UK freight forwarder Davies Turner has seen its consolidation volumes grow throughout the recession, thanks to its guaranteed weekly sailings.

Chairman of Davies Turner Philip Stephenson said its ability to provide weekly services, combined with customers increasingly using less-than-container-loads (LCL) services because they were shipping less following the recession, had resulted in its Asia-Europe consolidation volumes growing.

He said: "Our direct consolidation services have continued to expand on the China and Far-East trade lanes, whilst many of our competitors have suffered from the downturn, because we have been able to offer guaranteed weekly departures from as many as ten Chinese ports and cities direct to the UK"

"Over the last few years, we have been ideally placed to win the business of shippers who are switching from full-container-load (FCL) to LCL traffic and who are looking to reduce inventory costs and stock holdings."

Cargo benefiting from the company's westbound consolidation services included machinery, garments, and electrical goods as well as many non-retail items.