[160613.EN.SEA] Asia-Europe Container Volume Flattens While Eastbound Cargo Increases

WESTBOUND Asia-Europe container volume in April remained unchanged year on year at 1.16 million TEU, but improved on March's decline of 7.1 per cent year on year, said the UK's Container Trade Statistics (CTS).

But eastbound CTS index also showed volumes were significantly higher in April at 93 points and 92 in March, well above the 70 point score in January 2012 and not far off last July's high water mark of 104. Conversely, westbound volumes dropped to 75 points in April from 78 in March from 104 in April 2012 compared to a 2008 west bound average of 100 points.

This backhaul trade with European exports increasing through ports in Germany, Turkey, Belgium and France to 575,300 TEU, a 12.6 per cent growth following a month previous increase of 4.7 per cent.

This growth is reflected in the price indices for each trade lane westbound, which dropped to 75 in April from 78 in March and a high in April 2012 of 104 from a 2008 average of 100.

Shipments from Asia increased to US$1,000 per TEU for shipments to northern Europe from recent all-in spot rate as low as $600 per TEU. Of these shipments, containerised dry goods were weak at 1.6 per cent decline while eastbound were up a robust 11.5 per cent.

Dry cargo volumes westbound were down at 201,611 TEU while backhaul routes from west Mediterranean and North Africa increased 23.4 per cent to 80,812 TEU.

Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea showed strong volumes inbound at 7.2 per cent increase to 213,587 TEU and outbound at 13.2 per cent to 80,000 TEU.

Source : SN-TR, 10.06.13.