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Freight Rates Rocket as U.S. Importers Scramble to Ship

U.S. importers are racing to move Chinese goods before the 90-day tariff suspension expires, injecting sudden momentum into global shipping.

Spot Rates Skyrocket

• Shanghai ¡ú Los Angeles: Up 16% to $3,136/FEU (40-foot container).

• Shanghai ¡ú New York: Jumped 19% to $4,350/FEU (Drewry¡¯s WCI Index).

• Next week¡¯s forecasts (Shanghai Containerized Freight Index):

• West Coast U.S.: Further 31% weekly surge.

• East Coast U.S.: 22% increase.

Drewry warns of continued rate hikes due to acute capacity shortages on Pacific routes.

Diverging Trends: Europe Trade Lags

While the Trans-Pacific booms, Asia-Europe rates remain weak:

• Shanghai ¡ú Rotterdam: Dropped 1% to $2,035/FEU.

• Shanghai ¡ú Genoa: Fell 1% to $2,742/FEU.

Carriers Hike FAK Rates Effective June 1

• CMA CGM:

• Asia ¡ú North Europe: $3,300/FEU.

• Asia ¡ú West Mediterranean: $4,400/FEU.

• MSC: Asia ¡ú North Europe at $3,100/FEU (all-in).

• Yang Ming:

• North Europe: $3,200/FEU.

• Mediterranean: $5,000/FEU.

Peak Season Risks: Congestion & Overheating

• Citigroup: The tariff window¡¯s August end coincides with peak season, potentially amplifying demand (China supplies 40% of U.S. container imports).

• HSBC: A flood of shipments could trigger port bottlenecks, echoing pandemic-era gridlock.

Analysts¡¯ Warnings: Short-Lived Boom?

• Kepler Cheuvreux: Q2 earnings may not see ¡°material upside¡± despite rate spikes. 2025 outlook remains weak due to potential:

• Post-window tariff resumption.

• Red Sea route normalization (reducing detour demand).

• Deutsche Bank: Long-term overcapacity looms, though short-term restocking may buoy rates.