CONTAINER volumes on services from Europe to North America increased by 12.9 per cent in October compared with a year earlier, to reach 348,900 TEU, but carriers travelling in the opposite direction had a tougher time with volumes down 4.6 per cent to 218,000 TEU during the same period.
The latest figures from Container Trades Statistics (CTS) show that for the first 10 months, box volumes on the eastbound trade were 9.3 per cent ahead of last year at 3.3 million TEU.
In the opposite direction, the growth was flat on a year ago, with volumes at 2.2 million TEU.
Freight rates in this direction have also weakened; the CTS price index, which uses the 2008 average as an index level of 100, dropped to 92 points in October compared with 94 points a year earlier.
The index has been lower than last year's level in every month of the year, reported Lloyd's Loading List.
In the head haul direction, prices were up slightly on last year's level in October reaching 88 points against 87 points last year. In August and September the price index matched last year's level, but in every other month it has lagged behind 2013.
Containerisation International estimates show quarterly average utilisation levels on services from the Mediterranean to the east coast of North America peaked at 81 per cent this year while in the opposite direction they failed to breach the 70 per cent mark.
From northern Europe to North America utilisation was much higher at 90 per cent, but in the opposite direction it peaked at 77 per cent.
CONTAINER
16 December 2014 - 23:32
Europe-America box up 13pc in October, but west-east volume falls 4.6pc
CONTAINER volumes on services from Europe to North America increased by 12.9 per cent in October compared with a year earlier, to reach 348,900 TEU, but carriers travelling in the opposite direction had a tougher time with volumes down 4.6 per cent to 218,000 TEU during the same period.
CONTAINER
16 December 2014 - 23:32
Europe-America box up 13pc in October, but west-east volume falls 4.6pc
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