Good Day Clients & Partners,
Please find below the Inter-Sped Freight & Logistics Update for the week. As always, the Inter-Sped team are ready to go the extra mile for you – so don’t hesitate to contact us.
SOUTH AFRICA
Air Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly. No delays. Rates are stable.
Exports: Services ex ZA are all running smoothly, no major delays experienced this week, rates remain stable.
Sea Freight
Imports:
Exports: Services running smoothly with minimal delays and disruptions.
Road Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly. No delays
Exports:
Port Updates
DURBAN
Current Terminal Activity
- Pier 1: 0-3 days waiting time
- Pier 2 (DCT): 0-1 day waiting time
- Durban Point: 1-3 days
Containers are moving into the CFS relatively smoothly, with no extended delays. Terminal bookings remain priority and first available is secured as soon as possible at block release. Every effort will be made by transporters & ZacPak to move containers as efficiently as possible, while accounting for the Bayhead Road Project. All IDMs are moving as scheduled.
Terminal operations are performing as normal, with no extra-ordinary delays or challenges. Transnet has issued notice of the Bayhead Road Rehabilitation Project. The time frame for this project is 3rd June to 15th December 2025. This project will have an impact on traffic flow and movement of equipment is expected to be slower than usual.
In summary:
- Phase 1 – Work will be conducted on the inbound lane and the outbound lane will be used for access to the port. No staging in the port will be allowed.
- Phase 2 – Work will be conducted on the outbound lane and the inbound lane will be used for access to the port. No staging in the port will be allowed.
CAPE TOWN
Vessel berth delays may vary as per the service. Port operations have been relatively smooth over the period under report. However intermittent winds have impacted productivity in the terminals. Seasonal, inclement weather will have an impact on port operations. CFS has normal volumes of traffic and operations continue as per normal. IDMs are moving as scheduled.
- CTCT: 0-3 days waiting time
- MPT: 0 days waiting time
PORT ELIZABETH
Both ports are operating smoothly, with no congestion or delays. Strong winds have had some impact port operations. CFS has normal volumes of traffic and operations continue as per normal. IDMs are moving as scheduled.
- PECT: 0 days waiting time. Terminal maintenance is being planned for Port Elizabeth Container Terminal.
- NCT: 0 days waiting time.
AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS
Air Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly. No delays
Exports: All services running smoothly. Slight backlog on Ethiopian Airline out of ADD, +/- 15 days delay ex ADD-BKO due to Fuel Shortages
Air France is no longer servicing: Ougadougou, Burkina Faso, Bamako Mali, N’djamena, Niamey
Cross Trade:
Sea Freight
Imports:
Exports: Services running smoothly with minimal delays and disruptions.
Road Freight
Major routings operating as normal.
Port Updates
While terminal performance has improved in SA; vessel scheduling remains impacted by performance delays in Europe and other regions, therefore affecting scheduling on the African trades.
ANGOLA
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Luanda port.
GHANA
- Berthing delay of 2 days experienced at Tema port.
- Carriers have advised that there is bunching of off-window vessels, which has resulted in the increase in berthing delays.
IVORY COAST
- Berthing delay of 4 days experienced at Abidjan port.
KENYA
- Berthing delays of 6 days experienced at Mombasa port.
- Poor weather conditions in week 20 and into 21 have resulted in a delays and stoppages; recovery may be up to two weeks.
MAURITIUS
- Berthing delay of 4 days experienced at Port Louis.
MOZAMBIQUE
- Berthing delay of 4 days experienced at Maputo port and 7 days at Beira.
NAMIBIA
- Berthing delay of 0 days experienced at Walvis Bay port.
NIGERIA
- Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at Apapa port and 1 day at Tincan.
- Further days anticipated at Apapa due to severe yard congestion, resulting in delayed equipment movement.
- Friday 6th June and Monday 9th June will be national holidays in Nigeria. Offices and CFS will be closed during this time and will reopen on Tuesday 10th June.
TANZANIA
- Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at Dar es Salaam port. Berthing sequence is escalating the waiting time for vessels.
- Terminal gate and road is congested, resulting in further equipment movement delays.
NORTH AMERICA
Air Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly. No delays.
Exports: All services running smoothly.
Sea Freight
Imports:
Exports: Services are running relatively smoothly with minimal delays.
