International Maritime

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Slowing Asia – Europe ocean demand sparks market share battle

By Greg Knowler

Forwarders and carriers are competing aggressively for market share in the Asia-Europe trade lane as rates fall sharply and demand slows into the Lunar New Year holidays in China .

The Year of the Snake began on Jan . 29 , and factories can be closed for more than two weeks as China celebrates its most important holiday . While there are always moves to ship out orders before the holidays , the rush this year

came earlier than usual , according to Kathy Liu , vice president of global sales and marketing at Taiwan-based Dimerco Express Group .

“ Many factories in China had already moved their export orders out before the end of December , and it has been very quiet on Asia-Europe since Jan . 10 ,” Liu told the Journal of Commerce Jan . 28 .

“ Once Suez Canal transits are back , every shipper on that trade will renegotiate the rate down .”

The weakening demand has sparked fierce competition for business by forwarders and carriers preparing for the alliance reshuffling on Feb . 1 , with short-term Asia – North Europe rates losing nearly $ 2,000 in value since the end of December .

“ Global companies opened their [ request for quotations from carriers ] early in the first quarter and the competition

Suez routing allows rapid new China – Europe transit

By Greg Knowler

“ Since the Chinese shipping company , Kawa Shipping , does not make a stop in an Israeli port because the CEX is a direct service between China and Northern Europe , the company does not expect any problems with the route selection through the Suez Canal ,” a spokesperson for JadeWeserPort told the Journal of Commerce Jan . 27 .

Kawa Shipping ’ s new China-Europe Express service is being routed via the Suez Canal , enabling the carrier to offer a 26-day transit direct from Ningbo to Germany ’ s JadeWeserPort in Wilhelmshaven , billed as the fastest service on the Asia-Europe trade lane .

The first ship of the CEX expedited service was the 2,500-TEU Kawa Ningbo that called at JadeWeserPort in late January carrying time-sensitive products , including batteries and consumer goods .

As a Hong Kong-listed carrier with no affiliation to Israel , Kawa Shipping has been able to offer the new CEX service using the shorter route through the Red Sea , apparently with no fear attacks by Houthi militants that have forced most ocean carriers to divert around southern Africa for the past 15 months .

“ The company does not expect any problems with the route selection through the Suez Canal .”

While using the shorter route through the Suez gives Kawa Shipping a competitive advantage over its peers , the carrier is only offering a monthly service From Ningbo to Wilhelmshaven for the first half of the year . The loop operates with four vessels ranging from 1,600 TEUs to 2,500 TEUs , with plans to expand to a fortnightly service using 5,000-TEU ships in the second half of the year .

Marc-Oliver Hauswald , managing director of Container Terminal Wilhelmshaven

JeDo _ Foto / Shutterstock . comc

JadeWeserPort Marketing , said the CEX service was a unique link between two strong economic regions , the Shanghai River Delta and Northern Europe .

“ This waterborne fast lane will connect Northern Europe and China in just 26 days without any further stopovers ,

32 Journal of Commerce | March 3 , 2025 www . joc . com