In a release issued on Monday, the TSA cited press reports of double-digit import growth in September and October, and forecasts of continued market momentum through the remainder of the year. As in recent years, it said, the holiday retail season is likely to extend into January via gift cards and post-holiday sales promotions.
Other factors are also entering into the picture, such as difficulties carriers are having in repositioning empty containers back to Asia because of the congestion issue at LA-Long Beach and the possibility that issues such as that, combined with the higher volumes, will put carriers in the driver’s seat in the runup to Chinese New Year — Feb. 19, 2015.
“With rates as low as they have been since 2011,” TSA Executive Administrator Brian Conrad said, “lines have steadily reduced and consolidated services; they continue to play catch-up as demand ramps up beyond what had previously been expected.”
Maersk, a TSA member, had initially announced the GRI late last week. On top of challenges endured already by trans-Pacific shippers this year, such as diverting cargo to avoid potential West Coast longshore disruptions and then the gridlock at LA-Long Beach beginning in late summer, a winter capacity crunch would be yet another headache and would bring back memories of 2010 when a severe capacity crunch occurred at roughly the same time of year.
