Skymart News
20 August 2010
Early summer 2010 has been difficult with increases on sea freight rates taking place almost every 2 weeks. It has been suggested that the shipping lines are starting to offer Asia to Europe rates with a monthly validity and possibly longer in the near future. Due to the recent uncertainty amongst the lines, short term rates had been offered to cover the lines against further price increases.
9 August 2010
Container volumes have increased from Asia to Europe by around 20% year on year during the last 6 months of 2010 reaching a 3.3 million TEU volume. However container levels are not quite as high as the pre-recession container volumes. The trade lane has seen recovery over the past 12 months and freight rates from Asia to Europe during the 2nd quarter have remained stable.
15 June 2010
Global activity levels are on the increase with the shipping lines, however they must now focus on their levels of reliability and service opposed to concentrating on their own interests in solving financial issues. With the recent increase in traffic from Asia and India this gives the shipping lines a golden opportunity to provide better service levels and the ability to win back customer confidence in the long run.
6 June 2010
Enter our World Cup Competition - fantastic prizes to be won. Click here
24th May 2010
ZIM Shipping are looking to add a General rate Increase (GRI) on all shipments arriving into Northern Europe / Black Sea and Mediterranean from Asia (including Japan) and Indian Sub-continents. The GRI of $250 USD per TEU will commence from the 1st June 2010 until further notice
19th April 2010
Airspace restrictions remain in place over European skies. For the latest news regarding air cargo bookings please see our blog
29th March 2010
Save the date!
South Manchester's first ever Business Clinic is being held on Tuesday 20th April 2010
For more information click here >>
15th February 2010
The Boeing 747-8 Freighter successfully took to the sky for the first time on Monday 8 February 2010.
With 747 Chief Pilot Mark Feuerstein and Capt. Tom Imrich in the flight deck, the newest member of the 747 family took off at 12:39 p.m. local time from Paine Field in Everett and landed at Paine Field at 4:18 p.m.
"It was a real privilege to be at the controls of this great airplane on its first flight, representing the thousands of folks who made today possible," said Feuerstein. "The airplane performed as expected and handled just like a 747-400."
This flight was the first of more than 1,600 flight hours in the test program for the newest member of the Boeing freighter family. The airplane followed a route over Western Washington, where it underwent tests for basic handling qualities and engine performance. The airplane reached a cruising altitude of 17,000 feet (5,181 m) and a speed of up to 230 knots, or about 264 miles (426 km) per hour.
Powered by four General Electric GEnx-2B engines, the 747-8 Freighter will transition its testing program to Moses Lake, Wash., and Palmdale, Calif., where the other two test airplanes will join it in the coming month.
The 747-8 Freighter is the new, high-capacity 747 that will give cargo operators the lowest operating costs and best economics of any freighter. The airplane is 250 feet, 2 inches (76.3 m) long, which is 18 feet, 4 inches (5.6 m) longer than the 747-400 Freighter. The stretch provides customers with 16 percent more revenue cargo volume compared with its predecessor. That translates to an additional four main-deck pallets and three lower-hold pallets.
Boeing launched the airplane on Nov. 14, 2005, with firm orders for 18 747-8 Freighters: 10 from Cargolux of Luxembourg and eight from Nippon Cargo Airlines of Japan. All told, Boeing has secured 108 orders for the 747-8, of which 76 are orders for the new freighter. Cargolux, Nippon Cargo Airlines, AirBridgeCargo Airlines, Atlas Air, Cathay Pacific, Dubai Aerospace Enterprise, Emirates SkyCargo, Guggenheim and Korean Air all have ordered the 747-8 Freighter.
11th January 2010
MSC is to introduce a 505 US$ /TEU BAF surcharge from 1st February on Westbound traffic ex Asia
Maersk is to introduce a 300 US$ /TEU increase in BAF surcharge from 1st February on Westbound traffic ex Asia
Evergreen is to increase rates by 250 US$ per TEU from 1st February on Westbound traffic ex Asia
15th December 2009
Asia's recent freight capacity and backlog situation although easing, the capacity squeeze looks set to continue into the New Year.
Delays at major Chinese airports have reduced from 7-10 days down to 2-3 days although the rates remain seasonally high.
On the sea freight side although volume through to Europe has been consistently down year on year - it seems to be stabilizing once more through Q4
7th December 2009
Asia cargo capacity issues have now reached a peak it is believed. Further to last week's increased rates and backlog news - the rates have stabilized over the latter part of last week indicating that the backlog is starting to subside after the number of charter aircraft deployed has started to make an impact.
