MSC to levy US$100/TEU Asia-Europe `peak season` charge in February

Time:2010-01-22 Browse:38 Author:RISINGSUN

GENEVA`s Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC) had informed the trade that it will levy a "short-term peak season surcharge" of US$100 per TEU February 1-20 on shipments from the Far East to Mediterranean and northern Europe.
Paris-based shipping consultancy AXS Alphaliner said it was an "unprecedented time for such a surcharge. February is traditionally the weakest month for the trade due to the holiday period in the Far East."
Alphaliner said Asia-Europe capacity has dropped 11 per cent from January 2009 to January 2010, to 311,000 TEU of weekly capacity from 351,000 TEU 12 months ago.
American Shipper research affiliate ComPair Data has pegged the capacity figures between Asia and Europe at 331,000 TEU on January 1, 2009 and 306,000 TEU on January 1, 2010, according to ComPair Data`s most recent World Liner Supply report.
Alphaliner speaks of it as a "demand crunch", with reports of 10,000 TEU being left behind each week in Asian ports since Christmas. "The tight space situation has led to several rounds of rate increases by carriers on the trade," said Alphaliner.