Temporary tariff relief brings on early transpacific peak season
The container peak season on the transpacific trade could start as early as today – ...
Peter Mautsch
By Mike Wackett
Shippers wishing to book space on container vessels from North Europe to Asia are still being held to ransom by container lines, according to one UK forwarder.
“Initially we were told that that ships were full and no bookings were being accepted for at least six weeks,” a director of the Felixstowe-based firm told The Loadstar.
“But then the rep rang to tell us that he had found us space on the next sailing, but that we would need to pay more,” ...
Comment on this article
Alfred Ellis
March 21, 2017 at 3:40 pmMy heart is not exactly bleeding for the forwarder or his customer. For years, they have enjoyed rates that have left the liner industry in tatters. Now things are beginning to change. $2500/40′? That’s not even as high as the rates were when I came into the Asia-Europe trade in 1993!
Jens Opara
March 27, 2017 at 10:21 amI hate this kind of sensational headline. For year the carriers were ‘over the barrel’ with shippers using the fact of overcapacity to haggle rates down to unrealistic low levels. Levels that already killed some of the carriers.
It is only healthy that this unsustainable development of the last years is slightly reversing. We are far from sustainable rate-levels!