US west coast imports soar while extra container capacity is deployed
TRANSPACIFIC ocean carriers have deployed extra loaders in response to peak season demand and record container spot rates, reports London’s Loadstar.
With October advance vessel load data for the port of Los Angeles running 30 per cent to 34 per cent higher than last year, carriers are also looking at more permanent network upgrades on the route, said he report.
According to an assessment by Alphaliner, the average weekly headhaul capacity between Asia and North America reached a new high of 530,000 TEU in the rush before the Chinese Golden Week holiday
“The offering on the transpacific has been further increased as both Cosco and Wan Hai Lines organised one additional seasonal service each,” noted the consultant.
U.S. Imports could jump to 34% increase in October
According to Alphaliner, Cosco is now operating five 8,500-9,500 TEU vessels on its extra loop, linking the ports of Shanghai, Ningbo, Xiamen and Yantian with Los Angeles, while Wan Hai has deployed extra 2,750-4,950 TEU ships between Haiphong, Yantian, Kaohsiung, Shanghai and Long Beach.
Los Angeles, the biggest US port, saw container imports soar 18 per cent in August, compared with the same month last year, to 516,286 TEU, boosted by seven ad-hoc calls. And the port is on track to announce a new record for imports of some 600,000 TEU in September.
Moreover, according to its Signal data forecaster, which provides a three-week look at cargo coming into LA, imports for the first week in October are up 34 per cent on the same week of 2019 and ahead 30 per cent for the second week.
©2016 HKSG Group Media
