In the battle of freight costs, how should exporters choose?

The main difference between scheduled and tramp lines in ocean freight is the scheduling and frequency of operations of the transporting vessels.

Regular routes mean that ships operate according to a fixed schedule and way, and the ship's departure and arrival times have definite arrangements. Scheduled courses usually operate between important ports and provide customers with accurate schedule information and transit time estimates. Such passages are typically used by shipping lines or ship owners and provide a stable and predictable service.

Non-scheduled routes mean that ships operate on demand without fixed schedules and routes. The departure and arrival times of ships will vary according to the cargo volume and market demand. Freight forwarders or non-scheduled ship operators usually provide this route suitable for small goods or special needs. Tramp routes are more flexible but less predictable and require more communication and coordination.

Regular and non-scheduled routes will impact exporters' choices when scheduling export shipments. Exporters are likely to opt for a planned service if they need to ensure that their cargo reaches its destination on time and require highly predictable schedule information. This ensures that goods are exported as planned and that production and supply chains can be scheduled in advance.

However, exporters may consider tramp routes if their volumes are small or have greater flexibility. This way, export shipping schedules can be arranged more flexibly, and adjustments can be made according to actual needs and market changes. Tramp services may also offer competitive pricing and service options, attractive to some small and medium exporters.

There is a correlation between scheduled and non-scheduled routes and direct and non-direct ships. A direct boat is a vessel that sails directly from the starting port to the destination port. At the same time, a non-direct ship must go through transshipment or transit through the transshipment or transit port to reach the final destination. Regular lines are direct vessel operations, following fixed routes and schedules and connecting directly to essential ports. This makes scheduled airlines more competitive in providing fast and direct transport services, especially for time-efficient cargo.

However, tramp voyages may include both direct and non-direct vessels. Non-direct ships usually transfer cargo at specific transit ports and finally arrive at the destination port. Non-scheduled routes offer greater flexibility to accommodate varying exporter needs and market conditions. Such courses may be constantly adjusted due to changes in market demand, cargo volume, or other factors.

From a trade practitioner's perspective, choosing a scheduled or non-scheduled route depends on the specific needs of the exporter. A scheduled service may be preferred if the exporter values reliability and predictability of transit times and the cargo volume is significant and stable. This ensures timely delivery of goods to their destinations and provides customers with accurate shipping schedule information.

However, tramp routes may be more attractive if the exporter has lower cargo volumes, greater flexibility, or is price sensitive. This way, the most suitable shipping schedule and price option can be selected according to actual needs and market changes. Non-scheduled routes can also provide more flexible service plans to meet the individual needs of exporters.

Therefore, if you are a freight forwarder, you must fully understand customers' needs when assisting exporters in choosing shipping dates, including cargo characteristics, time requirements, cargo volume, and budget, to provide the most suitable choice. At the same time, according to the ship's operating conditions and market changes, freight forwarders must evaluate the feasibility of regular and irregular routes regularly to ensure that customers' goods can be transported safely and efficiently.

If we take exports from important ports in Taiwan as an example, regular and irregular routes will have a particular impact on freight costs.

Due to the relatively stable operation of regular courses and the relatively small competition among ships, freight costs are usually fairly stable. Traditional lines are typically operated by large shipping companies or ship owners, with fixed routes and timetables. Exporters can choose the most suitable way according to the price and service provided by regular courses and can have certain predictability in terms of freight costs.

However, freight costs on non-scheduled routes are more flexible. Since the operation of tramp routes is not fixed, the supply and demand relationship between transport ships and roadways will impact freight rates. When the market demand is high, the freight Route may increase, and when the market demand is low, the freight rate of the tramp route may decrease. This makes the freight cost of non-scheduled courses relatively unstable, and exporters must consider cost factors more carefully when choosing courses.

In addition, direct and non-direct ships in scheduled and irregular routes will also impact freight costs. Direct ships are usually able to provide a faster and more immediate service, but their freight costs may be relatively high. Non-direct ships may need to be transshipped or transshipped, and the transportation time will be longer, but the freight cost may be relatively low. Therefore, exporters must comprehensively consider the two factors of transportation time and freight cost when choosing routes.

In short, from the perspective of exports from Taiwan's leading ports, choosing regular and non-scheduled routes will impact freight costs. Regular courses usually provide a relatively stable freight cost, while the freight cost of weird ways is more flexible.