Both MSC and Maersk have extended the 2M alliance and individually blanked sailings for the upcoming Golden Week period in early October which is expected to see a decline in demand.

Impacted by blank sailings as lines try to hold up freight rates, container volume at eight major Chinese ports declined 7.3% year-on-year in early October.

Container lines are blanking around one quarter sailings on the Asia – US West Coast trade as port congestion and delays force result in short notice capacity adjustments, according to analysts Sea-Intelligence.

Blank sailings were up 300% in the first half of June due to the impact of Yantian port congestion and as a result container freight continue to skyrocket to unprecedented levels.

Global carriers have re-instated sailings on the transpacific west coast for the third quarter on optimism about peak season demand and as the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic eases, according to analyst Sea-Intelligence.

THE Alliance will continue to merge two Asia – North Europe loops in Q3, as it announces blank sailings and service suspensions across its network in July

Container lines have started to ‘un-blank’ a small number that had been cancelled in Q2 according to analysts Sea-Intelligence.