News / Intra-Asia container trades on the up, but carriers fail to benefit

© Jordan Tan | Dreamstime.com - Wan Hai Lines cargo ship travelling near Changi

Growing volumes between China and South-east Asia propelled first-quarter intra-Asia container trade figures.

However, shipping lines are struggling to capitalise as freight rates remain low despite modest gains.

According to Drewry, provisional Q1 intra-Asia data from Container Trade Statistics shows a “prodigious” 23.5% year-on-year jump to 10.8m teu.

“All the more remarkable, said the analyst, “as the same data source tells us that this follows zero growth in [full-year] 2016 when intra-Asia box volumes closed on 39.2m teu.”

Trade between China and South-east Asia was the ...