Worldwide perishable reefer trade increased by 52.1 million tonnes between 2002 and 2012, which represents a combined annual growth rate of 3.6 percent, according to Drewry's latest Reefer Shipping Market Annual Review and Forecast. Seaborne perishable reefer cargo has increased by a CAGR of 3.3 percent (25.6 million tonnes) from 66.8 million tonnes in 2002 to 92.4 million tonnes in 2012.

During the past few years much has been reported about the transfer of manufacturing from Asia to countries located closer to western markets, but much of it appears to be hype over substance.

Despite attempts by carriers to pull capacity from east-west trade routes, significantly weaker cargo volumes have limited the success of their attempts to lift freight rates for any sustainable periods, according to Drewry Maritime Research's latest Container Forecaster report.

Drewry Maritime Research's latest Annual Review of Global Container Terminal Operators report shows that whilst some things have remained the same, others have changed significantly with more change to come.

Drewry Maritime Research's latest Container Leasing Industry report indicates that the rental container fleet grew by 10.6 percent during 2011, improving on the 9 percent returned in 2010 and giving a compounded rate of 9.5 percent for the two years combined. Up to 9.5 percent is also being forecasted for 2012, as lease demand is again holding up well.

The world's container equipment fleet grew by 8.5 percent during 2011, taking the global fleet to 31.25 million TEUs, compared to a 7-percent growth in 2010, according to Container Census 2012 - Survey and Forecast of Global Container Units, analysis from Drewry Maritime Research.

Drewry Maritime Research and CargoSmart Limited will introduce a wider range of container key performance indicators to help importers and exporters benchmark their carriers' service levels.