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The Capital Link Container Index in is comprised of the following 6 companies: Alexander & Baldwin (NYSE: ALEX), Danaos Corp. (NYSE: DAC), Euroseas Ltd. (NASDAQ: ESEA), Global Ship Lease (NYSE: GSL), Horizon Lines Inc. (NYSE: HRZ) and Seaspan Corp. (NYSE: SSW).

jueves, 12 de enero de 2012

CCFI Commentary in Issue 02, 2012

Weekly Report of China Export Container Transport Market


China box export market saw a general upward trend at the start of 2012, with demand on the oceangoing services like Europe and U.S. trade going up steadily, which pushed rates to rise further. On Jan.6th, the China Containerized Freight Index issued by Shanghai Shipping Exchange stood at 896.06 points, jumped up 1.7% from last week; while the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index issued by SSE surged 2.9% to 975.31 points.

As the emergence of traditional export rush ahead of the Chinese New Year, the volume rise on Europe trade extended to this week, where the average slot utilization rate reached about 95%, with some voyages seeing full slots. Rate on this trade went further up. On Jan.6th, the freight indices of services from Shanghai to the North Europe and Mediterranean issued by SSE respectively stood at 897.23 points and 1,040.38 points, up 4.2% and 3.7% from a week earlier.

Since the late December, driven by the traditional export peak, rates stopped dropping and showed an obvious sign of recovery. However, the current rate surge, boosted by the seasonal factor, did not change the fact that supply is still outpacing demand. Once the shipment peak before the holiday finishes, the problem of overcapacity could return. By then, rate could be under a great pressure again, if carriers can’t take effective measures to manage the capacity, market observers told.

The capacity cut, taken by carriers from the Q4 last year, gained a better result on the North America service than the Europe service, since carriers deployed less capacity on the former service earlier. The export rush beginning from the middle December also played a role in improving the situation of supply and demand on this trade, with the average slot utilization rate climbing above 95% for the USWC service and even being close to 100% for the USEC service.

As the good condition of the market, carriers managed to lift the rate up to $1,800/FEU and above $2,700/FEU for the USWC service and USEC service respectively after the recent rate recovery plan. On Jan.6th, the freight indices of services from Shanghai to USWC and USEC issued by SSE stood at 859.23 points and 1,074.96 points, up 3.9% and 2.0% respectively.

According to market insiders, most carriers fell into the red in 2011 hit by the shrink of revenue and rate drop. The recovery of rate at the end of 2011 and extending to 2012 made up to the loss to some extent and created a leeway for the upcoming annual negotiation of service contract on the transpacific trade.

Volume went up steadily on the South America service this week, led by the seasonal export rush, where average slot utilization rate remained at above 90%. Despite the general uptrend, some carriers, who lifted rate up sufficiently last week, started to reduce the rate slightly to keep themselves attractive. On Jan.6th, the freight rate from Shanghai to base ports of South America issued by SSE soared up 3.1% from last week to $1,571/TEU.

The average slot utilization rate returned to around 90% on the Australia and Singapore service this week as the volume took a stable stride. Rate on this service kept creeping up, with some voyages seeing a rise of $50/TEU. On Jan.6th, the freight index of service from China to Australia and Singapore issued by SSE increased 1.1% to 909.18 points.

The Japan service witnessed a slight jump in volume this week. The average slot utilization rate from Shanghai to Japan climbed up to around 80% and rate maintained stable. On Jan.6th, the freight index of the Japan service issued by SSE was reported at 757.49 points.

CCFI Commentary in Issue 01, 2012

Weekly Report of China Export Container Transport Market


China export box market seemed active in demand this week where rates on major trades jumped up. On December 30th, the China Containerized Freight Index issued by Shanghai Shipping Exchange stood at 881.15 points, little change from last week; while the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index issued by SSE surged 10.6% to 947.58 points.

Driven by the traditional export rush before the New Year, rate strengthened this week on the Europe trade, where the average slot utilization rate returned to around 95%. Some shipping lines pushed up rates greatly due to some sailings even with full slots. With the support of the big volume, many carriers set to lift rate by $200/TEU.

On December 30th, the freight rate plus surcharges from Shanghai to base ports of the Europe issued by SSE rose 30.8% to $701/TEU.

Moreover, the China/Mediterranean trade also saw a boost in volume, where rate went up in a greater stride.

On December 30th, the freight rate plus surcharges from Shanghai to base ports of the Mediterranean issued by SSE surged 13.2% from a week earlier to $714/TEU. Experts expressed that the substantial rate surge was a result of the rate rebound from a low base at the end of the year after a lasting stagnated market through the 2nd half of 2011 as well as the willingness of carriers, who hold a bleak outlook over 2012, to take advantage of this rate rise to create some room for future adjustment. However, the continued up-trend depends on market demand in the coming year. 

Volume was plentiful on the North America trade this week, where the average slot utilization rate for the UCWC service and USEC service remained both over 95%, many sailings even with full slots. In the meantime, some shippers rushed to ship cargoes out before the New Year as rate on the route was scheduled to move up by $400/FEU from Jan 1st of 2012, making the rate soar up for the tightening slots. 

On December 30th, the freight rates plus surcharges from Shanghai to base ports on the USWC and the USEC issued by SSE stood at $1,692/FEU and $2,892/FEU, up 18.8% and 14.4% respectively.

Pushed by the New Year’s volume peak, rate rose violently on the Australia and Singapore service this week, with the average slot utilization rate over 85%.

On December 30th, the freight rate plus surcharges from Shanghai to base ports of Australia and Singapore issued by SSE climbed up 16.6% to $821/TEU.

Volume kept stable, though, a slight up on the South America service, with the average slot utilization rate over 90%, some sailings even with full slots. In the face of the New Year, some lines planed to raise the rate by $500/TEU.

On December 30th, the freight index from Shanghai to base ports of South America issued by SSE soared up 33% from last week to 860.52 points. However, some insiders said that the actual volume was limited though the rate rose greatly, therefore, it is likely to decline again when the shipment tide receded.

In the contrast, without the drive of the New Year’s shipment peak, volume dropped a little on the Japan service this week. The average slot utilization rate from Shanghai to Japan stood at 75% and rate was almost unchanged. December 30th, the freight index of the Japan service issued by SSE was reported at 718.57 points, in line with last week’s.