Transpacific spot rates make China–US West Coast the most lucrative major trade

Transpacific spot rates have made the China–US West Coast route the most lucrative major trade for spot cargo from Shanghai, according to Alphaliner.

Over the past six months, the container shipping market has experienced very strong spot rates. Initially driven by an early and strong peak season, rates on some trades, however, kept climbing well beyond that period.

On the Transpacific, rates even neared post-Covid levels, while elsewhere the market began to cool down as expected.

In this edition, Alphaliner highlights how lucrative these trades have become by comparing revenue per container per nautical mile.

When looking at revenue from carrying spot cargo in 40′ containers on the main export routes ex Shanghai in relation to the duration of the ship’s voyages, the Far East – US West Coast trade has been by far the most lucrative one in the second half of this year.

The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) published weekly by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, has been hovering between 3,063 and 3,687 points since the beginning of July. Carriers have since adjusted their networks to make the most of the buoyant trade.

In late August, MSC boosted its Asia – USWC ‘Sentosa’ service with some 23,600 teu ‘megamax’ ships replacing tonnage of 15,000 teu.

ZIM, which already deploys 52% of its capacity on the Pacific, has announced it will launch yet another China – California service, the ‘ZX3’, in December.

Source: Alphaliner