New Zealand
AIR TERMINALS
- Import terminals are operating well.
- Export terminals are operating as normal.
LANDSIDE
- Kiwirail closed the rail link between Metroport & Tauranga for maintenance over Matariki weekend which has slowed the average rail transit times. If you have urgent container(s) destined for Metroport, please reach out to your contact at Oceanbridge 2 days prior to the vessel arrival at Tauranga so we can arrange for priority rail northbound.
- Local carrier fuel surcharge for the month of July drops to 19%
- A number of container depots are facing increasing demand & have only been able to offer restricted VBS slots to accept empty import containers for dehire. This is creating an unwanted time lag between calling in an empty container and being able to source a slot to accept. The short week for Matariki has been an aggravating factor.
- New Zealand Customs advise an increase in processing fees from the 1st of July. This increase is to reflect inflation. The new combined MPI and Customs import entry processing fees are as follows:
The Customs export transaction fee is also lifting to $8.28 including GST.
- Due to reduced capacity OOCL, Cosco & MSC can longer accept export bookings via Metroport, all cargo must load at Auckland.
Australia
LANDSIDE
- DAFF (Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry) has initiated an annual review and indexation cycle to
regulatory fees for biosecurity and imported food regulatory activities effective 1st July 2024:- Full Import Declaration (FID) – Air – increasing from $43.00 to $45.00 per FID.
- Full Import Declaration (FID) – Sea – increasing from $63.00 to $66.00 per FID.
- Fee for service – inspection (including virtual inspections), examination, document assessment, analysis, diagnostic activity, clearance of cargo, treatment, audit, supervision, training.
- Currently 20’ containers are in short supply across multiple carriers for exports from Australia. Please speak with your Customer Services Representative for options.
- Shipping lines are confident import volumes will build for the rest of the year and as such, some are increasing freight rates on a fortnightly basis now. PSS (Peak Season Surcharges) are also being implemented with more expected to be announced starting early/mid-July.
- Clients requesting NOR bookings (Non-Operational Reefers) are becoming increasingly popular given competitive pricing and equipment availability. Shipping Lines will give preference to these bookings as they push to relocate reefer units into Australia for re-export, so it is worth considering where physical cargo volume is 35CBM or less. A standard 40HC reefer has about 5-8% less capacity than a standard 40HC. Containers are always clean, waterproof, and in some instances, exempt from PSS surcharges and/or have extended validities. For more information, please speak to your Customer Service Representative.
- Road works and road closures continue to affect deliveries in Melbourne and are anticipated to continue throughout June and July.
Asia
AIR
- Imports – Capacity seems okay after the EID holiday period. Carriers are accepting bookings, however, larger
shipments are being split over more than one flight. - Exports – Capacity is available on most carriers, to most destinations.
OCEAN
- Issues from South-East Asia have enhanced significantly since our last View From The Bridge. Congestion in transship ports of Singapore and Malaysia is now so bad, that shipping lines are reducing feeder capacity from Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand in an attempt to mitigate the congestion. Also, as a result of this, most shipping lines have suspended allocations for July and there are very few that will take new bookings for the rest of July and early August. This also extends to the Subcontinent and Middle East however, as many shipping lines use 3rd party feeder services, it is harder to gauge the impact, though we expect it to be similar to what is happening elsewhere.
- Roll pools with some shipping lines in Singapore and Malaysian transship ports are now exceeding 4 weeks in some cases. Whilst we do push for things to move as early as possible, with a number of blank sailings and port omissions on the services to New Zealand, often what can be done is limited.
- Space availability from North Asia remains somewhat similar to our last edition, though the ability to move containers via SE Asia is now restricted (for reasons highlighted above), so we expect space on the direct services to New Zealand to remain in strong demand right through to the Lunar New Year holiday in late January 2025.
- Congestion in transship ports is going to compound the empty container availability challenges we have been facing; with so many containers now sitting in congested transship ports as well as what is already tied up in the extra transit time required to go around the Cape of Good Hope. We see this getting far worse in July and August. With a large number of new build containers coming off the line in August (most shipping lines have large orders placed), we hope that this will ease some of the pressure. This congestion is affecting both inbound and outbound cargo.
- Equipment availability has been an issue for export 40’s New Zealand wide recently and reefer equipment is also impacted by peak season.
- Space remains tight on some export services to Asia – we recommend booking at least 3 weeks in advance in order to secure. Please check with your customer service representative for options.
- Space and equipment demand continues to build for shipments from North Asia and now Southeast Asia to Australia East Coast. Bookings are more readily available into Australia West Coast.
Trans-Tasman
AIR
- Imports – Consols are running as booked. Carriers are at capacity so additional space is harder to obtain for any larger ad-hoc shipments.
- Exports – Consols are moving as booked with capacity available on most carriers.
OCEAN
- Equipment availability has been an issue for export 40’s New Zealand wide recently and reefer equipment is also impacted by peak season, but no issues with space.
- No issues with space either Eastbound or Westbound on the Tasman.
Europe
AIR
- Imports – Consols from London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt and Milan are all moving well. However, ad-hoc bookings are starting to get delayed in transit particularly via the USA.
- Exports – Bookings to Europe are taking up to two weeks to be approved, either via the US, Asia or Middle East.
OCEAN
- On-going attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea has made all container carriers continue to avoid the Suez Canal until further notice. There will be delays of approximately 2-3 weeks and extra costs as shipping lines re-route via Cape of Good Hope.
- Rates from Europe have increased in line with extra demand and longer routings absorbing capacity.
- Asia transship ports are getting congested leading to some delays.
- BMSB season will re-start on September 1st.
- Equipment shortages in Turkey have returned.
- 20’ reefers are in low supply across Europe.
- Container shortages are happening particularly at depots that are further inland, eg Czech Republic, Austria.
- European Peak Season is in effect, where there is high demand on sailings and truckers in the last weeks of July before the holiday season starts.
- General rate increases and peak season surcharges are being applied to services to Europe and The Middle East.
- Congestion at transshipment port Singapore is causing delays in transit of 2-3 weeks. This relates to both inbound and outbound cargo.
North America
AIR
- Imports – Consols are moving as booked. However, Delta Airlines are suspending their service over August and September which will likely impact on transit times for these months.
- Exports – Delta Airlines has announced it will suspend it’s service over August and September. This reduction in capacity will likely push rates up on other carriers.
OCEAN
- Panama Canal services for ANP/OC1 service with Hapag Lloyd, Maersk and MSC – Continuing low lake levels in the Panama canal is adversely affecting vessel deadweight capacity. Space is restricted and vessels are booked 4-5 weeks in advance of departure.
- The Hurricane season has started early this year with Hurricane Beryl causing havoc in the Caribbean this week. This may cause delays on services via the Panama Canal.
- Reminder – The ANP/OC1 service with Hapag Lloyd, Maersk and MSC no longer has a direct Charleston SC call. This is has been replaced by Savannah GA. Transhipment options are now available for Charleston, SC.
- Baltimore – All FCL services to Baltimore have resumed.
- West Coast North America – There is a gap in the US West Coast schedule, after the CMA CGM Seattle 428N ETD Tauranga August 8th the next vessel is the Mate 429N ETD Tauranga August 22nd. Space is tightening on this service and expected to worsen as Carriers move excess cargo for the US East Coast via US West Coast ports.
- Chicago – No equipment available with Maersk service for 3 weeks. Speak to your Customer Service Representative for options.
