According to PIERS, the data division of JOC Group Inc., Matson transported nearly 103,000 TEUs from China to the U.S. in 2013, just over a 1 percent share of the eastbound trans-Pacific market. Though operating with U.S. crews on relatively small U.S.-built ships means its costs are higher than foreign-flag carriers, Matson is able to overcome the higher expense because it has revenue in both directions: Matson is able to move ships full to Hawaii and Guam, then to China, and full back from China to Los Angeles.
“The international market suffers from overcapacity, they’re losing money and not seeing any returns,” Wine said, referring to the trans-Pacific eastbound market. “Overall, what we are seeing in our niche market is quite strong performance.”
