Asia-Europe route: 27% of container vessel sailings canceled in first seven weeks of 2023

Asia-Europe route: 27% of container vessel sailings cut in first seven weeks of 2023 (Source: Alphaliner)

The three major carrier alliances (including 2M, Ocean Alliance and THE Alliance) have planned to cancel 27% of sailings on the Asia-Europe in the first seven weeks of this year compared to the original schedule.

Under normal conditions, the 18 Far East-Northern Europe services and 10 Far East-Middle East services by the shipping lines would have provided a total of 196 sailings between January 1st and February 17th.

However, based on the actual sailings observed during the first weeks of this year, as well as the announced transition schedule for the coming weeks, it appears that 53 of these planned sailings was canceled due to lack of cargo demand.

This number could still increase if carriers decide to cancel further sailings after the week-long Lunar New Year holiday.

This has become a common practice for container lines to 'void' vessels during the bleak weeks after the Lunar New Year.

Contrary to this, the weeks leading up to the holiday usually see a surge in exports from China, as goods need to be shipped out before factories close and production comes to a near standstill.

Read more:

• Spot container freight rates stable but blanked sailings increased before Lunar New Year
• Maersk and MSC to end 2M Alliance in 2025
• MSC, CMA CGM, Evergreen and ZIM to have strongest growth in 2022

Source: Phaata.com (According to Alphaliner)

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