The transpacific shipping corridor is experiencing a significant uptick in blank sailings, primarily due to ongoing trade tensions between the U.S. and China. Sea-Intelligence reports a sharp increase in canceled sailings on the Asia-North America routes, with the Asia-North America East Coast (NAEC) seeing blanked capacity rise from 35% to 42% for the week starting May 5. Similarly, the Asia-North America West Coast (NAWC) route experienced an increase from 13% to 28% for the week starting April 28.
Uptick in blank sailings
This escalation mirrors patterns typically observed during seasonal slowdowns, such as the Chinese New Year or Golden Week, but is now driven by geopolitical factors. The sudden nature of these cancellations, often announced with minimal notice, poses challenges for shippers in planning and logistics.
Sea-Intelligence emphasizes that blank sailings serve as a real-time indicator of market conditions, especially when demand data lags. The current trend underscores the volatile nature of global trade and the need for adaptive strategies in supply chain management.
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Source: Sea-Intelligence
