Weekly Commentary on China Containerized Transportation

Liu+Zijia

In the week ending May 9， China export container market saw transport demand kept on the stable upward trend. On May 5， China （Export） Containerized Freight Index （CCFI） issued by Shanghai Shipping Exchange （SSE） quoted 1086.19 points， up by 1.9 percent week on week； while Shanghai （Export） Containerized Freight Index （SCFI） issued by SSE quoted 1163.06 points， rising by 1.7 percent against last week.

In the Europe service， as Euro zone economy performed on the remarkable recovery trend， transport demand kept on the stable growth. In terms of region， export cargo volume performed well in North China， where the average slot utilization rate climbed to be 95 percent around； while cargo volume had a stable increase in East China， but the average loading rate was around 90-95 percent； in South China， because part of plants was lack of employees， cargo volume was flat and the average slot utilization rate kept at around 90 percent. Part of box liners followed their counterparts to implement early May freight rate increase plan and spot rate increased by USD100 per TEU in average. On May 9， the freight index in the China-Europe service quoted 1402.86 points， up by 2.5 percent against last week.

In the Mediterranean service， transport demand was on the upward trend. The average slot utilization rate hovered at around 95 percent， with some even full-loaded. Spot rate kept increasing， with that in the West Coast of this service about USD1600 per TEU， and that in the East Coast of this service around USD 1700 per TEU. On May 9， the freight index in the China-Mediterranean service rose by 2.4 percent to 1532.30 points.

In the North America service， non-agricultural employment and consumer confidence indices increased in April， which boosted the transport demand in this service. Nevertheless， more and more ships has been added in this service since April， which invaded the beneficial factors caused by increasing cargo volume. Part of box carriers reduced spot rate marginally and spot rate fluctuated. On May 9， the spot rate I the services from Shanghai to USWC and USEC services （covering seaborne surcharges） quoted USD1907 per FEU and USD 3316 per FEU， down by 0.3percent and 0.4 percent against last week respectively.

In the Persian Gulf/Red Sea service， cargo volume had a robust growth. In the Persian Gulf service， the average vessel slot utilization rate of space was around 90 percent； while in the Red Sea service， the average slot utilization rate kept around 95 percent. On May 9， the freight index in the China-Persian Gulf/Red Sea service quoted 1116.65 points， surging by 12.0 percent from last week.endprint

In the Australia/New Zealand service， the average slot utilization rate keeping at 80 percent. The average spot rate this week below USD600 per TEU， and the lowest one even around USD500 per TEU. On May 9， spot rate in the service from Shanghai to Australia/New Zealand service （covering seaborne surcharges） quoted USD578 per TEU.

In the South America service， the average slot utilization rate kept at around 80 percent. Spot rate declined with the lowest at USD550 per TEU. On May 9， the freight index in the China-South America service decreased by 7.3 percent against one week ago to 697.74 points.

Cargo volume declined in the Japan service. On May 9， the freight index in the China-Japan service quoted 754.73 points， almost in line with that last week.

（Please contact the Information Dept of SSE for more details.）

SHIPPING EXCHANGE

BULLETIN

TOTAL EDITION： 883

20/5/2014

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