变化无常

Volatile mix

承运人经受住了经济动荡的考验，但他们还能承受多大压力？

Considering that the eastbound trans-Pacific trade is struggling through its worst performance since 2001 in terms of cargo volume growth, ocean carriers have much to be thankful for. Freight rates in the U.S. import trade from Asia have held up despite declin-ing container volumes. A concerted ef-fort by carriers to manage capacity in the trans-Pacific has kept vessels rela-tively full. And with U.S. exports to Asia booming, carriers are able to make a little money in the normally weak westbound trade. Carrier executives are nervous, though, and rightfully so. Steady erosion in the important Asia-to-Europe trade could produce a surplus of vessel capacity in the global container fleet in the coming year, a development that will affect freight rates in the Pacific.