A less than convincing performance in the Asia to Mediterranean headhaul market and a sharp fall in Turkish imports have dulled westbound growth prospects.

After a flat second quarter, westbound Asia to Mediterranean volumes in the period July-September rose by 3.4%, and returns for October yielded a growth rate of 5.6%, according to data from CTS.

The year-to-date rise in headhaul demand was by the end of October reading 3.5% – a more convincing performance than the anaemic 1.2% recorded for the North Europe trade.
Source: Drewry