Weekly Ocean Operations Update: Asia to Europe, US and Australia 20/12/24

General overview:

The weekly normal capacity for the FEWB trade lane to North Europe is approximately 330,000 TEUs. For the second half of December, capacity has been reduced by 11%. 

The Mediterranean’s weekly normal shipping capacity is about 189,000 TEUs. Currently, December blank sailings mean a capacity reduction of around 8-10%. 

The market is currently making efforts to push a GRI in January, aiming for a post-GRI level of USD 6,000/FEU during the first half of January. December has seen strong volume levels, and a similar situation is anticipated for the first three weeks of January. However, a slowdown is expected starting from the fourth week due to the impact of Chinese New Year.

Bookings are picking up, with the peak volume period predicted to occur during the first three weeks of January, just before CYN. Carriers have begun controlling space by implementing allocation plans for January sailings to manage capacity. Vessels are running at full capacity, and some are rolling cargoes.

The TPEB (Transpacific Eastbound) trade line is currently overbooked across all regions. For PSW (Pacific Southwest), space is overbooked and rolling. Similarly, in the PNW (Pacific Northwest) region, space is overbooked and rolling, with all carriers restricting new bookings.

President Trump offers his support to the dockworkers union in their recent strikes against increased automation at the U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports.

Overview by trade lane

FEWB summary:

Rate and capacity update as of December 20, 2024:

Oceania summary:

Rate and capacity update as of December 20, 2024:

Transpacific summary:

Rate and capacity update as of December 20, 2024: 

Asia port updates

Market intel: Europe

• Hapag-Lloyd - Indian Ocean Service (IOS) service update. IOS will return to Hamburg, DE (CTA) instead of Wilhelmshaven, DE from January 2025. (Source: eeSea)
• HMM announced the launch of a new INX (India North Europe Express) service which will offer a direct connection from Western India to Northern Europe. INX will cooperate with HMM and ONE. (Source: eeSea)
• MSC is pleased to announce that, as of December 16, cargo bookings are now open for East/West network, which is scheduled to launch in 2025. (Source: MSC) 

Market intel: Oceania

Terminal and Port Update, Australia

Patrick Terminals 

• Brisbane: Delays approx. 0.5 days 
• Fremantle: Delays approx. 0.5 days
• Sydney: Delays approx. 3-4 days 
• Melbourne: Delays approx. 0.5 days

DP World Terminals

• Brisbane: Delays approx. 3 days 
• Fremantle: Minimal delays approx. 0.5 days 
• Sydney: Delays approx. 0.5 days 
• Melbourne: Delays approx. 1 day 

VICT

• Melbourne: Delays approx. 1.5 day 

(Source: ANL)