Expect more blank sailings, says Xeneta

With average spot rates fallen on all Far East container front hauls to the USA and Europe in the past week, there may be a sting in the tail for shippers with carriers expected to begin blanking sailings more aggressively, says data provider, Xeneta.

This is of great interest to the U-Freight Group with our large portfolio of international container shipping services for both LCL and FCL cargoes.

Xeneta says carriers will begin blanking sailings more aggressively in a bid to tighten capacity and bring the decline in freight rates under control.

It adds that if a shipper expects cargo to leave port on a certain date, they should factor the risk of that service being blanked – potentially at the last minute – and the subsequent ripple effects of delays on their supply chain.

Shippers may benefit from overcapacity if it forces lower freight rates, but if that overcapacity also causes increased blanked sailings, there could be an operational price to pay.

It concludes that carriers will not sit and watch freight rates fall, with blanking sailings being just one tool at their disposal.

U-Freight continues to monitor developments in global container shipping lanes closely. We remain committed to supporting customers with reliable, flexible transport solutions across air, sea and multimodal services, helping navigate route changes and maintain resilience in international supply chains.

For expert advice or further information on our ocean freight services, please contact your local U-Freight office or visit the ocean freight section of this website.