MOL , MAERSK SEALAND COMPETE ON NORTH CHINA/EUROPE LINKS

MOL, MAERSK SEALAND COMPETE ON NORTH CHINA/EUROPE LINKS    New World Alliance member MOL said the 24% increase in the Alliance’s Asia/Europe capacity was justified by explosive trade growth between North China and Europe.
   The NEX/Dragon Express string, launched by the New World Alliance last month, was needed in particular to provide a second weekly part-load sailing from shallow-draft Shanghai and to extend direct call service north to Qingdao, in place of the current feeding, as customers had demanded.
   Chris Bourne, Managing director of MOL (Europe), explained that while exports to Europe from China were up only 1% in the first five months this year, and Hong Kong was down 10%, East China grew by 18% and North China by 30% in the same period. “China’s entry into the WTO, with its consequent deregulation and liberalisation, will fuel north China’s growth even more,” he said.
   Meanwhile, in an under-publicised counter-move, Maersk Sealand has added a new UK call at Felixstowe to its corresponding AE2 Asia/Europe string which also calls at Qingdao.
   According to CompairData, Maersk Sealand's new Qingdao/Felixstowe transit time is 27 days, equal to the Lloyd Triestino/Evergreen CEM service for Qingdao/ Thamesport, and two days better than the 29 days between Qingdao and Southampton for the NEX/Dragon Express.