According to Alphaliner, a global provider of container shipping data and research, this move strengthens Maersk's position as the second largest player in the intra-Asia market, behind only China's state-owned Cosco Shipping (300,491 TEU). Maersk's Gemini alliance partner, Hapag-Lloyd, has also seen significant growth, nearly doubling its capacity since 8/2024. Both companies have added numerous short-haul routes within the region using a hub-and-spoke model.

On average, Gemini's vessels have a capacity of over 2,900 TEU, exceeding Cosco's 2,700 TEU, but falling short of MSC, which operates vessels averaging 3,000 TEU in the intra-Asia market.

This increased capacity, however, hasn't yet driven up freight rates. Drewry, a maritime research and consulting firm, reports that the Intra-Asia Container Freight Index (IACI) fell 2% in the second half of August, down to 582 USD per 40-foot container. This is the lowest point since last October, representing a 35% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.

Alphaliner describes the intra-Asia trade as fiercely competitive, with at least 69 carriers operating a combined 2.4 million TEU, a 13% increase from the previous year. The 20 largest carriers account for 87% of this capacity.

Peter Sand, an analyst at Xeneta, notes, "Intra-Asia container routes see more traffic than any other region globally. Since the beginning of 2023, an average of 3.95 million TEU per month has been transported between Far East ports, exceeding the combined volume from the Far East to North America and Europe (3.48 million TEU)".

Meanwhile, Dimerco, a Taiwanese logistics company, predicts a 19-21% decrease in US container imports during the final four months of the year, resulting in a full-year decline of approximately 5.6% due to tariffs. This has forced businesses to adjust their supply strategies, emphasizing resilience and flexibility within their supply chains.

The Dan (according to Seatrade Maritime News)