News / Box lines seek new partners as they target profitable routes

© Christian Horz | Dreamstime.com

To penetrate more lucrative tradelanes, ocean carriers are looking for vessel-sharing partners outside their main east-west alliances.

And with their services under financial pressure, container lines are redeploying tonnage to routes they believe can still make money, whether on a standalone basis, by vessel-sharing or, in the first instance, with slot purchases.

In turn, the carriers will look to cut back on their commitment to east-west trades that are heavily exposed to the volatile spot market.

However, the lines are unlikely to keep ...