Container line APL has launched a weekly service connecting North-Asian markets with the USWC using US-flagged vessels, which will include full-control of cargo flows via rail-links to inland destinations, according to the Journal of Commerce.
The shipping line will be controlling the ‘Eagle Express’ (EX1) weekly service from end-to-end in order to provide shippers with maximum schedule reliability.
Kenneth Glenn, President of APL, said: “The Eagle Express service is characterised by a well-formulated network design, which will be optimally supported by a dedicated fleet of APL vessels as well as our highly-efficient terminal and rail operations.
“We are committed to adding robustness to the supply chains of our customers. Whether it is shipment to the U.S. West Coast or her inland destinations, time-sensitive shippers can now take advantage of the superior transit times and on-time assurance offered by APL’s Eagle Express service.”
Connectivity at Los Angeles is anticipated to benefit shippers through the discharging of containers via APL’s Global Gateway South.
Container volumes from Northeast Asia to the US have grown by almost 4% over last year in the first eight months of 2015, with the rate of East Coast volume growth recently surpassing that of the USWC.
Greg Howard, CEO of CaroTrans, said: “Asia-Europe is deteriorating and saturated, and Asia-Latin America market conditions have worsened,” he said. “This has redirected NVOs [non vessel operators] to focus on the US. The Asia-U.S. trade is a bigger market with greater volumes and better revenue.”
