JOC Staff | Dec 20, 2012 11:29AM EST
Spot U.S. intermodal rates showed broad weakness this week especially in East-West lanes. An index of heavily trafficked domestic intermodal lanes dropped from $2,324 for a '53 foot all-inclusive door-to-door move to $2,085. An index of West-to-East rates fell from $2,872 to $2,518, according to spot rate data provided by IDS.
"This week we are seeing reductions out of most every key lane, with some sizable reductions in the lanes moving out of LA.We are also starting to see the rates on the key lanes dip below where they were in September, which is what we would expect at this time of year," said IDS Executive Vice President Rick LaGore.
As an example of softening West-to-East rates, Los Angeles to Chambersburg, Pa., dropped from $3,340 to $3,270, while Los Angeles to Kearny, N.J., fell from $3,275 to $3,190. A separate rate quoted from Los Angeles to New Jersey dropped from $3,575 to $3,485, IDS data showed. On East-to-West routes, the spot rate from New Jersey to Los Angeles dropped from $2,930 to $1,805.
North-South rates fared better. A sub-index of North-to-South rates climbed from $1,573 to $2,009, and South-to-North rates climbed from $1,566 to $1,769, continuing a trend of higher rates since September.
