How to prepare for the Chinese New Year?
According to the Copenhagen-based maritime consultancy Sea-Intelligence, the number of blank sailings has increased sharply on the transpacific trade lanes, but not so much on Asia-Europe.
"There have been 34 additional blank sailings on Asia-North America West Coast, and 16 on Asia-North America East Coast," said Alan Murphy, CEO of Sea-Intelligence. He added: "On Asia-Europe however, we don't see a similar trend, with Asia-North Europe only recording an additional six blank sailings, and Asia-Mediterranean an additional four blank sailings."
On the Asia-North America West Coast trade lane, carriers announced an extra seven to eleven blank sailings in all but five weeks of the analysed period.
However, for weeks 51 and 52, carriers have scheduled no blank sailings on the same trade lane, "which is a reflection of the carriers' indecision as to how to approach the potential pre-Chinese New Year rush." It appears to be a wait-and-see approach due to the unclarity of the seasonal demand. (sh)