Recovery of container traffic between Europe and Asia

In the near future, we should expect a recovery in container shipping volumes on routes between Europe and Asia, according to The loadstar, citing expert opinion. This will reverse the current downward trend in the number of voyages.

According to experts, the major disruption occurred just over a month ago, although container ships have been diverted around the African continent for a long time due to the danger in the Red Sea. But it was in April that demand on the routes between Asia and Northern Europe began to suddenly rise as transport capacity was being reduced. All this led to an increase in spot prices. 

Now the high cost of transportation will encourage ocean carriers to launch more ships on these routes, experts say. 

According to eeSea, in April, the reduction in container shipping capacity between Europe and Asia reached 25%.

In total, carriers offered to deliver 1.68 million TEU to customers, although they actually shipped only 1.29 million TEU. This means that this important sea route was short of about 200,000 40-foot containers in a month. 

One of the reasons for the failure was the reduction in the number of voyages from 169 to 128. 

According to eeSea's forecasts, in June, the demand for container traffic between Europe and Asia will remain at 1.61 million TEU, and the owners of transport capacity will be able to provide 1.54 million TEU. The deficit will still persist, but traffic volumes will increase, analysts conclude.