Saf to move out of Asia- US trade

While the shipping line Safmarine intends to remain active in the transpacific trade (Asia-US) until the 2010 contract negotiating season, it intends to shut up shop on this service from that date. It has explored all possibilities, said the line spokesman, and reached what it described as “this difficult decision”, based on present and future market conditions in the trade. “It is a consequence of the very low market rates that are prevalent,” the line added, “which makes profitable market participation very difficult in the long-term.” But this is expected to have no direct relevance for SA shippers, according to Safmarine’s SA PR, Debbie Owen. “There should be no connection to SA unless an SA shipper was moving cargo ex Asia to the US,” she told FTW.