Port Updates
MSC Customer Advisory, Dated 28th May 2025, Issued Geneva, Switzerland:
MSC LAUNCHES ENHANCED STANDALONE DIRECT SERVICE FROM SOUTH AFRICA TO USA
MSC has announced that it will launch an enhanced standalone USA to South Africa service starting October 2025. MSC will deploy eight vessels, including four additional ships, for consistent weekly connections. This move will ensure service continuity and strengthens MSC’s commitment as the sole carrier offering a direct link between South Africa and the US East Coast. The service will call the following ports, offering Philadelphia as well during the citrus season: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) – Durban – Cape Town – New York – Baltimore – Norfolk – Charleston – Freeport – Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
CANADA
Canada / SA routings are moved over our European hubs. The service is impacted by the congestion and delays currently being experienced in European ports and this will affect cargo lead times. For movement of cargo ex Toronto and Montreal to South Africa, there is the alternate offering to route cargo over New York. If alternative routing is required, please be advised that rates will differ to the standard routings and this option must be advised at time of cargo booking.
For all Canada routings, both imports and exports moving over Europe; ICS2 filing is required. Overall berth waiting times have remained fairly similar to prior weeks, with some improvement in Toronto.
MONTREAL
- Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at this port.
- Yard utilization is at 50% and vessel productivity remains high. European vessels continue to operate off schedule due to ongoing delays from origin ports.
- There continues to be a steady and reliable supply of railcars and therefore import rail dwell time is steady.
TORONTO
- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port.
VANCOUVER
- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port.
- Yard utilization has increased to 65% as a result of increasing volumes. Rail dwell time is at 3.2 days and supported by consistent rail services.
USA
Direct services into and out of South Africa for the USA is via the AMEX service; with MSC and Maersk. Vessel rotation amendments, delays and schedule adjustments continue on this service. Last minute amendments to terminal cut off times may impact container loadings, while every effort is made to manage these adjustments and perform within carrier schedule changes.
Advance bookings on the USA services are recommended, due to increasing volumes and possible capacity constraints.
Terminals Updates:
NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY
- Average vessel waiting time in New York terminals is 2 days.
- Last 2 cranes on APMT East berth to be operational by end of June.
- Average import rail dwell time is 11.4 days.
- APMT New York is currently facing high demand for gate appointments and may be unable to accommodate all requests – particularly on vessel cut-off days. Customers are encouraged to deliver export cargo within the first few days after the terminal begins accepting freight for a specific vessel. This high demand, as well as frequent changes to published vessel times and cut-offs, is creating further delays and resulting in containers not being loaded.
NORFOLK
- Vessel waiting time at 1 day.
- SACO / Shipco containers sealed ex Chicago load out of Norfolk terminals.
- Average import dwell time is 2.8 days.
CHARLESTON
- Average vessel waiting time for Charleston terminals is 3 days.
- SACO / Shipco containers sealed ex Atlanta load out of Charleston terminals.
LOS ANGELES/ LONG BEACH
- Vessel waiting time is up to 3 days for Los Angeles and 3 days for Long Beach.
LATIN AMERICA
Air Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly. No delays
Exports: All services running smoothly.
Sea Freight
Imports:
Exports: All services running relatively smoothly
Port Updates
ARGENTINA – Buenos Aires
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Buenos Aires port.
- Reports of congestion and vessel delays in Buenos Aires; SACO routings move over Europe and therefore lead times may be increased due to delays in both the Argentinian ports and Europe ports.
BRAZIL – Santos
- Berthing delay of 2 days experienced at Santos port. Customs services in Santos and Rio de Janeiro were affected by strike action in week 21.
MEXICO
ALTIMERA
- Berthing delays of 1 days experienced at Altamira port.
VERACRUZ
- Berthing delays of 2 days.
MANZANILLO
- Berthing delays of 2 days.
COLOMBIA – Cartagena
- Berthing delay of 1 day.
- Holidays in June – Monday 2nd, Monday 23rd and Monday 30th June 2025
Notification from Colombian based Mahe Neutral Shipping on 30th May 2025:
In response to the delays and additional costs that have arisen in the IMO cargo deconsolidation processes at the Port of Cartagena and with the aim of optimizing operations, the following strategic solution has been implemented. As of June 9, all IMO cargo arriving at Contecar will undergo a direct Cross Docking Process.
This essential measure will allow Mahe Neutral Shipping to:
- Significantly reduce general dwell times.
- Avoid extra charges caused by delays.
