News / Turbulent waters ahead as lines float new GRI in bid to balance supply and demand

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The fast-eroding November $1,000 per teu price hike on the Asia-Europe trade lane is to be shored-up by a mid-December $750 general rate increase (GRI) announced by a number of carriers plying the troubled route.

However, a GRI that evaporates within weeks of implementation is no recipe for sustained profitability – and carriers will ultimately have to deal with chronic overcapacity on the world’s major tradelanes.

According to Clarkson Research Services, the fully cellular vessel fleet is expected to reach 17.4m teu ...