News · Shipping
What's moving in importing.
Shipping and freight rates, factories in China, trade fairs, UK import rules and the pound against the dollar. Short, sourced, and written for businesses bringing in full containers from China.
Shanghai to Rotterdam spot rate rises 3% to $3,632 as blank sailings increase
Drewry's World Container Index for 22 October put Shanghai to Rotterdam at $3,632 per 40ft, up 3%. Drewry expects Asia to Europe rates to rise slightly again next week.
Gemini expects nearly all its services back through Suez by early 2027
Hapag-Lloyd's chief executive expects almost all Gemini services to route via Suez in the first quarter of 2027. The Premier Alliance's first Suez-routed FE1 sailing to North Europe was due to leave Asia on 19 October.
Asia to Europe spot rates rise after 13 weeks of decline
Drewry's Shanghai to Rotterdam rate rose 6% to $3,522 per 40ft on 15 October, the first Asia to Europe rise after 13 weekly falls. Carriers are seeking FAK levels of $4,500 to $4,800 from 19 October.
Asia to Europe spot rates fall for a twelfth week as carriers plan October rises
Drewry's Shanghai to Rotterdam rate slipped 2% to $3,399 per 40ft, a twelfth straight weekly fall on Asia to Europe. MSC has set a $4,500 per 40ft FAK rate to North Europe from 19 October, but forwarders doubt it will stick.
Global schedule reliability falls to 49.9%, the lowest since 2022
Sea-Intelligence said only 49.9% of container ships arrived on time in August, the lowest since September 2022. Late ships averaged 6.81 days behind schedule, against a backdrop of severe congestion in Asia.
Sea-Intelligence warns of volatile Asia to North Europe schedules after Golden Week
Asia to North Europe capacity over the four-week Golden Week period is 27% higher than last year, with no blank sailings planned and 12 double sailings. Sea-Intelligence expects late cancellations later in October.
Shanghai to Rotterdam rates drop 9% in a week as Suez capacity returns
Drewry's Shanghai to Rotterdam rate fell 9% to $3,626 per 40ft on 17 September. Drewry linked the slide to weak demand and services returning to the Suez Canal, which adds effective capacity.
Gemini moves AE5 Asia to North Europe service, which calls at London, to Suez
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd are moving four more Gemini services from the Cape to the Suez Canal, including AE5, which links Qingdao and Ningbo with London and North Europe. The first westbound AE5 sailing leaves Asia on 21 September.
Maersk raises its EU emissions surcharge from Asia to North Europe for Q4
Maersk's emissions surcharge on Far East Asia to North Europe rises to $170 per 40ft dry container from 1 October, up from $155 in the third quarter, reflecting higher EU carbon allowance prices.
Shanghai waiting times jump as schedule reliability slides
Drewry reported ship waiting times at Shanghai rising to 96 hours from 35. Sea-Intelligence said global schedule reliability fell to 56.4% in July, with late ships arriving about six days behind schedule.
MSC brings some Asia to Europe sailings back through the Suez Canal
MSC is partially restoring Suez Canal transits on selected east-west services, including an eastbound sailing on its Asia to North Europe Albatros service, after reviewing Red Sea security.
Typhoon Dolphin shuts Shanghai and Ningbo terminals, adding to delays
Terminals at Shanghai and Ningbo suspended operations on 7 and 8 August as Typhoon Dolphin struck East China. Both ports reopened by 11 August, but backlogs are expected to take weeks to clear.
Shanghai to Rotterdam spot rates keep falling as peak demand eases
Drewry's Shanghai to Rotterdam rate fell 3% to $4,677 per 40ft on 30 July. Carriers are blanking sailings to slow the decline, and several plan emergency fuel surcharges from August.
Houthis declare ban on ships trading with Saudi ports
Yemen's Houthis told shipping companies on 20 July that vessels loading or discharging at Saudi ports were banned and could be attacked. Analysts see the main risk falling on oil cargoes rather than container lines.
Drewry container index hits highest level since September 2024
Drewry's World Container Index rose 2% to $4,639 per 40ft on 9 July, its highest since September 2024. Shanghai to Rotterdam rose 5% to $4,933, with carriers lining up further increases for 15 July.
Gemini moves its AE15 Asia service back through the Suez Canal
Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd have switched AE15 from the Cape of Good Hope to the Suez Canal, the first structural return of a Gemini service. It serves the Mediterranean, not North Europe or the UK.
UK emissions trading scheme extends to shipping from 1 July
Ships of 5,000 GT and above now fall under the UK Emissions Trading Scheme for domestic voyages and for emissions while in UK ports. Maersk says it will not pass these costs on for now.
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