- Speed up cargo delivery by avoiding transfer to the Port Society.
Currently, the handling of IMO cargo is causing delays of several days and additional costs for all logistics chain stakeholders. With this new process, Mahe Neutral Shipping aims to reduce these issues by ensuring a more efficient and economical cargo flow. The Cross Docking service at Contecar will attract a cost and this will be confirmed to the booking party at time of booking. Please note that this will may impact any cargo currently in transit.
NORTH WEST CONTINENT, UNITED KINGDOM, MEDITERRANEAN
Air Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly. No delays
Exports: All services running smoothly.
Sea Freight
Imports:
Exports: Services running smoothly with minimal delays.
Port Updates
The situation in UK and European ports and terminals remains erratic as labour unrests and high levels of congestion continue to impact all logistics services; including but not limited to trucking services, container yards, vessel delays, port omissions and or “cut and runs”, with little to no vessel schedule integrity. All cargo moving via European ports is impacted by extended transit and therefore lead times will increase. This includes transshipment services for LCL cargo as well as container transshipment hubs of Algeciras and Las Palmas. Rotterdam, Antwerp and London Gateway are the most severely impacted.
We continue to see unscheduled and / or unpublished transshipment hubs on services; with last minute changes being noted during voyage. These unscheduled changes are not pre-advised by carriers.
BELGIUM
- Berthing delays of 7 days experienced at Antwerp port.
FRANCE
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Le Havre port.
GERMANY
- Berthing delays of 1 day experienced at Hamburg and 2 days at Bremerhaven ports.
- SA vessels into Hamburg are being routed over UK as transshipment hub; however due to delays in London Gateway, containers are being discharged in Southhampton as opposed to London Gateway; transshipments are delayed.
ITALY
- Berthing delays of 1 days experienced at Genova and 9 days delay at La Spezia port.
NETHERLANDS
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Rotterdam port.
SPAIN
- Berthing delays of 9 days experienced at Barcelona port.
TURKEY
- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at Istanbul port.
- Berthing delays of 10 days at Izmir port.
UNITED KINGDOM
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at London Gateway port.
- London Gateway services have been impacted by the erratic vessel rotations and unscheduled transshipments as per the carriers. These changes may result in an extended transit time.
INDIAN SUB-CONTINENT & MIDDLE EAST
Air Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly. No delays
Exports: All services running smoothly. Rates are stable. No major delays experienced this week.
Sea Freight
Imports:
Exports: All services running smoothly.
Port Updates
INDIA
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at Nhava Sheva and 3 days at Chennai.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Jebel Ali.
The UAE Maritime Pre-Load Cargo Information (MPCI) Programme is set to become effective on 31st July 2025. This programme requires the electronic submission of cargo details at least 24 hours prior to vessel loading at origin ports for all cargo destined for import, transhipment, transit, or Freight
Remaining on Board (FROB) in the UAE. . A grace period will be provided until 31st March 2026. During the grace period, there won’t be penalties or “Do Not Load” messages.
SRI LANKA
- Berthing delay of 2 days experienced at Colombo port. FCL containers transshipping in Colombo have expected delays of 1-2 weeks.
ASIA PACIFIC (Including Oceania)
Air Freight
Imports: All services running smoothly. No delays. Rates are stable
Exports: All services running smoothly.
Sea Freight
Imports:
Exports: All services running smoothly.
Port Updates
Carriers have cautioned that with the temporary moratorium on the tariffs between China and the US; it is expected that there will be a surge in bookings for this trade, which will see capacity and equipment being prioritised for this region. This will impact freight rates on all trade lanes, and we do expect to see capacity becoming tighter on the South Africa lanes.
We have seen rate increases coming into effect from the 1st of June for Asia to South Africa, with GRInotifications and rate increases being advised from mid June; and freight rates are expected to continue to increase over the course of the next 3 months.
HONG KONG
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port.
KOREA
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Busan port. Bunching of mega vessels experienced.
NANSHA
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port.
NINGBO
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port. Vessel bunching continues to be experienced and varies by terminal.
QINGDAO
- Berthing delays of 3 days experienced at this port. Vessel bunching and congestion being experienced.
SHANGHAI
- Berthing delays of 2 days experienced at this port. Heavy vessel bunching and congestion being experienced.
SHEKOU / YANTIAN
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at both Shekou and Yantian ports.
XIAMEN
- Berthing delays of 5 days experienced at this port.
