Global container freight rates continued to climb this week as peak season demand accelerated across the major east-west trades, according to the latest market update from Xeneta.
The sharpest increases were recorded on the Transpacific, where spot rates from the Far East to the US West Coast rose 14 per cent week on week to $6,639 per FEU. Rates to the US East Coast increased 15 per cent to $8,362 per FEU.
Compared with the end of February, before the Strait of Hormuz crisis, spot rates have surged 253 per cent on the Far East–US West Coast trade and 215 per cent to the US East Coast.
Rates also continued to rise on Asia-Europe services, increasing 13 per cent to North Europe and 12 per cent to the Mediterranean over the past week.
The market strength comes as carriers continue adding capacity. Offered capacity on the Far East–US West Coast reached a four-week rolling average of around 350,000 TEUs in the week commencing 29 June, surpassing the previous record set following the US tariff pause in 2025.
READ: Xeneta warns of further freight rate surge
Peter Sand, Chief Analyst at Xeneta, said: “Ocean container shipping is running hot on the Transpacific, with offered capacity from Far East to US West Coast hitting an all-time high this week and spot rates showing another double-digit increase to now sit +253 per cent compared to pre-Strait of Hormuz crisis at the end of February.
“The combination of record capacity deployment and further rate increases on the Transpacific tells us demand is strong and that carriers are scrambling to satisfy it.
“Double-digit spot rate increases are seen across all major fronthauls from Far East to US and Europe in a clear sign peak season is already here at a global level. Shippers are moving right now to bring goods out of Asia and get them where they need to be ahead of potential further disruption during the peak season and a backdrop of continuing uncertainty in the Middle East.”
According to Xeneta, MSC has reinstated its Pearl service, while Yang Ming and Ocean Network Express (ONE) have also deployed extra-loader vessels to accommodate rising demand.
Despite the additional capacity, Sand expects spot rates to continue increasing into at least mid-July, with demand continuing to outpace available space on the major east-west trades.
For more information:
Xeneta – https://www.xeneta.com/
