Intra-Asia rates soften as congestion at major ports begins to ease

Intra-Asia rates are receding from their recent highs as bottlenecks in major Chinese and other Asian ports subside.

On 15 October, Drewry’s Intra-Asia Container Index dipped 3%, to an average of $1,453 per 40ft.

Rates from Shanghai to key destinations, including Busan in South Korea, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, and Jawaharlal Nehru Port in India, softened as vessel waiting times declined.

The Golden Week holiday in China also gave ports an opportunity to clear cargo backlogs, helping improve schedule reliability.

Linerlytica calculated that North Asia now accounted for 37% of global port congestion, which is still the highest among all regions, but down from 50% last month.

Rates from Shanghai to Nhava Sheva fell 11%, to $3,370 per 40ft, while those to Busan declined 8% to $1,000 per 40ft. Shanghai–Singapore rates dropped 7% to $1,973 per 40ft.

Port congestion eased during Week 41, with average vessel waiting times at Busan at 23 hours, from 26 hours a week earlier. At Jawaharlal Nehru Port, waiting times declined to 24 hours, from 42, and Singapore recorded a decrease to 34 hours, from 50.

The improvement comes amid subdued demand across Greater China-to-North-east, South-east and South Asia trades, further contributing to the recent decline in spot rates.

However, the deteriorating situation in the Middle East continued to support freight rates on the Shanghai–Jebel Ali route, which remained elevated, at $8,416 per 40ft.

Elsewhere, rates across South-east and North-east Asia trade routes were largely stable, with increases recorded on those originating in Busan and Yokohama. Freight rates from Busan to Shanghai rose 4%, to $159 per 40ft, with Yokohama to Shanghai up 4%, to $120 per 40ft.

Despite the recent pullback, the intra-Asia container freight market has remained resilient this year, the IACI surging 198% year on year. Elevated bunker costs and the US–Iran tension have continued to add to carriers’ operating expenses, with Brent crude prices remaining above $100 per barrel since early September.

Meanwhile, shipping lines continue to introduce new services amid the firm market.

OOCL is set to expand its regional network tomorrow, with the launch of its China–Cambodia–Thailand (CCT4) service connecting Nansha and Shekou in South China with Sihanoukville in Cambodia and Songkhla in Thailand.

And MSC yesterday announced Jasmine, a solo China-Singapore-Indonesia service for 4 November, when the 2,169 teu MSC Wind II arrives at Shanghai. The service will call Shanghai-Ningbo-Shekou-Singapore-Surabaya-Semarang-Singapore-Shanghai.