THE three most reliable carriers in January for on-time performance were MOL, Wan Hai and Maersk - the same set in the same order as in December, according to Drewry's Carrier Performance Insight.
But average container service reliability slipped 5.7 per cent in January to being 69.6 per cent on time overall.
Japan's biggest carrier, MOL was best, being 82.7 per cent on time, but down from 88.2 per cent on time in December.
Wan Hai followed in second place with 79.5 per cent and Maersk Line in third at 77 per cent.
There was a 30 point spread between the best and the worst with Zim taking the hindmost, being 57.2 per cent of the time.
"The latest reliability performance of carriers is disappointing considering the gains made in 2015," said Drewry supply chain research chief Simon Heaney. "However, some of the deterioration can be explained by harsh weather, so it is too early to judge if this was just a blip or represents a trend," he said.
"Drewry expects the February result to show some improvement although the operational network changes designed to cater for the demand slowdown during Chinese New Year might have a negative impact," Mr Heaney said.
January represented the worst month-on-month decline since January 2015 when the on-time average fell by 9.4 points and brought it down to its lowest reading since April 2015.
Nine of the 10 trades covered were less punctual in January, with the biggest decline seen in the transatlantic route (-17.9 points), which was no doubt affected by the heavy snow storms that struck the US east coast.
Drewry's Carrier Performance Insight is available via a user-friendly website powered by data from Hong Kong's global shipment management software solutions provider CargoSmart.
But average container service reliability slipped 5.7 per cent in January to being 69.6 per cent on time overall.
Japan's biggest carrier, MOL was best, being 82.7 per cent on time, but down from 88.2 per cent on time in December.
Wan Hai followed in second place with 79.5 per cent and Maersk Line in third at 77 per cent.
There was a 30 point spread between the best and the worst with Zim taking the hindmost, being 57.2 per cent of the time.
"The latest reliability performance of carriers is disappointing considering the gains made in 2015," said Drewry supply chain research chief Simon Heaney. "However, some of the deterioration can be explained by harsh weather, so it is too early to judge if this was just a blip or represents a trend," he said.
"Drewry expects the February result to show some improvement although the operational network changes designed to cater for the demand slowdown during Chinese New Year might have a negative impact," Mr Heaney said.
January represented the worst month-on-month decline since January 2015 when the on-time average fell by 9.4 points and brought it down to its lowest reading since April 2015.
Nine of the 10 trades covered were less punctual in January, with the biggest decline seen in the transatlantic route (-17.9 points), which was no doubt affected by the heavy snow storms that struck the US east coast.
Drewry's Carrier Performance Insight is available via a user-friendly website powered by data from Hong Kong's global shipment management software solutions provider CargoSmart.