Freight rates for exporting containers from China fluctuated mildly on many trades in the week of 13 January, as the shipment rush before Lunar New Year ends, Japan International Freight Forwarders Association (JIFFA) reports.
The Shanghai Shipping Exchange (SSE) recently announced the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) for the week in question declined 0.1% from the previous week to 981.19 points.
On the container trade to Europe, supply and demand were well balanced. Resulting from the end of the en-masse shipment before the Lunar New Year, however, spot rates from Shanghai—excluding terminal handling charges (THCs)—stood at US$969 per TEU, decreasing 4.1%. Those to the Mediterranean, meanwhile, remained unchanged at US$1,179 per TEU.
On the route to North America, freight rates fell 1.1% to US$1,545 per FEU to the west coast. In contrast, those to the east coast rose 0.3% to $2,951 per FEU, showing more stable container movement.
Container freight rates almost stayed flat to the Middle East Gulf and Australia/New Zealand, going up 0.3% to US$1,1126 per TEU and down 0.7% to US$942 per TEU, respectively.
Supply and demand were stable on the route to South America, too, with rates decreasing a minute 1.1% to US$1,967 per TEU.
Container movement was steady to Japan. Freight rates waned 0.1% to US$224 per TEU to Kansai and 2.9% to US$236 per TEU to Kanto.
