Global demand for containers was up by barely 0.6% in June, according to the latest data from Container Trade Statistics (CTS).
It is a sign that the market that has been growing continuously since the pandemic epidemic is starting to weaken significantly. The first half of the year even closed with a 1.7% drop compared to the same period last year.
In terms of export containers, the biggest downturn (-15.7% ) was in the trade between Europe and the Far East.
At the same time, CTS reports a noticeable increase in freight rates, +42% in June compared to a year ago and +213% compared to June 2019. This is a record high.
This time long-term contracts are boosting the rates . A sign that shippers prefer to guarantee themselves for at least the next twelve months, with a certainty of available fleet capacity, paying even higher fixed rates rather than run greater risks on the container freight spot market.
Translation by Giles Foster
