News / 2M 'go-slow' and massive capacity injection lights Asia-Europe touchpaper

Next month, 2M partners MSC and Maersk will deploy nine extra vessels on their Asia-Europe services, an injection of capacity in a period of weak demand that may unleash a ferocious race-to-the-bottom freight war on the tradelane.

Container spot rates from Asia to North Europe and Asia to the Mediterranean have been stable since mid-March, after the collapse from record highs, with, for example, this week’s Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) reading flat, at $1,379 and $2,441 per 40ft respectively.

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