118 per cent between October and November 2013, after CMA CGM, Maersk Line, Hamburg-Sud, CSAV, CSCL and Hanjin Shipping's third weekly string was withdrawn over the winter season, the Shipping Gazette informs.
Nor are rate hikes over as north-south tradelanes grow importance, "so knowing how they are developing is essential to making sense of ocean carrier behaviour elsewhere," commented Drewry Maritime Research.
The six main north-south tradelanes are: Asia-east coast of South America, Europe-east coast of South America, northeast Asia-Australia, Europe-Middle East and Indian subcontinent, Asia-West Africa and Asia-Middle East and Indian subcontinent.