XINGANG / TIANJIN
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at this port.
SINGAPORE
- Berthing delays of 2 days being experienced at this port. Slight bunching of vessels is being experienced. Container transshipments through Singapore may see 1-2 weeks delay. However, LCL cargo moving through our Singapore hub is not experiencing any delays outside of carrier activity and cargo transshipment is moving timeously.
TAIWAN
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Kaohsiung port.
THAILAND
- Berthing delay of 1 day experienced at Bangkok and Laem Chabang ports.
NEWS ARTICLES
Port of Durban’s Bayhead Road Upgrade Gets Under Way
04/06/2025
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has launched a six-month rehabilitation project on Bayhead Road in the Port of Durban, aimed at reducing congestion, improving safety, and enhancing cargo movement efficiency. As one of South Africa’s busiest freight corridors—serving the Island View precinct and container terminals—Bayhead Road handles around 13,000 vehicles daily, nearly half of which are heavy trucks. The road has suffered from extensive wear and tear, contributing to traffic bottlenecks and safety risks. TNPA Acting Port Manager Nkumbuzi Ben-Mazwi acknowledged the potential disruptions but assured that a detailed traffic management plan, including phased lane closures and alternative routes, is in place to maintain operational flow during construction.
The rehabilitation work involves milling and resurfacing both carriageways, repairing stormwater systems, installing road signs, and providing clear road markings to reinforce the road’s structure and long-term resilience. TNPA is coordinating closely with port users, industry stakeholders, and law enforcement to reduce impacts on logistics and daily operations. The authority has committed to ongoing communication and visible on-site traffic guidance to ensure motorist safety. This initiative responds to long-standing industry demands for infrastructure upgrades, reinforcing TNPA’s commitment to sustaining efficient supply chains and maintaining the Port of Durban as a key logistics hub. Source: Freight News by FTW
MSC Confirms Weekly Continuation of SA-US Direct Sailings
27/05/2025
Despite uncertainty surrounding the future of direct sailings between South African ports and the US East Coast, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has confirmed that it will maintain its weekly Amex Express (Amex) rotations. This reassurance follows the dissolution of the 2M vessel-sharing alliance between MSC and Maersk in February, which sparked concern among shippers and freight forwarders. While Maersk announced a shift in its US service to a new alliance with Hapag-Lloyd via European ports, freight forwarders warned that such transshipment routes would impose higher costs on South African exporters—particularly under the current trade tensions with the Trump administration. However, MSC has since dispelled fears by confirming that it will continue offering direct weekly sailings to the US.
In an exclusive statement to Freight News, MSC’s senior vice-president for North American services, Ferdinando Cibelli, emphasized the company’s dedication to the South Africa–US trade lane. He announced that MSC would deploy an additional four vessels, bringing the total to eight, to ensure uninterrupted weekly service. This move is intended to provide reliability, support customers’ needs, and reinforce MSC’s long-term commitment to this key route. Cibelli stressed that the adjustment would help preserve seamless trade flow and stable connectivity between the two countries.
The confirmation has been warmly received within South Africa’s freight and export sectors. Dr. Jacob van Rensburg of the South African Association of Freight Forwarders hailed the announcement as a “vital and timely boost” to South Africa’s maritime connectivity, especially after a 21.5% drop in liner connectivity in 2023/24—the second worst globally. With the US being a significant trade partner (accounting for 8% of exports and 9% of imports), the news comes at a crucial moment following high-level trade talks in Washington. Van Rensburg also noted the growing pressure from US-imposed tariffs, particularly on steel, aluminium, and vehicles, which collectively pose a threat to 1.3% of South Africa’s GDP.
Exporters in the Western Cape, who were especially concerned about the omission of Cape Town from some Amex rotations, also welcomed MSC’s announcement. Terry Gale, chairperson of Exporters Western Cape, pointed out that routing cargo through congested European ports would have jeopardized trade efficiency. He praised MSC for recognizing the strategic importance of this trade lane, particularly for key exports like citrus and wine. Gale emphasized that the direct route’s quick transit time had given South Africa a distinct market advantage, allowing US importers to treat shipments as if they came from nearby sources—a competitive edge that he hopes will be preserved amid potential new US tariffs. Source:Freight News by FTW
Ramp Up of Trans-Pacific Capacity Amid Climbing Freight Rates
27/05/2025
In response to rising freight rates and growing demand on the Asia–U.S. trade lanes, ocean carriers are reinstating capacity on the Far East to North America routes, signaling renewed confidence in the strength of Trans-Pacific demand. Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, under their Gemini Cooperation agreement, will launch a new express service starting June 24 from Xiamen, China, offering an 18-day transit to the U.S. West Coast via China and South Korea. Simultaneously, MSC plans to resume its Empire service to the U.S. East Coast by mid-June, connecting Shanghai to New York with weekly sailings continuing through July. These service restorations follow a rebound in demand after an earlier slump caused by U.S.-China tariffs, which had prompted carriers to reduce capacity.
