DESPITE GLOOM in some sectors of the retail economy and overall growth slowing to a crawl, ongoing demand for Chinese imports is seeing more extra-loader sailings added by container lines.
TS Lines has now doubled its extra-loader program from three sailings to six, with the 1808 TEU TS Kaohsiung introduced and TS Guangzhou and TS Tianjin making repeat voyages, all during September/ October.
Pacific International Lines has now listed two sailings, with the 1810 TU Kota Nabil sailing last weekend (31 August) from Haiphong and thence Qinzhuo, Xiamen, Nansha, Shekou, Brisbane, Melbourne, Singapore, and sister Kota Nekad departing Shanghai 11 September, followed by Ningbo, Melbourne, Fremantle, Singapore.
ANL Container Line has scheduled two extra-loader voyages by the 1876 TEU Bright Cosmos, the first due to sail 9 September from Shekou, then Ningbo, to Port Botany (24 September) and the second from Shekou on 8 October for Melbourne (22 October) and Port Botany (25 October).
A close observer told DCN lines were clearly responding to demand ex key Chinese ports but the size of ships employed indicated “everyone is dipping their toes a bit and trying not to add too much capacity”.
Doubtless all sailings will also provide valuable outbound slots to clear the traditional peak-season build-up of empty containers back to Asian ports of high demand.
