The warning comes as shipping lines have been withdrawing capacity
because the industry has been suffering from over-supply of vessels on
key trade lanes.
If shipping lines remove services in order to balance supply and demand, it results in a short term reduction in capacity, said SBS Worldwide
group chairman Steve Walker in a company statement.
"When this occurs, shipping lines will leave containers behind - it
tends to be those being transported on behalf of shippers with
short-term supply and demand driven carrier relationships that suffer
this fate," he said.
"The best way to avoid being affected by a situation like this is to
make sure that your logistics provider has strong, long-term
relationships with more than one reliable shipping line on any trade
lanes where you require transport services."
There are already reports of some cargo being left behind as the result
of a mini surge in cargo from China as companies attempt to export ahead of the closure of factories for the Chinese New Year celebrations, Mr
Walker added.
The service withdrawals come as carriers have had a tough year. Record
profits in 2010 turned to losses in 2011 because of overcapacity in the
market.
To reverse the oversupply situation created in late 2009 to early 2010,
carriers have laid up vessels, increasing month on month from November
to December 2011 by 19.8 per cent caused by temporary withdrawals of
services.
WORLD SHIPPING
12 January 2012 - 20:47
Forwarders need strong carrier relationships, warns leading forwarder
LONDON's SBS Worldwide Ltd, an air and ocean forwarder, has urged shippers to use logistics providers with strong relationships with shipping lines or they could find their shipments left on the quayside.
WORLD SHIPPING
12 January 2012 - 20:47
LONDON's SBS Worldwide Ltd, an air and ocean forwarder, has urged
shippers to use logistics providers with strong relationships with
shipping lines or they could find their shipments left on the quayside.
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