Despite the critical situation in the ocean freight market, due to the Red Sea crisis, there is a surprisingly strong demand for space on Westbound ships from Asia to Europe.
Due to a lower vessel capacity the trade Carriers are facing challenges for space requests. This crises also causes a shortage of available equipment on the empty depots. Carriers have announced blank sailings for the next period, leading to a significant capacity reduction of 15-20% exacerbating week-to-week capacity fluctuations.
Westbound shipments to the Far East continue to experience congested ports (Shanghai/Singapore), resulting in further schedule delays and making solid planning virtually impossible.
Ports of Europe (North West continent ports)
Also in Europe the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp are facing challenges. Vessels are delaying on the incoming journey due to longer transit times caused due to the fact that ships are rerouted via Cape of Good Hope. Furthermore equipment is on hand and bookings can be placed normally.
Rail freight: an efficient alternative
The rail freight option might be a solution for your challenges. Rail freight transport between China and (Western) Europe is a fast and effective solution for more urgent required shipments. With Rail transport your cargo can be shipped within 20 days, it is a cost and time effective alternative. MOL logistics offers:
- Complete rail service package, from loading to unloading
- Customs clearance
- Buyers consolidation on terminal or container freight station (SFS) warehouse
- Door-to-door solutions for import / export LCL and FCL
MOL Logistics: Global expertise and personal service
At MOL LOGISTICS we are always going for the “Extra Mile”. If you are having specific needs in the movement of your shipments, please contact your local MOL Logistics office.