Shippers negotiating new contracts this year face a major rates dilemma as the maritime industry contemplates a return to using the Suez Canal.
When carriers revert to transiting the canal, the reduction in voyage tonne-miles will begin to expose the overcapacity in the market, pushing a significant downward trend in freight rates, especially on Asia-Europe trades.
Shipping analyst Drewry estimates rerouting round the Cape of Good Hope reduced effective capacity by around 9%, «which has helped carriers once again post some very strong quarterly profits in the past 12 months».
Cargo traffic along the Eurasian rail route within the China-Europe-China segment totalled 189 thousand TEUs during the first half of 2024, up 66% compared to the same period in 2023.
The development of the TITR/TRACECA corridor reflects the trend toward diversification of China-Europe-China freight flows
