Intra-Asia freight indexes are at near peak levels, signaling strong demand, leading regional carriers to invest roughly US$1 billion in new ships as they see continued market opportunity. According to reporting from The Loadstar, the May 15th Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) for Shanghai–Southeast Asia trades climbed sharply, with rates up 31% year‑over‑year. Drewry’s
There are concerns over potential congestion at the Panama Canal as planned lock maintenance approaches. According to reporting from Seatrade Maritime News, planned maintenance of the canal’s locks from June 9–17 is expected to reduce daily transit capacity by approximately ten slots per day. gCaptain reported that the Suez Canal is already operating close to
Demand for greener shipping appears to be losing momentum as customers remain reluctant to pay higher prices for low-carbon fuels. As reported by ShippingWatch, citing a study by Boston Consulting Group (BCG), the report found that the share of container shipping customers willing to pay a premium for greener ocean freight declined to 3.5% in
Container shipping demand continues to face pressure from trade-related and geopolitical disruptions. Weaker U.S. import activity linked to the ongoing trade war, combined with instability in the Middle East are creating a challenging environment for containerized volumes and for trade flows. As reported by ShippingWatch, analysis by Sea-Intelligence based on data from Container Trade Statistics, shows
Pricing increases on the Trans-Pacific and Asia–Europe corridors have shored up global container spot rates, which saw their strongest weekly performance in several months. However, this rise is being led by carrier’s pricing actions than by underlying demand. At the same time, carriers are continuing capacity management efforts to keep supply tight. As reported by
New data points to intensifying competitive pressures around fleet growth and access to sustainable fuels for European shipping. As reported by the European Community Shipowners’ Association (ECSA), European-controlled vessels account for 34.5% of the global fleet, equivalent to approximately 570.5 million gross tons. The ECSA study noted that European operators control 45% of the world’s
Air cargo operations across the Gulf were disrupted again following a wave of aerial threats on May 4, after UAE hubs reopened on May 2. This has raised concerns about the ceasefire, which the U.S. maintains is still in effect. As reported by Air Cargo Week, limited Gulf operations and ongoing airspace closures are estimated
The containership orderbook has reached a record 13 million TEU, as carriers continue to vie for market share, according to consultancy Linerlytica. The analyst warned in its Market Pulse report that capacity pressure is building. “Over-capacity will soon catch up with the market with over 5 million TEU scheduled to be delivered in 2028 alone,”
ON May 5, the containership CMA CGM San Antonio was struck by a projectile while attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) confirmed eight seafarers were injured. In the aftermath, the U.S. military suspended its Project Freedom operation, which had been established to assist and guide commercial vessels stranded in the Persian
Drewry’s latest World Container Index (WCI) fell by 1%, marking its third consecutive weekly decrease. As reported by Drewry, the decrease reflects lower pricing on Asia–Europe, Trans-Pacific and Trans-Atlantic trade routes. “Despite elevated fuel costs and ongoing geopolitical risks, rates remain under sustained downward pressure due to excess capacity and low demand,” noted Drewry. Carriers
