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Carriers on India-US trade attempt higher rate hikes for December
Container carriers serving India-US trades seem to have regained some strength to attempt higher rate increases amid promising export trade indications.
CMA CGM has doubled the amount of a previously announced peak season surcharge (PSS) for December on shipments from India to the US East and Gulf coasts.
The French liner, in a new customer advisory, said a PSS of US$200 per container that was to take effect from 1 December will be revised upwards to US$400 per container, from 15 December.
โThe PSS applies to tariff or service contract rates for all cargo moving under the scope of the tariff,โ CMA CGM (India) said.
Other carriers like Hapag-Lloyd and Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) could follow suit, according to market sources. Hapag-Lloyd on 14 November announced plans to implement a general rate increase of US$200 per container on this trade lane, starting 15 December.
The German carrier said cargo loads from Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Pipavav and Hazira to USEC will attract this GRI.
CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd together operate the Indamex network between West India and USEC through consortium arrangements.
Thanks to a few void calls announced by India-USEC services this month, loading capacity out of Nhava Sheva and Mundra has tightened on recent vessels, enabling major carriers to at least raise spot rate levels.
Indian ports reported a 5% increase in container volumes during October, month-on-month, according to new data. Combined throughput hit 1.9 million TEUs, from 1.8 million TEUs during September, according to data obtained byย Container News.
Indiaโs merchandise exports, by value, in October saw a 6.2% increase, reaching US$ 33.6 billion, according to new government data.
โThis suggests that the export sector is on the road to recovery due to the resilience shown by it,โ said A. Sakthivel, president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) in a statement.
FIEO also noted, โDemand is still an issue in many markets due to high inventory and growth reflects that we may be eating into the share of some other countries.โ
Sakthivel went on to add, โThe tension in West Asia had also made businesses and markets sceptical and nervous, but the conflict will have a limited impact unless it escalates, and more countries join in.โ
He also explained, โWhile goods exports growth has remained somewhat sombre, services have continued on with its momentum and maintained a rising trend, helping to narrow the overall trade deficit and keeping the current account deficit under check.โ
Source: Container News
India approves new terminal development at Kandla Port
The government of India has approved the development of two deep-water marine terminal projects at Kandla Port (Deendayal Port), a major west coast harbour.
The plan consists of a container terminal and a multipurpose cargo facility, estimated to cost Rs. 4,539.84 crore (US$550 million) and Rs. 2,250.64 crore (US$272 million), respectively. Of the projected investments, the port authority will spend Rs. 296.20 crore (US$36 million) and Rs. 531.42 crore (US$64 million), respectively, towards dredging of the common user access channel and construction of common road infrastructure.
The projects will be developed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) model at a new site known as Tuna Tekra, about 15 miles from Kandla.
โOn commissioning of the project, it shall cater to the future growth in container cargo traffic,โ Indiaโs Ministry of Shipping said in a statement.
The ministry noted, โFrom 2025, a net gap of 1.88 million TEUs shall be available which can be catered by the development of a state-of-the-art container terminal at Tuna-Tekra and will give it a strategic advantage as it will be the closed container terminal serving the vast hinterland of northern part of India (Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan). In addition to increasing the business potential of Kandla, the project will boost the economy and generate employment.โ
The ministry also sees significant growth potential for the proposed multipurpose terminal.
โOn commissioning of the project, it shall cater to the future growth in multipurpose cargo (other than container/liquid) traffic,โ it said.
The ministry went on to add, โThe projected traffic gap by the year 2026 would be 2.85 MMTPA and by 2030, it would be 27.49 MMTPA. The development of multipurpose cargo (other than container/liquid) berth off Tuna Tekra in the Gulf of Kutch at Kandla will give it a strategic advantage as it will be the closest terminal serving the vast hinterland of northern part of India.โ
A previous tender attempt by the Kandla port authority on the Tuna-Tekra project was eventually scrapped in 2014 because of lukewarm interest from investors.
With a market-driven tariff mechanism now in place following the implementation of a new port law last year, industry observers expect greater investor response to the new bidding plan.
Kandla saw overall cargo volumes grow 13.2% year-over-year in the April-September period, the first half of the Indian fiscal year 2022-22.
However, its container throughput remained almost flat, at 245,000 TEU, according to data obtained by Container News.
Source: Container News
India: Shortage Of Shipping Containers Again Threatens Exporters
The rising shortage of containers and sky-high freight rates are threatening Indian exports that had risen to a record in the first quarter of FY22. After attaining crisis proportions earlier in 2021, shipping containers are short of supply, increasing the logistics costs for the exporters and making the businesses uncompetitive.
In April 2021, the government had declared victory over the container crisis. However, the shortage is back when export volumes are greater than ever before as the industry is clearing inventories and the global demand has been rising.
An official said that the issue has been brought by industry bodies. Besides, export-promotion councils have also raised the issue in meetings with the government that is responding to resolve the issue.
This also includes short-term solutions like providing priority berthing to bulk carriers to lower the turnaround times, special drives to expedite clearance of unclaimed cargos and increase the supply of containers, and solutions like ramping up the manufacturing containers.
At present, the Shipping Corporation of India possesses a market share of less than 5% of the entire countryโs shipping business. The FIEO has suggested that the government provide fiscal support via liberal lending or tax benefits for setting up an Indian shipping line that may be looking at a $100 billion market.
The industry is also waiting for freight subsidies. The demand has been even more pronounced from manufacturers in some of the hinterland states like Assam, Uttaranchal, and Himachal and where transport costs are about 5-6% higher.
Freight rates have risen sharply. The FIEO has told the government that the cost of sending a 40-feet container to the US has gone up to $6,200-$6,500 more than three times the rate in the pre-pandemic time of $2,000. The average rate for Europe has gone up from about $1,200-1500 to $5,500.
Freight rates for shipments to West Africa as well as other destinations have gone up by five to six times over a year and a half. This has taken a toll on the competitiveness of exporters quoting delivered prices, including freight.
The Container Shipping Lines Association (CSLA) represents the 25-largest foreign container shipping lines that have been operating in India. It says that operations are conducted per strict guidelines. The prices have also been slashed to offer benefits to the industry.
Most of the international merchandise trade is dependent on standard-size containers run by a small number of shipping lines.
The crisis had begun in late 2020 owing to a mismatch in export and import volumes, resulting in a shortage of export containers at Indian ports. The situation began worsening as economies began restarting after lockdown.
As industries began to open up, orders for the goods started pouring in and exports began piling up in all countries around the same time, resulting in congestion at the major ports.
The inadequate space in vessels at Indian ports and delayed availability of destinations, particularly in East Africa, had been impacting worldwide trade. As a result, the demand, as well as the prices for containers, has already skyrocketed.
Reference:ย moneycontrol
CMA CGM sets new surcharges from India and Pakistan
CMA CGM has published new peak season surcharges (PSS), which will take effect on 25 June, from India and Pakistan to several destinations across the world.