MOST of the top 10 ocean carriers have reduced their fleets trading between Asia and North America, reports London's Loadstar.
For example, MSC has cut the percentage of its tonnage deployed on the transpacific from 16 to nine per cent, notes the Paris-based container consultancy, Alphaliner.
The consultant noted that MSC deployed the most tonnage, 23 per cent, of its five-million TEU capacity on the Asia-Europe route, while next, in terms of capacity operated, is across its Middle East and Indian subcontinent loops, at 14 per cent, followed closely by African services at 13 per cent.
'Furthermore, the transatlantic fleet of MSC (10 per cent) and its activities to and from Latin America (12 per cent) are now more important than its transpacific operations,' said Alphaliner, adding that MSC was also the ocean carrier with the highest proportion of its fleet deployed on intra-European trades (seven per cent).
Meanwhile, current 2M partner Maersk's trading profile for Asia to Europe, 22 per cent of its 4.1 million TEU fleet, is similar, but in contrast it still deploys 18 per cent of its tonnage on the transpacific. The Danish liner also dedicates 18 per cent of its capacity to Latin American trades as a result of its takeover of South American trade specialist Hamburg Sud.
Elsewhere, Alphaliner said, Latin America trades had overtaken Asia-Europe and has the mainstay for Hapag-Lloyd, following the merger with CSAV and its investment in neopanamax 13,000 TEU ships.
Indeed, during the Hamburg-based carrier's first-quarter results presentation last month, CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said the services were proving 'more robust' than other regions and running 'choc-a-bloc full'.
Looking at the total containership fleet, Alphaliner said 21 per cent of all liner capacity, including the largest 24,000-TEU vessels, was deployed between Asia and Europe, with Asia-North America second with 18 per cent.
Taiwanese carrier Wan Hai is one such that has reduced its coverage across international routes in favour of boosting activity in intra-Asia. Always a strong player in the sector, the 11th-ranked carrier, which slipped into the red in Q1, has renewed its focus there.
According to Alphaliner data, Wan Hai's intra-Asia liftings are now some 65 per cent of its total volumes, having contracted to 57 per cent after the line took advantage of strong demand on the transpacific to increase its coverage.
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For example, MSC has cut the percentage of its tonnage deployed on the transpacific from 16 to nine per cent, notes the Paris-based container consultancy, Alphaliner.
The consultant noted that MSC deployed the most tonnage, 23 per cent, of its five-million TEU capacity on the Asia-Europe route, while next, in terms of capacity operated, is across its Middle East and Indian subcontinent loops, at 14 per cent, followed closely by African services at 13 per cent.
'Furthermore, the transatlantic fleet of MSC (10 per cent) and its activities to and from Latin America (12 per cent) are now more important than its transpacific operations,' said Alphaliner, adding that MSC was also the ocean carrier with the highest proportion of its fleet deployed on intra-European trades (seven per cent).
Meanwhile, current 2M partner Maersk's trading profile for Asia to Europe, 22 per cent of its 4.1 million TEU fleet, is similar, but in contrast it still deploys 18 per cent of its tonnage on the transpacific. The Danish liner also dedicates 18 per cent of its capacity to Latin American trades as a result of its takeover of South American trade specialist Hamburg Sud.
Elsewhere, Alphaliner said, Latin America trades had overtaken Asia-Europe and has the mainstay for Hapag-Lloyd, following the merger with CSAV and its investment in neopanamax 13,000 TEU ships.
Indeed, during the Hamburg-based carrier's first-quarter results presentation last month, CEO Rolf Habben Jansen said the services were proving 'more robust' than other regions and running 'choc-a-bloc full'.
Looking at the total containership fleet, Alphaliner said 21 per cent of all liner capacity, including the largest 24,000-TEU vessels, was deployed between Asia and Europe, with Asia-North America second with 18 per cent.
Taiwanese carrier Wan Hai is one such that has reduced its coverage across international routes in favour of boosting activity in intra-Asia. Always a strong player in the sector, the 11th-ranked carrier, which slipped into the red in Q1, has renewed its focus there.
According to Alphaliner data, Wan Hai's intra-Asia liftings are now some 65 per cent of its total volumes, having contracted to 57 per cent after the line took advantage of strong demand on the transpacific to increase its coverage.
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