China’s 2010 container rates to increase

China’s 2010 container rates to increase

China’s 2010 container shipping rates will surpass last year because demand for transporting goods has exceeded current capacity, said the chairman of the country’s second-largest sea freight company.

“The rates will probably be higher in the first six months of 2010 before tapering off in the second half,” China Shipping Container Lines Co.’s Chairman Li Shaode said today during China’s legislative meetings in Beijing.

Container volume shipped in the first two months of 2010 rose 30 percent from the same period last year, Li said without giving a figure.

Still, the Shanghai-based company won’t be adding any container shipping capacity, he said. The company will operate twelve 300,000-ton oil tankers this year, three more than last year. It also has 16 dry-bulk carriers on order, Li said.

Source: businessweek.com
Publication date: 3/10/2010