Container freight rates for cargoes moving under contracts on major East-West routes have continued to erode, but at a slower pace than previously, according to the results of Drewry's Benchmarking Club.

Maersk Line and Hamburg Süd are ranked as the two most reliable container shipping carriers, according to performance rankings in the new online version of the Carrier Performance Insight (http://cpi.drewry.co.uk) published by shipping consultancy Drewry.

LPG exports are so dependent on the severity of winter in North America that all eyes are on the weather, as it hit demand for very large gas carriers (VLGCs) last year, according to the latest edition of the LPG Forecaster, published by shipping consultancy Drewry.

Cabotage regulations for cargo moving to and from Shanghai have been formally liberalised. Whilst this should be positive for the port's transhipment activity, the effect is likely to be limited.