News / Asia-Europe rates continue to frustrate shippers as alliance reshuffle looms

Despite the high load factors on containerships sailing from Asia to North Europe, spot rates on the trade are failing to gain traction and are losing some of the increases from earlier in the year.

However, fears that rates could slide back to the record lows of March and April last year appear unfounded.

According to London Gateway-based forwarder Westbound Shipping Services, a two-tier rate system is emerging: prices for containers that get shipped; and “those that are designed to fish for business” and get ...