News / Asian shippers hit by double-whammy of lack of boxes and capacity squeeze

Shippers in Asia face a double-whammy of equipment shortages and tight shipping capacity that is driving an unrelenting spike in short-term contract rates.

Vessels to North Europe and the US west coast are reportedly “fully booked for two to three weeks after Golden Week”, according to one Shanghai-based NVOCC source.

“Additionally, some of the carriers just do not have any 40ft high-cube containers at their depots, so even if we could get a booking, we can’t get hold of the boxes,” he ...