The pricing move means a general rate increase planned by carriers for Jan. 15 will not be implemented, forwarders say, because demand is not sufficient to support another boost.
The shipowner’s decision to expand its MPV fleet is underpinned by expected growth in project cargo volumes and a lack of suitable ships.
The carrier said its ability to capture market share was directly linked to a shift in trade dynamics as mainline operators outsourced intra-regional services to more agile operators.