Reefer capacity on trade lanes between east coast South America and trading partners in Europe, the US east coast and Asia over the past three years remains constant, even as total capacity rises

 

Reefers are becoming a more important part of the total volumes in this trade. This is good news for the carriers.

REEFER capacity on the key north-south trades from the east coast of South America is allowing lines to earn more from higher value cargo from shippers, according to new research from SeaIntel.

This is true even as total capacity rises, the research found.

SeaIntel examined reefer capacity on trade lanes between east coast South America and trading partners in Europe, the US east coast and Asia over the past three years.

On the Asia trade lane, total weekly capacity has increased by 16% since 2012 from 35,500 teu to 38,600 teu. In the same time reefer capacity has increased by 12% from 4,600 plugs in 2012 to 5,100 in 2015. While there are seasonal changes in the amount of reefer capacity, reefer slots have generally increased in line with general capacity, SeaIntel said.

“It can be seen that the reefer share is usually 20%-30% of weekly capacity, assuming the reefer plugs cover two teu,” SeaIntel said. “This share has stayed surprisingly steady since 2012, so in spite of the large capacity and reefer increases, the reefer share has held its level at 25%-26% of total capacity.

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