Average on-time performance for container service reliability has slipped by 5.7% in January, 2016, according to the latest ‘Carrier Performance Insight', which is the online schedule reliability tool provided by Drewry Supply Chain Advisors.
The latest result shows the worst month-on-month decline since January, 2015 (when the on-time average fell by 9.4 points) and brought it down to its lowest reading since April, 2015.
This follows news that container service reliability had reached its best ever performance in 2015.
Nine of the 10 trades covered were less punctual in January, with the biggest decline seen along the Transatlantic route (-17.9 points), which Drewry believe was affected by the heavy snow storms that struck the US East Coast.
The three most reliable carriers for December, 2015 retained the very same positions in January, 2016, with Japanese carrier MOL once again recognised as top with an average on-time performance of 82.7%, down from 88.2% in December, 2015.
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Wan Hai followed in second place with 79.5% and Maersk Line took third spot with 77.0%.
The spread between the most and least reliable carriers in January, 2016 was about 30 points with Zim propping up the pack with an average of 57.2%.
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Simon Heaney, Senior Manager of Supply Chain Research at Drewry, said: “The latest reliability performance of carriers is disappointing considering the gains made in 2015.
“However, some of the deterioration can be explained by harsh weather, so it is too early to judge if this was just a blip or represents the start of a prolonged downwards trend.
“Drewry expects the February result to show some improvement, although the operational network changes designed to cater for the demand slowdown during Chinese New Year might have a negative impact.”
