Spot container rates between Asia and Europe have shown a steady downward trend in the past week, with significant double-digit declines on Asia-to-Northern Europe and Asia-to-Mediterranean routes in particular.

European freight forwarders point out that the market wind has changed and spot rates are rapidly falling back. The central challenge facing shipping lines is the slowdown in demand, which appears to have peaked and the high rates of May and June are behind us, despite the addition of capacity through the Cape of Good Hope to cope with increased demand on Asia-Europe routes.

This is further confirmed by container trade statistics, which show a decline in monthly shipments from the Far East to Europe in July, down almost 200,000 TEUs from June, from 1.75 million TEUs in June to 1.58 million TEUs in July, a drop of 0.5 per cent. In particular, shipments from North Asia to Northern Europe fell 7.6% quarter-on-quarter and 14.2% YoY, while shipments from China to Northern Europe also fell 3.9% Yoy, although they were still up 7.9% YoY.

Forwarders expect August data to show a sharper month-on-month decline, with a weaker demand outlook for September. With China's Golden Week approaching, empty ship activity is expected to increase, which may be the only strategy for shipping companies to slow the decline in freight rates.

In response to changes in the market, shipping companies are taking action. Analysts pointed out that the longer transit time through the Cape of Good Hope requires earlier loading of goods in the peak season, but the current peak season is coming to an end, which has exacerbated the imbalance between supply and demand in the market. Freightos chief analyst Judah Levine said that given the extended transit time and the impact of the Chinese Golden Week, the arrival window of goods in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean is closing, which has eased the pressure on demand to some extent. However, while rates have fallen from their peak, they are still well above 2019 levels.

There is news that a new price war may break out on the trans-Pacific eastbound route, and a number of non-alliance shipping companies are slashing prices to improve utilization.

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