August is supposed to be the traditional peak season for transportation. However, the growing demand for China's export container transportation is gradually weakening. Due to the large scale of the shipping company's capacity adjustment in the previous month, together with the new delivery of ships and idle capacity were all concentrated on major routes such as Europe, resulting in ample supply of accommodation for the month, the average utilization rate of ships remained at around 90%. Affected by this, the freight rate for this month began to decline gradually after August 15, and the plan for imposing the surcharge on the peak season for the shipping company originally scheduled for August 15 was also temporarily suspended. The "high tariff" for the second half of the Chinese maritime container market has finally eased.

The overall chart of the average container price index (the “blue net average price index”) of China's maritime shipping market released by China International Maritime Net in August, on the whole, the overall freight rate curve showed a trend of “falling before and after falling”, of which August 1st. By August 15th, the freight index steadily remained at around 1607. After August 16th, the freight index began to decline continuously. As of August 31st, the freight index was 1556 points, down 5.1% from 1608 points in July. Declined by 5.2%. This is the first time that the freight rate of China's ocean freight container market has declined in the past half year. However, compared with 963 points in the same period of last year, the current comprehensive price of the shipping market is still at a historically high level.

According to the analysis of the reporter, after the shipping industry experienced rapid growth and recovery in the first half of the year, the performance of the traditional peak season in the second half of the year, especially in the third quarter, was particularly critical. However, from the current market situation, the overall market is still full of uncertainties. Although the rising trend of the volume of each line in July and August did not change, due to the release of idle capacity and the delivery of new capacity by the shipping company market, the rising power of route loading rate and freight rates has been slightly insufficient, and the shipping price has remained at a relatively high level. At the same time, operating pressure has not been fully demonstrated. Therefore, the tariff market in September will continue to be in the adjustment period, but it does not rule out further decline.

The following is an analysis of the price trend of some routes in August:

European routes

Demand for transportation on the European route continued the good momentum of the previous month. Most flights were shipped in full capacity. However, in order to ensure the loading rate of ships, most liner companies make corresponding adjustments to the route's freight rates. The "Nets Index" of China's exports to Europe from August 1 to August 15 was 1,842 points and 1,847 points respectively. It only rose by 0.5% during the half-monthly period. It can be said that the first half of the month's freight rates were not available. obvious change. Because the freight rates of the European Union's lines increased significantly in the first half of the year, despite the decline in the first half of the month, the overall freight rate is still at a high level, so there is little room for further increase. In addition, due to fluctuations in the exchange rate of the euro, some European importers are cautiously wait-and-see attitudes. Most of the orders placed are short-listed, and the proportion of large singles and long-term orders has decreased, resulting in a decline in market expectations for the market outlook.

From August 15th, European cargo volume has cooled slightly. Although the current European freight rate is still operating at a high level, due to the impact of the European debt crisis, the degree of consumer confidence in the short term is limited. With most importers completing inventory replenishment in the fourth quarter, transport Demand will inevitably decline, thereby increasing the downward pressure on freight rates. The “Blue Network Index” released by China International Maritime Net on August 31 was 1,825 points, a decrease of 2.2% from the first half and a decrease of 1.7% from the same period of last month. Affected by the recent space vacancy, the market freight rates continued to decline slightly. Some shipping companies have already started to lower their freight rates by about US$50/TEU to attract supply.

North America route

North American routes Following the start of the second round of peak season surcharges by some shipping companies last month, the remaining shipping companies also began to impose this surcharge this month. Because of the supply of space and the transportation demand, it caused tension in the North American route and the implementation of price increases. On August 15, China International Marine Network released North American route "Blue Network Index" of 2996 points, compared with 2918 points at the beginning of the month, the price rose 7.8%. Compared with 2904 points in the same month of last month, prices increased by 9.2%.

