None of the seven dedicated Central China – Middle East services operated by the big carriers currently offers weekly sailings due to a chronic lack of tonnage.
As of 14 September, Alphaliner counted just 29 ships deployed on these services, while 50 would be required according to pro forma schedules.
As a result, almost half of all sailings on this route have to be blanked, as the services not only lack some 40% of the pro forma tonnage but also require additional ships as vessels can no longer complete a round trip in seven weeks due to port congestion and long waiting times at anchorage.
The shortage of tonnage in the Far East – Middle East trade is not only the result of port congestion: many ships have been redeployed to the main East-West routes, where cargo demand is very strong and spot freight rates are at historical highs.
Source: Alphaliner
