Container shipping lines serving the Asia-US trade lane say they see positive indications of a peak season on the horizon, as retailers begin re-stocking shelves for the back-to-school and holiday seasons and as businesses resume global sourcing of materials and components. After a two-month delay, member lines in the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) will implement peak season surcharges (PSS) effective August 15, 2011.

'Carriers have recently experienced a steady increase in traffic that suggests steady, stronger demand in the three months to come,' said TSA executive administrator Brian M. Conrad. 'Based on more robust forward-bookings and other favorable market signals, the consensus is now that the eastbound trade lane has begun the customary seasonal ramp-up to a pronounced peak.'

Conrad noted that, as cargo demand is rising, so too are costs. Owned and leased container equipment remains in short supply, with prices at a premium. Inland rail and trucking Railroads and trucking charges have risen on key routes. End to end costs of repositioning empty containers back to Asia have increased, with no offsetting revenue. Cargo handling, documentation and customer service costs are up, especially in local Asian currencies relative to dollar-denominated freight rates. These costs dramatically escalate during peak periods.

TSA is a research and discussion forum of major container shipping lines serving the trade from Asia to ports and inland points in the U.S. More information on TSA can be found at www.tsacarriers.org.

TSA members include:

  • APL Ltd.
  • Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (K Line)
  • China Shipping Container Lines
  • Maersk Line
  • CMA-CGM, Mediterranean Shipping Co.
  • COSCO Container Lines, Ltd.
  • Nippon Yusen Kaisha (N.Y.K. Line)
  • Evergreen Line
  • Orient Overseas Container Line, Inc.
  • Hanjin Shipping Co., Ltd.
  • Yangming Marine Transport Corp.
  • Hapag-Lloyd AG
  • Zim Integrated Shipping Services
  • Hyundai Merchant Marine Co., Ltd.