ASIA-NORTH EUROPE carriers were offering discounts on container spot rates, but transpacific shippers saw some increases for the US west coast, reports London's Loadstar.
According to the Ningbo Containerised Freight Index (NCFI) commentary, "despite some blank sailings, some carriers lowered the market rate" in order to top up their allocations.
However, it appears carriers were not prepared to extend discounts beyond specific sailings.
Said one UK-based non-vessel owning common carrier (NVOCC): "They won't even extend the offers beyond the week. It's not much use to our client as, if he can't make the ship or the carrier changes its mind, then the old rate applies for the shipment."
Drewry's World Container Index (WCI) was flat at US$13,612 per FEU, the Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) dropped one per cent, to $14,322, while Xeneta's XSI fell 0.5 per cent, to $14,191.
This week's WCI US west coast reading increased two per cent to $10,682 per FEU.
Meanwhile, the Ellerman City Liners (ECL) celebrated the fifth sailing of its challenger China to UK service this week when the 5,060-TEU SC Mara departed Shenzhen for Tilbury.
ECL has taken long-term charters on three other vessels, the 3,534-TEU Mona Lisa, 2,432-TEU Buxhansa, and 2,700-TEU Cape Hellas.
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