News / Supply and demand imbalance only part of the problem for 'predatory' carriers

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The slow pace of recovery in container freight rate pricing is not simply the result of supply and demand imbalances, high load factors on main east-west trades indicate the “predatory commercial strategies” of carriers, says Drewry.

According to the maritime consultant’s preliminary research, front-haul vessel utilisation levels across the main east-west tradelanes was around a healthy 90% in the second quarter of the year, up from 86% a year ago.

“When load factors are at 90% or above, we would normally expect ...