TWENTY-FIVE per cent of ports have an increased share of empty container handlings due to the Covid crisis, reports an International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH) survey.

The report had a 46.2 per cent response from Europe, a 15.5 per cent from Central and South America, 9.2 per cent from North America, 18.4 per cent from North Asia, South East Asia, and Australia, 9.2 per cent from Africa, and 1.5 per cent from Middle East-Central Asia.

Another 15 per cent of ports reported the share of empty containers in total container throughput is at a lower portion. Thus, 40 per cent of the ports surveyed are experiencing a different pattern in throughput.

"The findings of the Barometer over time have shown that the Covid related shocks in maritime trade produced a rather wide imbalance of minor scale, which in aggregate creates conditions that affect shippers - and freights - in several regional markets around the globe," said Barometer report co-author Theo Notteboom.

"Since early 2020, a large volatility in demand caused by Covid combined with more rigorous capacity management by carriers has contributed to high freight rates, recent equipment availability issues, and high costs to reposition empty containers. Despite the observed volatility, the ratio of full to empty containers served by ports has remained fairly much the same." said Mr Notteboom.