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Container freight rates continuing rising in Jan even as volumes fell

Photo: Marcus Hand cmacgmcortereal (002).jpg
CMA CGM Corte Real in Singapore
Average global container freight rates continued to rise in January this year even volumes retreated from their highs in Q4 2020.

According to figures from Container Trade Statistics (CTS) global container import and exports dropped to 14.3m teu in January, compared to 15.2m teu in December 2020, and a high of 15.4m teu in October last year.

However, while volumes fell in January supply challenges including severe congestion at US West Coast ports saw the global price index jump to 109 points in January 2021 compared to 93 points in December 2020. Year-on-year the price index was up 51.4% from 72 points in January 2020.

Looking at specific trades according to CTS the Far East Europe price index increased 100.6% year-on-year in January to 150 points compared to 75 points in January 2020. For the transpacific from the Far East to North America the increase was less pronounced at 33.7% year-on-year going to 122 points in January this year compared to 91 points in the same month a year earlier.

The Far East – South & Central America price index reported a 109.8% increase year-on-year with the price index standing at 63 points compared 132 points.