[280112.EN.SEA] Carriers Remove 10pc of Eastbound Transpacific Capacity in Q4

CONTAINER shipping capacity allotted to the eastbound leg of the transpacific trade route shrank by 10 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2011, according to the latest World Liner Supply Report from ComPair Data.

It said that reductions in allocated capacity, which is an estimation of the service capacity allocated to a specific trade route by an operator, came from a range of shipping lines and alliances.

The report noted that the CKYH Alliance, which holds the biggest market share on the trade, removed more than 15 per cent of its capacity last quarter, bringing total weekly capacity down to 83,245 TEU at the end of 2011.

Israeli carrier Zim and other smaller lines, removed half of their eastbound transpacific capacity from the trade route in the fourth quarter.

However, French shipping line CMA CGM injected more than 6,000 TEU of weekly capacity in the fourth quarter, boosting its allocated capacity by nearly 41 per cent.

On the Asia-Europe trade, carriers removed 5.6 per cent of allocated capacity during the period under review, according to the report.

"Capacity fell significantly on most trades covered in the report, with the exception of the transatlantic and Europe-South America trades in both directions," it said.

Mega ships increase Suez Canal revenue 10pc as transits fall 1.1pc in 2011

SUEZ CANAL revenue increased 10 per cent in 2011 year on year while 1.1 per cent fewer but bigger ships transited the waterway, reported American Shipper.

Vessel transits decreased to 17,799, while revenue was more than US$5.2 billion, the first time the canal has passed the $5 billion plateau, said the canal authority. More than half the canal tonnage comes from containerships.

Source : HKSG, 27.01.12.