 Carriers scrambling to add capacity in overheated trans-Pacific |
Source |
American Shipper |
Post Date |
06/14/2021 |
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Two Chinese shipping lines will enter the booming trans-Pacific trade in the coming weeks, and a freight forwarder is reportedly seeking to join the fray as soon as it ters ships.
In another development that highlights the explosive demand for US imports now in its 11th month, a spokesman at HMM confirmed Wednesday the South Korean carrier ints to deploy at least four extra-loader vessels to the West Coast in each of the next two months, up from two currently.
The frenzied activity in the largest US trade lane is being driven by 10 consecutive months of record or near-record import volumes from Asia, and record-high freight rates that continue to increase, making any additional capacity a lucrative investment for carriers.
Gene Seroka, utive director of the Port of Los Angeles, told JOC.com Wednesday that BAL Container Line and China United Container Line have notified the port they will initiate services to the Los Angeles-Long Beach gateway in the coming weeks. Those carriers operate in other China trade lanes, but this would be their first activity in the trans-Pacific, he said.
Noel Hacegaba, deputy utive director and chief operating officer at the Port of Long Beach, confirmed those lines will enter the China to Southern California trade. ¡°This is indicative of the heightened demand in the trans-Pacific, and the preference of carriers for the Southern California gateway,¡± he said.
The details of the new services are still uncertain and continue to evolve, both port utives said. While it appears the vessels will be in the range of 2,500 to 3,000 TEU capacity, the lines have not released information as to how many vessels they will deploy, or whether they will even have enough ships to offer fixed weekly services.
HMM extra-loaders
Another service that is possible, according to the port utives, would be operated by a non-vessel-operating common carrier (NVO), although that service has yet to be finalized ping the ability of the NVO to secure vessels.
HMM, which has been deploying extra-loader vessels in the trans-Pacific in addition to its schedule of weekly services, will increase its extra-loader deployments at least in July and August. The HMM spokesman said the carrier in July will increase its extra-loader deployments from two to four, and in August to four or five sailings. The plans are subject to change, he said.
The HMM extra-loaders will call at Busan, South Korea, and will also call at a port or ports in China. Vessel sizes range from 5,000 to 6,500 TEU, the HMM spokesman said.
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