 |
SAILING cancellations, rather than service withdrawals, are likely to be favoured by carriers as they fear of losing market share from the massive Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM P3 alliance when it enters the Asia-Europe route in the first half of next year, says Drewry's Maritime Research.
While the P3 is not expected to confirm port rotations, competing carriers will not want to jeopardise market share in any way before then, said Drewry analysts.
Only the merger of two peak season in transpacific services occurred in mid-October with the combination of CKYH's CAX and Evergreen's CPS2, noted the London research house.
Transpacific had no sailing cancellations in July, but two came in August, then 12 in September and another 12 scheduled this month due to the October 1-7 Golden Week holiday in China.
This resulted in a capacity reduction of 2.8 per cent in September and October, which helps get vessel utilisation up to 90 per cent, giving carriers leverage on rates.
On the Asia-north Europe trade lane, there were no cancellations in August, but six in September were announced and five in October, resulting in a capacity reduction of 1.7 per cent in September and October, and again bringing vessel utilisation to 90 per cent.
Asia-Med carriers more regularly cut sailings throughout the year. Seven went in September, six in October, though this is unlikely to mean much to untilisation as it already stood at 90 per cent.
Said Drewry: "Ocean carriers will cancel sailings instead of withdrawing whole services during the northern hemisphere's winter season, which practice will continue right up to the introduction of P3's new services in 2Q14."
Asian Shipper News
|
Login
