Container spot rates are surging across major trades, with early Xeneta data pointing to rates on the Far East to US West Coast Transpacific trade exceeding 80 per cent above pre-Middle East conflict levels at the start of June.
Other fronthaul trades are seeing similar pressure. Far East to US East Coast rates are projected up 70 per cent, Far East to North Europe up 44 per cent, Far East to Mediterranean up 40 per cent, and North Europe to US East Coast up 57 per cent, all measured against end-of-February figures.
Xeneta Chief Analyst, Peter Sand, said: “It’s time to face reality – this crisis has gone on too long, the freight rate spikes are too severe, and the geopolitical situation remains too volatile for shippers to recover the financial damage in the second half of the year. The question is what shippers do now to limit the full-year impact on budgets, which have once again been blown apart by geopolitical conflict.”
Market average spot rates as of 27 May 2026: Far East to US West Coast $3,272 per FEU; Far East to US East Coast $4,372 per FEU; Far East to North Europe $2,860 per FEU; Far East to Mediterranean $4,304 per FEU; North Europe to US East Coast $2,427 per FEU.
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Sand warned shippers still holding out on long-term contracts that the window to limit annual budget damage is narrowing: “Continuing to play on the spot market could be costly given rates are still on an upward trajectory during a traditionally slack time of year.”
The latest increases on the Transpacific are being driven primarily by the market mid-low rates paid by larger-volume shippers, typically commanding stronger negotiating positions.
Sand noted that carriers, who entered 2026 braced for a potential market downturn as Red Sea services resumed, have instead found themselves in a position to push rates higher across the board.
Offered capacity data for the week commencing 25 May shows mixed signals: Far East to US West Coast down 1.8 per cent week on week, Far East to North Europe down 2.5 per cent, while Far East to US East Coast is up 5.5 per cent, Far East to Mediterranean up 3.4 per cent, and North Europe to US East Coast up 10.4 per cent.
For more information:
Xeneta – https://www.xeneta.com/
