- Drewry Reports 10% Sailing Cancellations Across Key Trade Lanes.
- Blank Sailings Shift from West to East Coast as Market Softens.
- East-West Trade Hit by 72 Cancellations Over Five Weeks.
Drewry’s Cancelled Sailings Tracker, updated every week, offers a clear picture of blank sailings published by each Alliance against the total number of scheduled sailings. This report provides essential insight into changes in container capacity on major East-West trade lanes, reports Drewry.
Transpacific Trade Suffers the Most Disruption
Ahead, Drewry projects that most blank sailings for the next five weeks will impact the Transpacific Eastbound route at 56 percent of the anticipated cancellations. It is followed by the Asia–North Europe and Mediterranean trade lanes at 31 percent, with the Transatlantic Westbound route likely to take up 14 percent of cancellations.
Regional Impact Shift: East Coast Sees Increased Cancellations
Although recent weeks have witnessed a focus on blank sailings in the US West Coast, now it is the turn of the East Coast. Of the total upcoming cancellations, 45 per cent are likely to affect the East Coast, while the remaining 55 per cent will hit West Coast operations. This development reflects an increasing range of disruption among US-bound trades.
Schedule Reliability Likely to Recover Slightly
Despite the current cancellation trends, sailing frequency is forecast to improve in the coming weeks. Drewry estimates that approximately 90 per cent of scheduled weekly departures will take place as planned. Among the major alliances, Gemini is expected to maintain perfect schedule adherence. However, this could change if carriers decide to introduce additional blank sailings to control overcapacity and stabilise freight rates amid weaker demand.
Spot Rates Fall as Market Continues to be Unstable
Spot rates, having risen briefly, have again fallen. As of 17 April, Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) Composite dipped three per cent week-on-week to $2,192 per 40-foot container. Transpacific rates fell by six per cent, while Asia–Europe and Mediterranean routes fell by two per cent. Transatlantic rates were marginally more stable, down just one per cent.
Weak Demand and Trade Tensions Fuel Booking Cancellations
More cancelled sailings are expected shortly, largely in the Transpacific Eastbound lane. Cancelled bookings are still on the rise, with some ships due to leave Chinese ports with significant unused capacity during May. Tariff uncertainty between the US and China is forcing cargo owners to reappraise costs, leading to shipments being put back or even cancelled outright. Reduced demand from this softening is compelling carriers to lower sailing frequency in a bid to rebalance the market.
Shippers Asked to Remain Flexible
Drewry suggests shippers stay flexible as market conditions keep evolving. The increased blank sailings, possible operational interruptions, and danger of empty container imbalances mean shippers must be proactive in modifying strategies. Remaining sensitive to continuous change will be most important in surviving volatility in international container shipping over the coming months.
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Source: Drewry
