From The Loadstar:
Transatlantic demand continues to be hit by the pandemic, obliging carriers to extend voyage-blanking programmes and putting rates under pressure.....MUCH MORE
2M partners Maersk and MSC announced today they were extending the suspension of their TA4/NEUATL4 transatlantic loop to the end of September outbound from Europe, and to early October from the US.
Maersk said the service suspension was being extended “due to continued market demand reductions in North America and Europe”.
The loop, which has been suspended since May, deploys five vessels with an average capacity of 5,300 teu and has a rotation of Antwerp-Rotterdam-Bremerhaven-Liverpool-New York-Savannah-Port Everglades.
Alphaliner said demand recovery on the route was taking longer than on the two other east-west trades.
“Whereas most blanked sailings have been reinstated on the transpacific and extra sailings are now being offered from Asia to North Europe to accommodate all the cargo volume during the short summer peak period, more void sailings in September have already been announced for the transatlantic trade, as cargo demand is still affected by the Covid-19 pandemic,” said the consultant....
* Shipping: Trans-Pacific Spot Freight Rates Hit Record (fewer boxes but more $ per)