After the August 18th strong performance of the North American route, as the volume growth momentum became weaker and weaker, the average space utilization rate of ships fell to 90%, and the freight rate was loosened, among which the high-price shipping companies adjusted a lot and adjusted. The freight rate has basically recovered to the level before the last peak season surcharge, and the freight rate has thus declined to some extent. On August 31, the “Blue Network Index” for North American routes was 2956 points, which was a drop of 4% from the highest point of 2996 points in the middle of this month. It is said that there will be shipping companies adding flights and new routes in September. This will undoubtedly worsen the North American route that is beginning to decline. Some industry insiders predict that it will not be reproduced in the next few months. The vigorous situation.

Australia and New Zealand routes

After maintaining a stable freight rate for one week in early August, the Australia-Singapore route showed a gradual downward trend. Although the peak season of the Australia-Singapore route is approaching, the volume of cargo this month is still showing no signs of growth, and the average space utilization rate of ships remains at around 80%. As the market outlook is not clear, some of the shipping companies that announced earlier on the price increase plan on September 1 have been tentatively implemented. The freight rate has risen by US$300/TEU, and the other part has chosen to postpone the price increase. The "Blue Network Index" of the Australia-Singapore route announced on August 8 was 1159 points, and there was no significant change in the first week's freight rate. From August 9 to August 31, the freight rates of the Australia-New Zealand route continued to fall, at 1160 points and 1184 points respectively, which was a 2.1% decrease from the beginning of the month and a decrease of 10% from the price of the same period of last month.

It is reported that some shipping companies announced the price increase plan for the Australia-Singapore route on September 1. The increase will be around US$300/TEU. In view of the increasingly obvious signs of the busy season of the Australia-Australia route, the shipping companies have also become increasingly optimistic about the freight rates during the peak season this year. In addition to the price increase plan on September 1, some shipping companies plan to re-sell peak season on September 15. Surcharges are in the range of US$250/TEU. In addition, taking into account that the current situation of oversupply of Australia-Singapore routes has not yet materially changed, some shipping companies are interested in contracting the supply of capacity, so as to speed up the balance of supply and demand.

It is reported that after the Australian-Singapore route experienced a downward trend in the past six months, the market recently heard the voice of price increase. It is expected that the adjustment of the freight rate will be carried out as early as next month. The adjustment rate will be determined according to market conditions.

Japan and South Korea routes

Japan's airline prices rose slightly after the first week of August, when the volume of goods showed a significant rebound, with the highest freight rate appearing around August 8 and the JAL route's “Blue Network Index” of 394 points, up 0.8% over the week. From August 9th to August 16th, the freight index fell. Among them, the “BlueNet Index” was 380 points on August 16 and the freight rate decreased by 1.4% during the week. From August 16th to the end of the month, the freight rate remained basically stable. About 375 points. The characteristics of the freight rates of the Japan route being stable and significantly higher than the same period of previous years have been particularly prominent in the off-season. In late August, the traditional peak season is gradually emerging, coupled with the concentrated shipments at the end of the month, resulting in little change in freight rates.

Middle East routes

As the consignees in the Middle East are still in the midst of the impact of the traditional Ramadan Festival, the freight rates of the continuously hot Middle East route have finally dropped back this month. The volume of goods continued the downward trend at the end of last month. In addition, the shipping capacity of some shipping companies in the previous stage was relatively large. The utilization rate of average space in this month was less than 80%, and the market freight rates began to show a weekly downward trend. Among them, the “Blue Network Index” released in August August was 1,568 points, the highest in the month, up 2.3% from 1,545 points at the beginning of the month. After August 9th, the freight rate began to decline continuously. The “blue network freight rate” index released on August 31st was 1355 points, which was a drop of nearly 20% from the beginning of the month.

Other routes

Due to the impact of the traditional peak season, there have been many recent airline tariff adjustments. For example, the Central and South American route took the lead in this month. The previously announced US$500/TEU price increase plan has not been implemented successfully. Most of the company’s gains have remained at the level of US$200/TEU, although the freight rate is in Months are slightly fine-tuned, but they have not changed much and remain stable. Among them, the “Blue Network Index” of the Central and South American routes issued on August 1 and August 31 were 2,541 and 2,556 points, respectively, which was up 1.5% from the same period of last month.