Asia Express cuts capacity to Latin American west coast

 

ASIA EXPRESS consortium carriers MSC, Hamburg Sud and CCNI have announced an immediate capacity cut between Asia and Mexico and the west coast of South America because of deteriorating market conditions.

This rationalisation will be achieved by combining the current MSC service with sling 2 of the Asia Express, said a joint statement.

Sling 1 will be operated with 10 vessels in 4,200-TEU range with the following revised rotation: Yokohama, Busan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hong Kong, Manzanillo, Lazaro Cardenas, Puerto Quetzal, Buenaventura, Guayaquil, Iquique, Mejillones. Valparaiso, Lirquen, Lazaro Cardenas and Yokohama.

Sling 2 will be operated with 10 vessels in 3,500 TEU range capacity on the revised rotation of Keelung, Hong Kong, Chiwan, Shanghai, Ningbo, Busan, Yokohama, Manzanillo, Buenaventura, Callao, Mejillones / Antofagasta, Valparaiso, San Vicente, Manzanillo and Keelung.

The resulting two-sling service will provide 2,500 TEU less capacity per week from February 24 through to August 2009 than before. Hamburg Sud, CCNI and MSC will review the trade prospects in June, said the statement issued by Hamburg Sud. Should the trade situation improve sufficiently to warrant additional capacity, the lines will revert to their original service, it said.

Source: Schednet