Several major shipping lines have suspended or reduced services to and from South Africa as the global economic downturn continues to impact seafreight volumes, reports South Africa's Freight News.
The SA-Europe Container Service (Saecs), which includes Maersk Line, Mitsui OSK Lines, Safmarine and Deutsche Afrika-Linien, began scaling back in September by removing three vessels from its intermediate service.
Maersk Line and Safmarine have now suspended their Far East-SA 'Safari 2' loop, which operated six ships of 4 700 TEU capacity. Maersk continues its 'Safari 1' loop with seven ships of four 800 TEU and has added a Port Elizabeth call. It also maintains Far East-SA coverage via its FE-Durban-East Coast South America and FE-West Africa services.
Maersk South Africa managing director David Williams said the move reflects broader industry trends amid the global downturn.
Mitsui OSK Lines has discontinued its 'Zax' Durban-Maputo-Asia service. Marketing team leader Andrew Weiss said the company will now use its 'WA1' West Africa service, which will call at Durban and Maputo en route to Singapore.
Hamburg Sud is also cutting back. South Africa general manager John Blessington said freight rates and volumes have dropped sharply. He expects a slight recovery by mid-2009, driven by renewed demand from China.
Blessington said Hamburg Suid and Aliania reduced weekly capacity between Asia and South Africa, and Asia and the East Coast of South America, by 2,100 TEU from December 11 to January 8 and again from February 20 to March 27.
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Evergreen Marine have not made any changes to their South African services, according to company sources.
Freight News contacts estimate export volumes have dropped by more than 40 per cent, while imports are down by over 30 per cent.
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The SA-Europe Container Service (Saecs), which includes Maersk Line, Mitsui OSK Lines, Safmarine and Deutsche Afrika-Linien, began scaling back in September by removing three vessels from its intermediate service.
Maersk Line and Safmarine have now suspended their Far East-SA 'Safari 2' loop, which operated six ships of 4 700 TEU capacity. Maersk continues its 'Safari 1' loop with seven ships of four 800 TEU and has added a Port Elizabeth call. It also maintains Far East-SA coverage via its FE-Durban-East Coast South America and FE-West Africa services.
Maersk South Africa managing director David Williams said the move reflects broader industry trends amid the global downturn.
Mitsui OSK Lines has discontinued its 'Zax' Durban-Maputo-Asia service. Marketing team leader Andrew Weiss said the company will now use its 'WA1' West Africa service, which will call at Durban and Maputo en route to Singapore.
Hamburg Sud is also cutting back. South Africa general manager John Blessington said freight rates and volumes have dropped sharply. He expects a slight recovery by mid-2009, driven by renewed demand from China.
Blessington said Hamburg Suid and Aliania reduced weekly capacity between Asia and South Africa, and Asia and the East Coast of South America, by 2,100 TEU from December 11 to January 8 and again from February 20 to March 27.
Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Evergreen Marine have not made any changes to their South African services, according to company sources.
Freight News contacts estimate export volumes have dropped by more than 40 per cent, while imports are down by over 30 per cent.
SeaNews Turkey
