APL volumes up, but rates weaker

APL volumes up, but rates weaker    Neptune Orient Lines said its APL container shipping subsidiary handled 231,100 40-foot equivalent units in the four-week period ending May 6, 9 percent more than the 212,000 FEUs handled in the comparable year-earlier period.
   Average revenue per FEU was $2,549, 4 percent less than in the same 2010 period. Rates have been declining since last summer.
   'The increase in volume was mainly due to higher volumes carried on    the intra-Asia and Asia/Europe trade lanes, while the decline in average revenue per FEU was mainly due to lower rates in the Asia-Europe trade lane,” NOL said.
   Year to date, container shipping volumes are up 9 percent to 995,100 FEU and average revenue per FEU is $2,587, 1 percent higher than in the same 2010 period.