CARRIER GROUP SAYS PACIFIC CAPACITY IS SUFFICIENT

   The Hongkong Liner Shipping Association, a group of ocean carriers, said that there will be enough ship capacity and container equipment to cope with this year’s eastbound peak season traffic.
    Half a dozen shipping lines have entered the transpacific trade this year and added capacity. Several established carriers, such as Evergreen, Zim and Global Alliance carriers OOCL, NYK, Hapag-Lloyd and P&O Nedlloyd, have also added new loops since the beginning of the year.
    A spokesman for the Hongkong Liner Shipping Association said that the shortages of ship capacity and boxes experienced during last year’s peak season won’t happen this year.
    The peak season generally lasts from late summer to December. Eastbound Pacific traffic is reported to be increasing by about 15 percent this year, as the U.S. continues to import heavily from Asian countries.
    Lykes Lines will enter the Pacific trade in early September by buying space from APL and TMM. China Shipping Group is also expected to enter the transpacific within weeks.