Freight forwarders and end users have been seeing the benefit of the economic slowdown in falling rates from Asia-Europe shipping lines. The Far Eastern Freight Conference – which ceased to operate in October – published its last figures showing that shipping lines’ volumes decreased by 1.1% on the Far East to Europe trade during the third quarter. Lines are now trying to improve demand for their services by reducing the capacity on offer, in the hope that they will be able to charge higher freight rates.