Maersk reforms services, adds transpacific rate hikes

MAERSK Line has announced rate increases on two transpacific loops as part of a package of wide range service reforms to cut capacity to match slackening world demand.
Rates on Maersk`s west coast of South America services to Vietnam will increase US$70 per TEU and $150 per FEU as well as on 40-foot high cube boxes. As well, rates from the South America west coast to Ho Chi Minh City and to Haiphong will rise $150 per TEU and $300 per FEU also from September 1.
Eastbound rates from Asia to the west coast of South America will go up September 19 by $300 per TEU and $600 per FEU.
Maersk will also suspend the transpacific 10 (TP10) service and revise the transpacific 7 (TP7) and transpacific 3 (TP3) services to cover ports affected. This takes effect with the last TP10 eastbound sailing from Busan on October 4 and with the last westbound call at Miami October 31.
To compensate, the TP3 service will add Ningbo eastbound. Exports from US east coast ports will move on the TP3 service via Tanjung Pelapas with ships continuing through Suez eastbound.
The TP3 rotation, which starts from Shanghai on September 30, will be Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Shenzhen (Yantian), Tanjung Pelepas, Newark, Norfolk and Savannah.
The westbound rotation remains as it was: Newark, Norfolk, Savannah, Tanjung Pelepas, Hong Kong, Shenzhen (Yantian), Shanghai and Busan.
The revised TP7 service will include an eastbound calls at Busan and Shenzhen (Da Chan Bay). The TP7 will also bring Qingdao cargo to the US east coast via Yokohama with the new TP3 taking cargo to Qingdao via Tanjung Pelepas.
The new TP7 eastbound rotation is as follows: Shenzhen (Yantian), Hong Kong, Busan, Yokohama, Balboa, Miami, Savannah, Charleston and Newark.
Westbound, the service will call at Halifax, Newark, Savannah, Miami, Balboa, Los Angeles, Oakland, Kaohsiung, Shenzhen (Da Chan Bay and Yantian).
TP7 starts with the eastbound sailing on October 2 from Kaohsiung with westbound services starting from Halifax on August 1.