Maersk to cut Asia/Latin America capacity

Maersk Line said Tuesday it would be reducing capacity on the "highly seasonal" Asia/Latin America trade.

The Danish ocean carrier said it will combine two loops serving the trade -- the AC-1 and AC-2 (Asia-Latin America) services -- into one string, with a port rotation of Yokohama, Yantian, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Gwangyang, Lazaro Cardenas, Balboa and Yokohama. Other destinations will be served through transshipment.

Maersk said it provided capacity in the trade during the peak of 2008, but needed to rationalize capacity with demand during the slack season. The carrier said it would add capacity again in 2009 to cater for the seasonality in the trade.