News / Rates war or not, ocean volumes and load factors are falling as slack season looms

© Chuyu

Container lines operating Asia-Europe services will cumulatively cancel no less than 14 sailings early next month.

It’s a bid to compensate for the expected dip in demand after the Chinese Golden Week holiday and the beginning of the traditional slack season.

Carriers are anxious to underpin the contract rate gains of the past year that have translated into a turnaround in their fortunes, and are well aware of the consequences of a fresh rate war.

And in a show of hitherto absent discipline, all ...