The traditional peak season for shipping containers has arrived earlier than usual, driven by low vessel availability and a surge in demand. This is according to a statement by Wan Hai Lines, a Taiwanese shipping company.
Shippers are scrambling to secure container slots due to limited capacity. The Suez Canal challenges and a rise in Red Sea dangers have lengthened shipping routes, further reducing available space on vessels. This has resulted in a significant drop in idle container capacity, placing immense pressure on the global supply chain.
Wan Hai Lines highlights the intense competition for containers. They report a surge in orders for new containers, with major manufacturers booked solid until November. This situation suggests that the current pressure on container availability is likely to persist for some time.
Source: The Load Star