News / Intra-Asia offers potential as ocean carriers seek new pastures

Photo: PIL

Ocean carriers are ramping up their intra-Asia connections as US and European importers look to ease their dependence on China to source products from neighbouring Asian countries.

Moreover, these new markets are providing welcome growth opportunities for carriers battered by a collapse in demand on long-haul services and sitting on a surplus of small containership tonnage.

Carriers are jockeying with competitors – often within an alliance – to offer better transit times to other exporters in the region as they wean themselves ...