News / Carriers holding spot rates steady, but how sustainable are contracts?

© Mr.siwabud Veerapaisarn |

Ocean carriers appear to have succeeded in halting the erosion of container spot rates from Asia this week, thanks to aggressive blanking programmes, but falling demand from Europe and the US is a growing concern for the integrity of contracts.

Global demand data released this week by Container Trade Statistics (CTS) shows evidence of further signs of weakening in the market, with 2.8% fewer full containers transported in May than in the same month last year.

And a carrier contact The Loadstar spoke ...