China 'container grab' hitting Aussie exporters

A global container crisis triggered by China's sharp economic recovery from the pandemic is hitting Australian exporters.

Compared with other industrial nations, China is enjoying booming exports and its containerised exports are far higher than its imports.

Analysts say there are three containers leaving China for every container arriving.

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This has lead to empty containers piling up in western countries such as Australia when they are needed in Asia.

Chinese demand for containers is so great that exporters are paying huge premiums for empty boxes.

The money they are prepared to pay has risen so high that it is now more profitable for shipping carriers to send the boxes back to China with no cargo, rather than waiting to have them refilled with goods destined for Asia.

Kirk Coningham, chief executive of the Australian Logistics Council, told nine.com.au that the situation was putting pressure on the global supply chain.

"There are too many empty containers in Australia and they don't have enough in Asia," he said.

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Mr Coningham said the demand started last year as the Chinese economy began its recovery and its "ripple effect" is being felt in Australia.

The WA Meat Marketing Cooperative (WAMMCO) exports premium lamb products to international markets.

Chief executive Col MacRury told nine.com.au that it is facing long delays at ports.

"Shipping around the world is happening very slowly, with problems caused by the pandemic," he said.

"We are having difficulties getting chilled product to our markets in adequate time to fill our shelf life in supermarkets."

Some container parks in Australia are packed with empties, but many are not being released unless the intended cargo sends the boxes back to China.

While there is high demand in Asia for containerised farm produce, many exporters and packing plants are struggling to find boxes.

The impact of the container freight shortage is worse due to the collapse in air freight.

Unused capacity in the cargo hold of passenger planes is usually purchased by airfreight companies to carry high-end goods.

But the coronavirus pandemic, and resulting global travel restrictions, have led to passenger services being slashed and this has added demand to the containerised sea freight market.