Asia-Europe Spot Freight Rates Bounce Back
The downwards trend line in Asia-Europe spot freight rates has finally been reversed, data from World Container Index Shanghai-Europe shows.
According MANA cited by shipping consultancy Drewry,whereas the first four months of 2016 saw 50% or larger reductions in freight rates and record-low spot rate levels, a series of five consecutive monthly rate increases that started in April and continued again on August 1 has resulted in a return to an upwards trend line.
“Shippers and cargo owners booking under spot rates enjoyed huge cost reductions while carriers suffered substantial revenue shortfalls in early 2016 on the Asia-Europe route but, as we predicted, this extreme situation did not last,” said Philip Damas, director Drewry.
The average Shanghai-Rotterdam spot rate of just USD 772/40ft container for the period January-April nearly doubled, from a low base, to USD 1,467 on average for the period to May-August. Shanghai-Rotterdam WCI rate is USD 1,914, up 52% on last week and up 6% on the same week of 2015.