30th November 2009
Rate Restoration - Asia to North Europe & Mediterranean ( Westbound )
As the economic condition continues to remain unsettled and the prevailing freight rates are still at an unsustainable level to cover our basic operating and transportation costs despite earlier efforts at revenue recovery coupled with realistic cost cutting measures, OOCL will introduce another round of rate increases to further restore the freight rates to a level where we can continue to maintain our quality service to all our customers.
Please be advised that with effect from January 1, 2010, freight rates for traffic from Asia to North Europe (Westbound) and from Asia to Mediterranean / Black Sea (Westbound) will be increased by USD 250 per TEU.
23rd November 2009
Air freight is experiencing one of its most intensive shortages of space / capacity leading to backlogs
and spiraling rates out of Hong Kong and China.
Rates in response to the increased demand and shortage of supply have doubled over the last 3 months
and are almost 5 times higher than the start of the year.
Hong Kong has reported backlogs of up to 6,000 tonnes with Shanghai reporting 7,500 tonnes of backlog in addition to 10-14 days delay from
air freight booking to departure.
New product launches by some of the main computer companies have taken up the bulk of air freight capacities, leading to increased charter enquiries.
16th November 2009
Airport operator BAA reported that October 2009 cargo traffic based on information from its 7 UK
Airports was up by nearly 2% with Stanstead up by 3%.
9th November 2009
Evergreen Line has announced rate increases on its Asia services. They will increase by 225$ per TEU from the Far East and Indian sub continent from December 1st.
3rd November 2009
Please be advised, that following extensive review of world wide average fuel prices, Hanjin Shipping Co, have seen fit to hold current B.A.F. levels.
For full details click here
3rd November 2009
The continuous increase of bunker prices leaves Hanjin no alternative but to adjust the Fuel Recovery Charge (FRC) applicable to Export shipments from North Europe.
For full details click here
26th October 2009
Air freight coming out of China and Hong Kong is facing delays of up to 3 / 4 days as a result of demand outstripping supply.
Carriers are now demanding elevated price rates to ensure cargo flies as booked but even then delays are taking place.
The main airports affected in China are Shanghai, Guangzhou and Tianjin.
19th October 2009
Following an extensive review of worldwide fluctuation of currencies, Hanjin Shipping Co, has seen fit to adjust the current C.A.F. applicable to Ocean freight at levels as indicated below, these changes are effective as follows:
To/From Europe/Asia/IPBC/Middle East services-
Vessels sailing on or after Sunday November 1st 2009
Currency Adjustment Factor (C.A.F.)
will be applied at 14.76% of Ocean freight rate
14th Occtober 2009
OOCL announce increases from November 2009.
As the economic condition has not been fully recovered and the prevailing freight rates are still at an unsustainable level to cover our basic operating and transportation costs despite earlier efforts at revenue recovery coupled with realistic cost cutting measures, OOCL will introduce another round of rate increases to further restore the freight rates to a level where we can continue to maintain our quality service to all our customers.
Please be advised that with effect from November 1, 2009, freight rates for traffic from Asia to North Europe (Westbound) and from Asia to Mediterranean (Westbound) will be increased by USD 150 per TEU.
13th October 2009
MOL will introduce a 100¢ / TEU surcharge for peak season for all shipments from Europe and the Mediterranean to Asia from 1st November until 31st December.
6 October 2009
Evergreen Line has announced increases on its Northern European and Scandinavian routes to the Mediterranean by 75 US$ per TEU.
28 September 2009
UK airport operator BAA reported a 7.5% drop in air freight cargo tonnage in August which is a single digit figure for the first time since November 2008.
21 September 2009
The UK imports and Exports fell year on year by 11% Jan-Jun 2009. UK ports handled 246 million tonnes of cargo, 30 million tonnes down
on the same period last year. Imports fared worst with a 12% reduction versus a 8% reduction on exports traffic.
14th September 2009
Evergreen container shipping line is to extend its peak season surcharge (PSS) and implement an emergency fuel surcharge (BAF) on services Asia-Europe. The PSS is extended until 31st December due to 'strong demand for space'.
14th September 2009
OOCL announce increase in rates. As the economic condition has not been fully recovered and the prevailing freight rates are still at an unsustainable level to cover their basic operating and transportation costs despite earlier efforts at revenue recovery coupled with realistic cost cutting measures, OOCL will introduce another round of rate increases to further restore the freight rates to a level where they can continue to maintain quality service to all its customers.
Please be advised that with effect from October 1, 2009, freight rates for traffic from Asia to North Europe (Westbound) will be increased by USD 300 per TEU.
