Maersk, a bellwether for global trade, has added about 6% in vessel capacity to offset delays as vessels take the longer route around southern Africa, it said.
The Copenhagen-based company also told customers, which include retail giants such as Walmart and Nike, to prepare for higher supply chain costs. Longer sailing times have already boosted freight rates.
“Many customers factor a cost per unit into their budgeting, and if that fundamentally changes due to all of this volatility, it could have a big impact on overall costs,” van der Steene said.
Longer sailing times around Africa have also meant significant delays for vessels bound for the U.S. East Coast, said Maersk, advising customers to consider alternative ports in Mexico, the Pacific Northwest, and Los Angeles for goods bound for the East Coast.
Heavy congestion in Oakland, California, have also resulted in delays for container vessels returning to Asia to pick up goods, Maersk noted.
作为全球贸易风向标的航运业巨头马士基近日宣布,为抵消船舶绕行非洲好望角带来的延误,已将船舶运力提高约6%。还向其客户包括沃尔玛和耐克等零售巨头传达了一个明确的信息:由于更长的航行时间导致运费上涨,客户应为更高的供应链成本做好准备。
马士基北美区负责人Charles van der Steene表示:“许多客户将单位成本纳入预算,然而,当这些成本因各种因素发生波动时,可能会对整体成本产生重大影响。”
此外,马士基还指出,绕行非洲不仅延长了航行时间,还将导致驶往美国东海岸的船只出现严重延误。为此,公司建议客户考虑使用墨西哥湾、太平洋西北部和洛杉矶等替代港口,以运送原本计划运往东海岸的货物。