en.Wedoany.com Reported - The global container shipping market is showing strong signals, with spot freight rates rising for the sixth consecutive week. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) reached 2,726 points on June 13, up 6% week-on-week, the highest level since September 2024. Consulting firm Alphaliner noted that the traditional peak season appears to have arrived early this year, against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and U.S. trade policy.
The Middle East situation remains a key focus for the industry. Alphaliner emphasized that the U.S. and Iran have yet to reach a permanent agreement on transit conditions through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi rebels have renewed threats against commercial shipping in the Red Sea, particularly targeting vessels linked to Israel, following the first direct military conflict between Iran and Israel since a ceasefire in April.
Against this backdrop, Xeneta Chief Analyst Peter Sand stated that spot freight rates remain high on major Asian routes and are expected to rise further in mid-June, as disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict continue to strongly impact the market. The analyst added that spot rates from the Far East to the U.S. West Coast and U.S. East Coast have increased by 127% and 106%, respectively, since before the Strait of Hormuz crisis.
Xeneta reported that average market freight rates on June 12 were: Far East to U.S. West Coast at $4,258/FEU; to U.S. East Coast at $5,462/FEU; to Northern Europe at $3,854/FEU; and to the Mediterranean at $5,194/FEU.
Routes to South America also recorded significant increases. According to data from S&P Global Platts, container spot freight rates between Asia and South America are near their highest levels in nearly two years, driven by aggressive capacity management from shipping lines through blank sailings and consecutive rate hikes. On June 9, spot rates from East Asia to the West Coast of South America reached $7,800/FEU, up 13% week-on-week, the highest in 22 months. Rates on the East Asia to East Coast of South America route reached $5,800/FEU, up 3% from the previous week, the highest since September 2024. JOC noted that rates may continue to rise as shipping lines plan to impose peak season surcharges in the coming weeks.
Regarding available capacity, Peter Sand said that shippers are not only paying higher freight rates but also facing delays in exporting goods from the Far East, with even long-term contract customers struggling to secure space. Capacity indicators show signs of improvement, with Drewry reporting that over the next five weeks (Weeks 25 to 29, from June 15 to July 19), 34 sailings are expected to be canceled (blank sailings) on major east-west routes, representing a 5% cancellation rate, meaning 95% of planned services should operate as scheduled. Disruptions remain concentrated on the eastbound transpacific routes, accounting for 50% of planned cancellations, followed by Asia-Europe/Mediterranean routes (35%), with the transatlantic routes accounting for the remaining 15%. Drewry also noted that the Gemini Cooperation and MSC continue to maintain high schedule reliability. The consulting firm concluded that future market trends will depend on shipping lines' ability to adjust supply to match demand fluctuations and how developments in the Middle East continue to impact global supply chains.
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