ANZDL: AUSTRALIA/U.S. SHIPPERS SWITCH TO INTERMODAL

ANZDL: AUSTRALIA/U.S. SHIPPERS SWITCH TO INTERMODAL    An increasing proportion of shippers in the Australia/New Zealand to U.S. container trade are moving cargoes intermodally via a U.S. West Coast port, Australia-New Zealand Direct Line reported.
   Containerized volumes that move West to East, via an intermodal network, have increased by 15 percent since 1995, from 53 percent to 68 percent of the northbound trade, ANZDL said.
   Steven Blowers, ANZDL’s general manager responsible for imports, said importing via the West Coast of North America was becoming “increasingly attractive” for wine importers. ANZDL runs an Australia/New Zealand service to and from the U.S. West Coast. Unlike some of its competitors, it does not operate an all-water U.S. East Coast service.
   “Perceptions that the East Coast is cheaper and safer are being counteracted by faster transit times and effective and safe methods of transporting cargo intermodally for large manufacturers,” Blowers said.
   For example, ANZDL said that the northbound transit time to Houston takes 28 days with ANZDL’s U.S. West Coast service, compared to 41 days when shipping via the East Coast. If the distributor requires the delivery of one container a week, the exporter will save a third on inventory costs by shipping via the West Coast with ANZDL, the carrier said.
   ANZDL is part of the Canadian-owned CP Ships group.