Matson Clipper Ships Show Strong Ontime Performance in October

This article analyzes the October timeliness data of Matson Express CLX and CLX+ routes. The CLX regular route's on-time rate improved in the latter half of the month, but departures from Ningbo Port remained uncertain. The CLX+ extra service performed excellently with punctual departures and minimal arrival delays. Sellers are advised to comprehensively consider timeliness and cost, pay attention to port dynamics, and plan inventory in advance. This helps optimize shipping strategies and mitigate potential disruptions in the supply chain for cross-border e-commerce operations.

For cross-border e-commerce sellers, shipping speed remains the top priority. How did Matson's express shipping services perform in October? Were the regular CLX and supplementary CLX+ routes reliable? This data-based analysis examines Matson's shipping performance to help sellers make informed logistics decisions.

I. Overview: 9 Voyages Across Two Routes

In October, nine Matson express vessels arrived at Long Beach Port—five via the regular CLX route and four via the supplementary CLX+ route. We analyze both routes' departure and arrival patterns in detail.

II. CLX Regular Route: Punctuality Analysis

The five CLX vessels arriving in October were:

KAIMANA HILA 040E
MAUNAWILI 227E
DANIEL K. INOUYE 066E
MANUKAI 230E
MANULANI 185E

1. Departure Patterns: Significant Variation Between Ports

Ningbo Port: Only one vessel departed on schedule. The other four experienced early/late departures or port skipping, indicating potential reliability issues that sellers should consider.

Shanghai Port: Departure data matched arrival records, demonstrating stable operations.

2. Arrival Performance: Early-Month Delays, Late-Month Recovery

Week 39-43 data shows two delayed arrivals in early October, while all three late-month vessels arrived on time, indicating improved CLX reliability as the month progressed.

III. CLX+ Supplementary Route: Exceeding Expectations

The four CLX+ vessels arriving in October were:

MATSON MOLOKAI 026E
MATSON HAWAII 011E
MATSON NIIHAU 023E
MATSON KAUAI 007E

1. Departure Performance: No Delays Recorded

Unlike historical patterns where supplementary vessels often departed late, all October CLX+ ships left both Ningbo and Shanghai on schedule.

2. Arrival Performance: Minimal Delays

One vessel arrived precisely on time, while the other three were delayed by just one day—exceptional performance considering peak season logistics pressures.

IV. Unloading & Pickup Efficiency: Consistent Performance

Long Beach Port maintained stable unloading and pickup speeds, typically completing container processing within 2-3 days of arrival, ensuring prompt transition to delivery networks.

V. Key Takeaways

October's Matson express services showed distinct advantages for each route. The CLX route regained punctuality in late October, though Ningbo departures remained inconsistent. The CLX+ supplementary route outperformed expectations with near-perfect scheduling.

Recommendations for Sellers:

Balance speed and cost: Prioritize CLX+ for time-sensitive shipments when budget allows.
Monitor port activity: Track departure patterns from both Chinese ports to adjust shipping plans proactively.
Plan inventory early: Build buffer time into peak season logistics to accommodate potential delays.