Eurogroup Consulting carries out in partnership with AUTF the fourth edition of the Barometer of shippers' perceptions of maritime transport. This barometer aims to giving a voice to shippers and assess their perceptions of shipping.
The elements of this Barometer are updated every year in order to define trends and offer a global vision to industry players. The elements of analysis of the 2024 edition are based on the facts of the year 2023.
The responses received provide an overview of the current situation:
- from choice of port,
- from company selection maritime,
- the preferred modal split loaders for pre- or post-carriage,
- the a clear maritime offering,
- and the satisfaction associated.
A high level of satisfaction with French ports
Among the panel interviewed, HAROPA, Marseille-Fos and Antwerp were identified as the most important ports. the three main gateways into and out of France. The five ports most frequently used by the panel of respondents are the same as last year, with Dunkirk GPM and the Port of Rotterdam rounding out the top three.
When it comes to choosing ports, the criteria that most influence shippers are similar to those stated in 2023, namely : the costs (pre- and post-carriage and sea freight) and the presence of shipping companies.
The franchise (terminal parking / guarding) has risen to 3rd place this year for shippers, who seem to attach more importance to respecting the franchise time and perhaps point the finger at a certain lack of commitment from shipping companies regarding any additional costs that may be charged as a result of strikes, blockages or congestion.
Satisfaction levels with French ports varied widely this year. Indeed, only 40% panel is satisfied or very satisfied with French ports; the numerous strikes and congestion in 2023 seem to be the main reasons for dissatisfaction.
The port of Dunkirk recorded the best result among French ports: 92% are satisfied or very satisfiedfollowed by Marseille GPM with 65% of respondents.
62% of companies surveyed welcome the significant improvement in service quality of French ports, with the main areas for improvement similar to last year's, albeit classified differently. Smooth flow of goods thus becomes the highest priority axis, as it will be in 2021 (compared with 2nd place in 2023) and the range of stopovers is now only in 2nd place (down from 1st place in 2023), followed by the cost transparency, transparency on workflowand the goods handling.
Choosing modal shift
65% of the shippers surveyed have switched to combined road/rail transport, while 43 % are switching to combined road/river transport.
Once again this year, road transport remains the preferred mode for pre- and post-carriage. This choice is primarily motivated by cost and lead time. It should be noted that shippers also turned to other modes of transport (combined rail/road for 45% and combined river/road for 33%). CMA - CGM plays a key role in inbound and outbound traffic to and from French ports
The main criteria influencing shippers' choices are, in order of importance: booking reliability (in 5th position in 2023), equipment (container) availability (then in 3rd position in 2023) and the environmental policy of the chosen company.
This represents a new challenge for shippers, who must now make responsible and virtuous choices regarding their service providers, in order to comply with European regulations.
Service price and transit time disappear from the top 5 this year. This is due in particular to the significant reduction in prices until November 2023.
CMA-CGM remains the company most in demand by the panel. Maersk returns to second place, as it did in 2022 (51% vs. 41% in 2023), dethroning Hapag-Lloyd in fourth place (37% vs. 52% in 2023).
This year, the performance of shipping lines appears unsatisfactory. With the exception of environmental policy, a greater proportion of shippers feel that the performance of shipping lines has deteriorated somewhat or even significantly. This drop in performance is probably due to the voluntary disorganization of flows (blank sailing), as well as to an increase in non-compliance with shippers' long-term contracts on the part of shipping lines, which may be passing on too many surcharges, such as those linked to environmental policy.
While performance is declining, service quality seems to be improving. 51% of the panel consider that the level of service provided by shipping lines is in line with or even good. This figure is an improvement on last year.
While only 12% of the panel saw their maritime flows increase between 2023 and 2024, almost half of the panel (49%) declared a decrease.
CSR issues now have an impact on shipping choices
Geopolitical factors, the consequences of the energy crisis and CSR issues are now key criteria for shipping choices in 2024 and beyond.
It's worth noting that strikes and blockades (French ports) are the number-one issue facing respondents in 2023. This is followed by port congestion in France and rising energy prices.
CSR issues play an increasingly important role in shippers' transport choices (an influential criterion for 41% of respondents):
- Thus, 57% of the companies surveyed stated that ecological and environmental concerns had led them to modify their pre- and post-shipment choices;
- And 51% see the energy crisis as a reason to change these choices.
However, this has not yet led to a significant shift in the choice of port locations.
Finally, more than half of the panel (63%) was impacted by parking and D&D (detention and demurrage) charges.
These factors call into question the future attractiveness of French ports, as parking and D&D charges have been a point of contention among shippers. Indeed, strikes and congestion in 2023 led to an overrun in terminal time, and additional charges were applied to shippers.
