Weekly Ocean Operations Update: Asia to Europe, US and Australia 28/03/25

General overview:

The volume for the second half of March picked up gradually and demand in April is expected to remain similar. There is limited blank sailing in April, which may cause pressure on rates. With the continual full schedule of Gemini providing shuttle space, rolling has improved. However, the previous The Alliance vessels are still experiencing issues with transshipment and misconnection.

For North Europe, the weekly normal capacity is approximately 335,000 TEUs. Capacity reductions for the upcoming weeks are as follows: Week 14 is down by 6%, Week 15 by 6%, Week 16 by 5%, and Week 17 by 6%.

For the Mediterranean, the weekly normal capacity is around 213,000 TEUs. The capacity reductions are as follows: Week 14 is down by 5%, Week 15 by 7%, Week 16 by 6%, and Week 17 by 1%.

The Pacific Northwest (PNW) service is facing significant blank sailings in April due to congestion at the Vancouver port. As a result, vessels are experiencing delays in returning to Asia port calls. In response, carriers have announced additional blank sailings and port omissions as part of their schedule recovery efforts.

Overview by trade lane

FEWB summary:

Rate and capacity update as of March 28, 2025:

Oceania summary:

Rate and capacity update as of March 28, 2025:

Transpacific summary:

Rate and capacity update as of March 28, 2025: 

Asia port updates

Market intel: Europe

• Belgium faces nationwide strike on 31 March, road, airport and rail services disrupted due to national strike . 

       (Source: Sofreight.com)

Current implementation of the Maersk East West network 

• As of now, 75% of the East-West network has been implemented. We will continue to work towards full implementation until the end of May 2025, as there as still some vessels running under the earlier 2M agreement. Currently, more than 250 of around 340 vessels in total have transitioned into Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s new ocean network which covers East-West trades. According to Sea-Intelligence’s data, the Gemini Cooperation delivered a schedule reliability of 94% in February 2025.  (Source: Maersk)

Market intel: Oceania

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

Market intel: Americas

Ocean alliance USEC- USEC8 svc temporary suspend from APR.

• Ocean alliance suspend the USEC service USEC8 (CBX) from April till June. Last sailing CMA CGM LA TRAVIATA 0XR7TE1MA ETD 25-MAR Port Kelang.
• Service details: 
  • USEC8: CMA - CBX | COSCO - AWE7  |EMC - CBX  |OOCL ECC3
  • Operator : CMA
  • Vessel Capacity : 13x10,000 teus
  • Original sailing schedule:
• Port Kelang-Haiphong-Yantian-Ningbo-Shanghai-Pusan-Yokohama-Norfolk-Savannah-Charleston-Miami. (Sources: Ocean Alliance)

MSC Blank sailing program in APR.

• MSC announced six transpacific sailings to be blanked, starting with next week’s sailing on the Chinook service that links the Far East with Prince Rupert, Vancouver, and Seattle/Tacoma, operated with eight vessels averaging 13,000 teu, and includes Zim-chartered slots.
• In addition, in week 17 it will blank two sailings out of Asia to the US west coast, the Pearl and Orient strings, and two Asia-US east coast services, the America and Lone Star strings.
• Finally, in week 18 it will blank the sailing from Asia of the Asia-US east coast Empire service, which also has Zim chartering slots. (Sources: MSC)