News / 'Price skirmishes' on the transpacific put pressure on spot rates

© Lee Snider

Despite high vessel utilisation levels on the transpacific headhaul, container spot rates on the tradelane lost ground this week.

The Asia-US components of the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) recorded a fall of $118 per 40ft for west coast ports, to $1,541, and a decline of $173, to $2,419 per 40ft for the east coast.

Drewry attributes the apparent disconnect between ships running full and this erosion of rates to “price skirmishes” between competing carriers – indiscipline that doesn’t bode well for the post-peak season ...