Because of severe shortages in the Asian container markets, carriers are only assuring availability when shippers pay a premium over the usual freight rate.
This can range from 50% to 70%, and are added to the increase in container spot freight rates. Prices to North America from Asia have risen nearly three-fold over the last six months. Container rates to Europe from Asia are also at an all-time high.
‘Shipping liners are collecting the premium rate for saving the space, you cannot get the space without it,’ according to a North American logistics manager.