On the westbound Asia-Europe trade volumes in March declined year-on-year by 17% to 967,942TEU, however this was an improvement on February when volumes fell 32% to 625,166TEU.

The eastbound leg fared slightly better, as volumes declined by 9% in March to 433,148TEU and by 22% in February.

Overall first quarter volumes were down 22% westbound to 2.6m TEU, and were down 17% to 1m TEU on the eastbound leg.

First quarter year-on-year figures for other trades were:

=Europe - North America

Westbound: -17% to 628,600TEU

Eastbound: -30% to 583,600TEU

=Europe – Indian sub-continent and Middle East

Westbound: -12% to 344,400TEU

Eastbound: -3% to 505,392TEU

=Europe – South and Central America

Northbound: - 14% to 352,800TEU

Southbound: - 28% to 191,900TEU

=Europe – Australia

Northbound: -3% to 50,926TEU

Southbound: -13% to 68,065TEU