With the shipping rush for Christmas 2007 due to start picking up again now we are half way through the year there is a real possibility of a meltdown on the container availability from China back to Europe. Effecting both 20foot and 40foot containers with the main problem being, simply the supply is out stripping demand. Booking times are increasing to 3-4weeks for containers and some lines are unwilling to accept large bookings because they feel they would risk compromising their service quality to the shipper. While rates are in decline for years now they are showing signs of increasing with lines implementing peak rate surcharges and other various surcharges.

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