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Container cargo rollovers at major ports increase 75% in DecemberContainer cargo rollovers at major ports increase 75% in December

Container cargo rollovers at the world’s top 20 ports in jumped 75% in December 2020 compared to the previous month as lines struggle with a huge surge in volumes and equipment shortages, according to analysts Ocean Insights.

Marcus Hand, Editor

January 19, 2021

2 Min Read
MSC Isabella at berth in Singapore
Photo: MSC

Average rollover rates at ports surveyed by Ocean Insights increased to 37% in December and in some ports went past the 50% mark. The level of rollovers is calculated on the basis of percentage of cargo from a line that left port on a different vessel than originally scheduled.

The figures from Ocean Insights illustrate the impact the collapse in demand in the first half of last year followed by a 30% surge in demand in the second half of 2020, and a resulting shortage of containers that has left shippers scrambled for equipment to ship their goods in.

“Of the 20 global ports for which Ocean Insights collates data, 75% saw an increase in the levels of rollover cargo in December compared to the previous month,” said Ocean Insights coo Josh Brazil.

“Major transhipment facilities such as Port Klang in Malaysia and Colombo in Sri Lanka recorded 50% or more of cargo delayed, with the world’s largest transhipment hub in Singapore and leading primary ports such as Shanghai and Busan rolling over more than a third of their containers, last month.”

At the top end Port Klang in Malaysia saw a 9% increase in rollovers to 55%, and Gioia Tauro in Italy saw some 62% of cargoes rolled over in December. The world’s two largest container ports Shanghai and Singapore saw rollover rates rise 7% to 37%, and 2% to 42% respectively in the last month of 2020.

Related:Container cargo rollovers up at major transhipment ports

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South Korea’s Busan port which had seen a 3% decrease in rollovers in November last year as lines added in extra loaders saw this number going back up by 4% in December.

“This indicates that the levels of cargo are still rising while the extra loader capacity which has been deployed to meet the raised levels of demand appears to be having little effect,” Brazil explained.

The shipping lines with the highest rollover rates in December according to Ocean Insights were CMA CGM with 51% and Ocean Network Express (ONE) with 50%.

About the Author

Marcus Hand

Editor

Marcus Hand is the editor of Seatrade Maritime News and a dedicated maritime journalist with over two decades of experience covering the shipping industry in Asia.

Marcus is also an experienced industry commentator and has chaired many conferences and round tables. Before joining Seatrade at the beginning of 2010, Marcus worked for the shipping industry journal Lloyd's List for a decade and before that the Singapore Business Times covering shipping and aviation.

In November 2022, Marcus was announced as a member of the Board of Advisors to the Singapore Journal of Maritime Talent and Technology (SJMTT) to help bring together thought leadership around the key areas of talent and technology.

Marcus is the founder of the Seatrade Maritime Podcast that delivers commentary, opinions and conversations on shipping's most important topics.

Conferences & Webinars

Marcus Hand regularly moderates at international maritime events. Below you’ll find a list of selected past conferences and webinars.

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