The uptake of space availability on back-haul sailings is around 50% after dropping below 40% for the first time in August, Sea-Intelligence reports.
According to the Danish maritime data analysis platform, back-haul cargo has been in decline for three consecutive months, slipping to a record low of 36.6% in August.
CEO Alan Murphy pointed out that it confirmed what had been suspected for a while: that global trade imbalances were worse now than they were during the coronavirus pandemic.
He said the five top deep-sea carriers had all recorded a significant drop in space allocation since markets reopened from Covid-19 lockdowns.
Sea-Intelligence predicts that, due to loss-making resulting from back-haul dynamics, shippers could expect a rate increase for head-haul shipments.
It is also mooted that back-haul rates could increase due to vessels carrying below-capacity container loads.
