Bad weather in China has affected some vessel departures this week, with disruption around Shanghai and Ningbo. Asia-Europe space also remains under pressure, as carriers continue to manage capacity through blank sailings and schedule adjustments.
Fuel Costs and Capacity Remain Under Pressure
Uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East region continues to affect global shipping markets. Oil prices have eased slightly over the last week, following the sharp increases seen previously, but fuel-related surcharges remain in place and wider shipping costs continue to be affected by volatility in energy markets. Bunker prices also remain a key factor for sea freight costs, with vessel fuel costs remaining elevated.
Asia-Europe space remains under pressure, with demand still high and carriers continuing to manage capacity closely across key routes. Blank sailings are continuing across carriers through August and are likely to extend into September, as shipping lines work to keep supply and demand closely balanced.
Weather Disruption in China Affects Some Schedules
Weather disruption in China has affected vessel departures and sailing schedules this week. Shanghai and Ningbo have both seen disruption following recent typhoon activity, with vessel delays, schedule changes and some knock-on effects still affecting schedules. As a result, some departures have slipped and schedules may take time to fully recover.
Services into Europe and the UK are continuing to move relatively well, and we are not currently seeing any major congestion challenges across European or UK arrival ports. However, with capacity still being managed tightly and schedules affected by weather disruption in China, the position remains subject to change.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your shipment, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Service Team on 01376 533039 or email [email protected].
