en.Wedoany.com Reported - Container spot rates on the transpacific and Asia-Europe trade lanes have posted single-digit declines for the second consecutive week, with carriers refraining from rate increases.

Despite relatively tight capacity, the main reason for this week's softness appears to be carrier discount promotions on the Asia-Europe and transpacific routes. The Drewry World Container Index (WCI) shows that spot rates on the Shanghai-to-Rotterdam leg fell 3% week-on-week, closing at $4,677 per 40-foot container; the Shanghai-to-Genoa route saw a larger decline of 6%, closing the week at $5,630 per 40-foot container.

Analysts at Linerlytica report that carriers have offered rates below $5,000 per 40-foot container, and support for the August 1 increase is rapidly weakening. Today's Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), which records quotes for the coming week and can foreshadow next week's WCI movements, suggests continued modest declines next week, with no FAK increases and spot rates for both Northern Europe and Mediterranean routes down 4% week-on-week.

Drewry notes that as demand continues to soften, carriers are focusing on capacity management through blank sailings to prevent further rate erosion. Three blank sailings are scheduled on the Asia-Europe route next week, compared with four this week. This approach may be paired with another rate increase attempt with new FAK levels in mid-August: Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) announced today that it plans to implement a new FAK level of $7,800 per 40-foot container on the Asia-to-Northern Europe route, and $6,700 per 40-foot container on the Asia-to-Mediterranean route, effective August 15.

On the transpacific front, carriers are expected to attempt rate increases in the coming week. This week's WCI shows the Shanghai-to-Los Angeles route down 2% to $5,739 per 40-foot container, while spot rates from Shanghai to New York held steady at $7,578 per 40-foot container. U.S. West Coast freight forwarder Freight Right stated that the decline in transpacific rates is due to ocean carriers allowing rates to fall to stimulate market demand and restore pricing to a temporary market equilibrium.

August 1 marks the latest round of transpacific GRI (General Rate Increase), with increases varying by carrier, ranging between $2,000 and $3,000 per 40-foot container. Today's SCFI appears to reflect carrier optimism (carriers account for about half of the index's respondents), with rates from Shanghai to both the U.S. East and West Coasts up 12.5% week-on-week.

Freight Right stated that whether these increases hold will largely depend on sustained cargo volumes. If demand remains stable, carriers may maintain rates near current levels or slightly higher as importers continue shipping under a clearer tariff environment; if demand fails to strengthen, the market could quickly retreat to current levels after a brief surge in August.

Drewry added that carriers are seeking to support the GRI through increased blank sailings, against a backdrop of softening demand and slowing front-loading activity. According to Drewry's Container Capacity Insight, eight blank sailings are expected next week, compared with seven this week. Additionally, this week Chinese carrier BAL Container Lines canceled a plan to offer a one-time 14,000 teu extra-loader vessel to the U.S. West Coast, with the vessel instead chartered to Maersk and deployed on the Asia-Europe route.