News
The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), unveiled on April 19 by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE), fell 2.6% from the previous year to 761.74 points.
On the Europe route, the average load factor of vessels leaving Shanghai fluctuated around 90%, but freight rates decreased slightly. Spot rates for services from Shanghai, excluding terminal handling charges (THCs), declined 0.3% to $638 per TEU. To and from the Mediterranean, meanwhile, the average load factor was about 95%, high enough to keep freight rates as high as they were. They improved 0.3% to $717 per TEU.
On the west coast of North America trade, container movement was stable, but some shipping line lowered freight rates, leading to a weak market. Spot rates decreased 4.2% to $1,538 per FEU. The freight market was bearish on the route to and from the east coast as well. Rates went down 0.2% to $2,634 per FEU.
To and from Japan, freight movement was steady, making the freight market basically calm. Freight rates rose 0.4% to $232 per TEU on the Kansai route, and hiked as much to $233 per TEU on the Kanto route.
