APL’s rates soften again after peak season

APL’s rates soften again after peak season Seasonal factors led to a 3-percent decrease in APL’s average rate for the four-week period ended Nov. 12, to $2,783 per forty-foot-equivalent units (FEUs), when compared to $2,867 per FEU in the preceding four-week period ended Oct. 15.
   The decline “was due largely to the phase out of some ‘peak season’ surcharges and seasonal changes in cargo mix,” said Neptune Orient Lines, the parent company of APL.
   However, average revenue per FEU rose 5 percent when compared to the same period of last year.
   APL also reported a 20-percent rise to about 143,000 FEUs in its container volume for the four-week period ended Nov. 12, when compared to the same period a year ago.
   “Volumes increased ' supported by the impact of new services deployed in the second half, healthy utilization levels and growth in overall ship capacity this year,” Neptune Orient Lines said.