According to data from eeSea, capacity between Asia and the U.S. West Coast is projected to reach 1.268 million TEUs in June—an increase of 34,000 TEUs from May—while blank sailings will hit their lowest level since June 2024. Analysts expect that new capacity will begin easing rate pressure by July, as many vessels had been temporarily diverted to other routes. Alphaliner analyst Tan Hua Joo noted that carriers such as Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are well-positioned to meet the resurgence in demand, having maintained vessel presence during the downturn. He anticipates that Trans-Pacific capacity will quickly normalize, with most carriers reintroducing ships over the next few weeks, except for the Gemini carriers, who consistently maintained their fleet presence throughout the recent disruption. Source: Journal of Commerce (via Shipco Transport)
Crew saves as MSC box ship, hit by ‘monsoon’ off Indian coast, sinks
27/05/2025
The Liberia-flagged container vessel MSC Elsa 3 capsized off India’s Cochin coast on May 25, following a severe list caused by monsoon weather conditions. The vessel, which was carrying around 640 containers—including 25 with dangerous cargo such as calcium carbide—was en route from Vizhinjam port to Cochin (Vallarpadam). Although all 24 crew members were safely rescued by Indian maritime security agencies, the incident has sparked serious environmental concerns, especially related to potential oil spillage and hazardous material leaks. The ship had made five calls to Vizhinjam in May and was part of MSC’s growing coastal and transshipment operations along the Indian coast.
Sources suggest that extreme weather, combined with possible stowage and stability issues, contributed to the vessel’s capsizing. MSC Elsa 3, a 1997-built vessel with a nominal capacity of 1,730 TEU, has a documented history of incidents, including a 2016 collision near Yemen and a pirate attack off Nigeria in 2021. Its age—28 years—has drawn scrutiny from industry analysts, particularly as India’s Directorate General of Shipping (DG Shipping) has recently tightened port-entry rules for older foreign-flagged vessels. Although the age limit for fully-cellular container ships remains at 30 years, the Indian coastal market continues to see a high concentration of aging vessels, a trend that began when cabotage restrictions were eased in 2018.
As salvage efforts continue, questions remain over the fate of the ship’s cargo and potential insurance claims. Industry experts note that no ‘general average’ is declared when a vessel is entirely lost, and insurance settlements for shippers will depend on the specific circumstances of the casualty. If MSC is found liable, cargo owners may be able to recover their losses. The incident has revived memories of the 2010 MSC Chitra collision near Mumbai, which forced terminal closures and prompted regulatory reforms. Many industry voices are now calling for DG Shipping to further revise its rules to phase out excessively old tonnage from India’s increasingly vulnerable coastal shipping network. Source
CMA CGM leads the way as Houthis ease off on Suez
30/05/2025
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have announced they will cease targeting commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea, provided the ships are not bound for Israel. This clarification comes after months of maritime attacks that began on October 19, 2023, with the hijacking of a roll-on/roll-off vehicle carrier. Although recent statements hinted at renewed threats, particularly toward vessels heading to the Israeli port of Haifa, a rebel spokesperson confirmed that ships merely passing through the Red Sea without calling at Haifa “will not be targeted.” However, the Houthis maintained their hostile position toward Israel, reiterating Haifa remains a target and emphasizing their continued support for Palestinians facing what they describe as “daily massacres and genocide.”
