Both MSC and Maersk have extended the 2M alliance and individually blanked sailings for the upcoming Golden Week period in early October which is expected to see a decline in demand.
Golden Week is generally considered to mark the end of the high season for freight as factories across China close and staff begin their week-long holidays.
MSC has announced the most wide-ranging cancellations, including some 2M alliance cancellations, with 11 sailings on its Swan, AE55/Griffin, AE7/Condor and AE6/Lion services from Asia to North Europe, from week 37 to 42 inclusive, and five sailings from Asia to the Mediterranean, on its Dragon, Tiger and Phoenix loops, from weeks 39 to 41.
The world’s biggest container carrier has also cancelled four sailings on its Pacific loops, two omitted on the Sentosa service, MSC Virgo and MSC Audrey in weeks 39 and 40 for the Sentosa service; and MSC Paris and MSC Abidjan on the Chinook service in weeks 40 and 41, both to West Coast ports.
Another two vessels have been cancelled in weeks 39 and 40 on the Asia to US Gulf and East Coast Santana service, the MSC Valeria and Genova respectively.
Furthermore, two sailings have been cut in weeks 39 and 40 on the North Asia to India and Pakistan trades, with a vessel each also cut from the Oceania and Latam loops in weeks 39 and 40 respectively.
Maersk has announced five cancellations during Golden Week on its North European routes and a further two cancellations on its Mediterranean routes, the AE15 service out of Busan in week 40 an the AE12 service from Xingang in Week 41.