Experts claim the end to the exceptional container equipment shortage -experienced in recent months- could be in sight. Container monitoring specialist Container xChange has mentioned a “positive trend” observed on the organisation’s Container Availability Index (CAx) that it says could make Chinese New Year the turning point. Values for 20-foot dry cargo containers (20DCs) and 40-foot dry cargo containers (40DCs) are improving to 0.34 and 0.37, respectively, indicating much higher availability of empty containers than last month.
Although the latest figures for January are still well below 0.5 and thus represent a shortage of available containers, those figures for 20DCs and 40DCs are beginning to resemble the ‘normal’ level of container shortfalls experienced for major Chinese export markets, Container xChange noted. Index levels for 40-foot high-cube containers (40HCs) are also significantly higher this month, although at below 0.2 their availability remains low.
Lloydsloadinglist quoted David Amezquita, Head of Data Insights at Container xChange, as saying: “With a growth of 37.5% for 40HCs and even 200% for 40DCs in January compared to December 2020, the Container Availability Index finally shows a positive trend for shippers and forwarders who are looking for equipment in Shanghai.”
Container xChange noted that that ‘for months, containers were extremely scarce across China, and prices have skyrocketed to record highs – mainly as a consequence of unexpected demand for containerised goods created in the wake of global social lockdowns’.
With Chinese container factories now working at full production, and due to the aggressive repositioning of empties back to China by the shipping lines, Chinese New Year stands to become the turning point for equipment shortages.
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