Weekly highlights
Asia-US West Coast prices (FBX01 Weekly) decreased 1%.
Asia-US East Coast prices (FBX03 Weekly) decreased 3%.
Asia-N. Europe prices (FBX11 Weekly) decreased 3%.
Asia-Mediterranean prices (FBX13 Weekly) decreased 1%.
China – N. America weekly prices increased 5%.
China – N. Europe weekly prices increased 6%.
N. Europe – N. America weekly prices stayed level.
Analysis
Tensions between Iran and the US continue to climb around the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran now announcing plans to impose a wider exclusion zone on areas near the strait. Fuel rates have trended up since the ceasefire collapse in July, but recent escalations as well as an increase in Chinese crude imports have pushed bunker fuel prices back up to levels last seen in June. Jet fuel prices are back to May levels with both fuels about 60% higher than before the start of the war.
Climbing fuel costs are likely setting an elevated floor for container rates, but ocean prices are still largely being driven by demand trends and disruptions to capacity availability.
Transpacific ocean rates cooled slightly last week, suggesting there won’t be additional rate increases in what is likely the last few weeks of peak season. But elevated demand that started in late May has kept prices at peak levels since early July. Current rates – of about $7,600/FEU to the West Coast and $9,500/FEU to the East Coast – are about back to levels last seen during peak season in 2024 when seasonal demand, Red Sea disruptions to capacity and some frontloading ahead of a possible East Coast labor strike combined to push rates up sharply.
Severe typhoon-driven congestion at Far East container hubs are likely also contributing to current rate levels. Carriers have increased blanked sailings for this week – possibly as moves to recover schedules disrupted by the storms – which could also help keep prices elevated even if demand has started to ease.
The Panama Canal Authority has postponed an additional half-foot draft reduction for Neopanamax transits until further notice, though it is still bracing for drought conditions from the expected El Nino this year. The PCA reduced daily transits by four to 32 this month, though Neopanamax daily slots – used by long haul container vessels – have only been reduced by one.
Asia-Europe container rates ticked down slightly last week to $4,500/FEU to N. Europe and $4,700/FEU to the Mediterranean, though Mediterranean prices have cooled further so far this week to about even with N. Europe. Going back to 2017, Asia – Mediterranean rates have on average been 17% higher than Asia – N. Europe prices, though at times they have been lower.
The current sharper decline from peak season highs for Mediterranean rates – a $2,600/FEU and 37% drop compared to $1,300/FEU and 23% for N. Europe lanes – may reflect both the recent increase in Red Sea transits for some Mediterranean services and that congestion at N. Europe hubs is keeping upward pressure on rates for those lanes even as peak season demand has cooled. Even with these declines, rates for both lanes remain $1,000 – $1,700/FEU above pre-peak season levels, likely due to Far East congestion as well. Recent port worker strikes in Germany and the Netherlands are now also contributing to some of the backlog.
In air cargo, operations at Miami International Airport are back to normal after an Amazon freighter crash on Sunday and authorities have reopened most airports across Indonesia following a volcanic eruption that had closed airports since late Friday. Air cargo rates from the Far East increased about 5% last week to $6.30/kg to the US and $4.88/kg to Europe, possibly reflecting disruptions from the most recent typhoon to hit the region last week.
Freightos Terminal: Real-time pricing dashboards to benchmark rates and track market trends.
Procure: Streamlined procurement and cost savings with digital rate management and automated workflows.
Rate, Book, & Manage: Real-time rate comparison, instant booking, and easy tracking at every shipment stage.
The post Mediterranean ocean rates pull even with Asia – EU, possibly from Red Sea transit bump – September 8, 2026 Update appeared first on Freightos.