APL’s average revenue per container fell 4.1 percent from the month before in the container line’s November reporting period, the third straight month-to-month slide in pricing despite the carrier’s strongest container volume since June. The Singapore-based carrier reported average revenue per 40-foot equivalent unit of $2,797 for the four weeks ended Nov. 12. That was 25 percent better than the depressed levels of a year ago, but the system-wide measure of rates is also off 12.1 percent since the high point in August. APL said the rate weakness came largely from Asia-Europe and Asia-RedSea shipping. The sequential slip in rates came even though APL’s global container volume has remained relatively stable: The 220,800 FEUs reported in the November period was 3.1 percent better than the month before and APL’s strongest overall volume since the 221,900 FEUs in the June reporting period. The November period’s volume was 6.2 percent higher than in the same period a year ago. Volume for the full year so far was 23 percent better than the first 11 months of 2009 and average revenue per FEU was $2,809, up 22 percent. The Journal of Commerce Online |