Shipping lines are intending to reduce capacity after a disappointing peak season. Rates are declining and the week long China National Day holidays mean that demand for Westbound container ships will be even lower. Shipping lines may skip one sailing a week during the holiday, adding up to about 40% reduction of the average weekly capacity. This strategy is intended to halt the drop in freight rates. The Shanghai Containerised Freight index shows that rates on services from Shanghai to Europe for week ending 17 September fell to the lowest rate of the year.