Despite this partial reassurance, most global shipping lines remain cautious. French shipping giant CMA CGM is the only major carrier to resume transits via the Suez Canal, with plans to restart its Med Express (MEDEX) service from mid-June, alongside the already reinstated Mediterranean Club Express (MEX). The CMA CGM Jules Verne is expected to depart on June 21, marking the return of high-capacity vessels through the route. Although Maersk was reportedly prepared to follow, it opted to continue rerouting around the Cape of Good Hope after renewed threats. Industry experts warn that a full return to the Suez Canal could eventually lead to global overcapacity, though most carriers are expected to resume the route once safety is assured. Notably, CMA CGM never fully suspended its Suez operations during the crisis, continuing select services under the Ocean Alliance. Source
Carrier announces surcharges for ex-Asia SA cargo
30/05/2025
Maersk has announced the introduction of a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) for cargo shipments from Far East Asia to South Africa and Mauritius, effective June 15. For shipments originating from Taiwan, the surcharge will also take effect on June 15. The surcharge applies to dry containers and is set at $100 per 20-foot container and $200 per 40-foot container. This adjustment covers shipments from a wide range of Far East Asian countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, and others, as Maersk seeks to manage increased seasonal demand.
The implementation of the surcharge is part of Maersk’s broader strategy to maintain service reliability and operational efficiency during the peak shipping season. With rising demand and logistical challenges across global trade lanes, Maersk joins other major carriers in applying similar surcharges and rate adjustments. Customers are advised to take these cost changes into account when planning shipments to ensure minimal disruption to their supply chains during this high-traffic period. Source
Liner schedule reliability improving, with Gemini carriers leading the way
30/05/2025
Ocean schedule reliability has reached its highest level in 17 months, with April figures showing an overall reliability rate of 58.7%, the best performance since November 2023, according to Sea Intelligence. A clear performance gap is emerging among alliances, with the Gemini Cooperation—comprising Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd—leading the pack. Maersk recorded a schedule reliability of 73.4%, followed by Hapag-Lloyd at 72.3%, making them the only carriers among the top 13 to exceed 70%. MSC came in third at 60.7%, while six carriers fell in the 50%-60% range, and four—primarily from the Ocean Alliance—posted under 50%, with Evergreen at the bottom with 46.5%.
When examined by alliance, the Gemini Cooperation stood out with a remarkable 90.7% average reliability across trades, surpassing its 90% target on key routes. MSC followed with 69.8%, while the Premier and Ocean Alliances lagged behind at 53% and 51.1%, respectively. Gemini was consistently the most reliable across most trade routes, particularly dominating the Asia-to-North America West Coast route with 100% reliability. Despite some variation—such as MSC outperforming Gemini on the Asia-to-North America East Coast trade—the overall trend is one of improvement. Sea Intelligence noted that eight carriers saw year-on-year gains in reliability, with Maersk showing the most significant improvement at 24.8 percentage points. Hapag-Lloyd CEO Rolf Habben Jansen emphasized that better reliability offers real benefits for customers, including reduced inventory costs and improved supply chain efficiency. Source
Quarter of all box tonnage now deployed on Asia-Europe tradelane
04/062025
The ongoing Red Sea crisis has significantly reshaped global container shipping, with rerouted vessels increasingly traveling around the Cape of Good Hope instead of using the Suez Canal. According to Alphaliner, this detour has driven a surge in capacity on the Asia-Europe trade lane, which now accounts for 24.4% of the global containership fleet—up from 20.8% two years ago. Carriers have added 2.26 million TEU in extra capacity on this route, bringing the total to 7.8 million TEU. The alternative route around the Cape adds approximately 3,500 to 4,500 nautical miles, extending transit times by 10 to 14 days depending on the vessel’s speed, further intensifying the demand for ships on this critical corridor.
Despite claims, including from former U.S. President Donald Trump, that the Red Sea shipping crisis may be nearing its end, most major carriers remain cautious. Maersk CEO Vincent Clerc has warned against resuming Red Sea transits without a stable ceasefire, calling the region too volatile for safe passage. So far, only CMA CGM has resumed limited services through the Suez Canal, with plans to expand under French naval protection by mid-June. While Asia-Europe remains the dominant trade lane, Latin America-related services have recently outpaced it in growth, now matching the vessel capacity serving the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent. Source
SOURCES & REFERENCES
SACO CFR | Hapag Lloyd | Maersk | MSC | Transnet | The LoadStar Publications | gCaptain.com | Shipco Transport | Splash247.com | Freightnews | Seatrade Maritime News | Automotive Logistics | Lloyds List
Again, the Inter-Sped team is here for all freight and Logistics needs – We will always do our best for you and keep you posted on your shipments progress on an individual shipment level.
Thank you for choosing Inter-Sped.
JJ & The Inter-Sped Team
