Supply Chain Research

Container shipping rates for routes out of China fell 0.3% on Feb. 15 compared to the last reading before the lunar new year holiday. That’s a normal performance with rates having fallen by between 1.6% and 7.5% in the three weeks after the holiday as export pipelines are refilled. Halfway through the first quarter it appears that conditions for the container-lines are improving with average rates having increased by 3.2% compared to the fourth quarter. That’s much needed for two reasons. First is that the shipping lines, including car carrier Wallenius Wilhelmsen and container-line Ocea...