APL Volume Rises 5 Percent, Revenue Falls

APL’s container volume grew 5 percent in October from September, while average revenue per container fell for the second straight month as ocean spot rates were squeezed by overcapacity and weak demand.

The Singapore-based carrier carried 241,100 40-foot equivalent container units in the four weeks from Sept. 24 through Oct. 21, up 13 percent from the same period a year earlier. Revenue per FEU for the period averaged $2,402, down 3.9 percent from prior-month period and down 18 percent from the same period a year ago.

“The increase in volume was mainly due to higher volumes carried on the intra-Asia trade lane,” said the line’s parent company Neptune Orient Lines. “The decline in average revenue per FEU was mainly due to lower rates in the major trade lanes.”

For the year so far average revenue per FEU is 9 percent lower than in 2010 despite volumes increasing 8 percent.

-- Contact Mike King at michael@borderline.eu.com