Liner shipping service reliability across the three core East-West trades hit a five-month peak in March with an aggregate on-time performance of 64 percent, according to Carrier Performance Insight, the online schedule reliability tool provided by Drewry Supply Chain Advisors.

Ocean freight rates for cargoes moving under contracts on major East-West routes have increased for the first time in years, according to Drewry's Benchmarking Club, a closed user group of multinational retailers and manufacturers seeking to more closely monitor their international freight costs.