Return of downward pressure on container spot freight rates
Container spot freight rates on the main east-west trades were largely flat this week, after ...
By Mike Wackett
Maersk Line has announced an increase in its FAK rates from Asia to North Europe effective 15 May as it seeks to build on a brief period of stability in the container spot rate market.
The North Europe component of this week’s Shanghai Containerized Freight Index ...
Comment on this article
George Martin
May 14, 2018 at 7:05 amIt doesn’t matter how much they try to bring to the media the image of the carriers saviour, raising levels while they keep the vamp policy by offering rebates discounts fm FAK (even -25%) to their bazooka forwarders, that kind of cushioning is killing medium carriers who needs to go -25% below MSK FAK to not to lose their market share, do you really think asian carriers are cheaper because no reason?
DERMOT CLARK
May 14, 2018 at 10:23 amMike’s article is a bit behind recent changes in Maersk’s so called strategy to increase the FAK rates. As usual the Carriers don’t quite have the “spine” to commit to the rate increases they “talk” about. Yes, Maersk sent out the higher rate sheets on 4th May covering the validity 15th – 31st May, but got the “shakes” by 10th May and reduced the rate level for the 2nd half of May back down to $825 / 1400 / 1450.
The industry needs higher and stable rates to be viable. Just like the global economy needs a healthy Banking Industry, it also needs a healthy Shipping Industry and that doesn’t come without higher, more realistic rate levels. They are their own worst enemies as they set the rate levels.