#Container freight rates continue to surge, with the Drewry Composite Index reaching a 21-month high of USD 4,530 per 40-foot container, more than doubling year-to-date, with most of the increase occurring since May.
China–US routes have led the rally during this time, with Shanghai–New York rates up 127% to around USD 7,900 per container, while Shanghai–Los Angeles rates have climbed 117%.
Early Christmas ordering and tariff uncertainty are fuelling a wave of front-loading, with retailers and importers - especially in the United States - rushing to book shipments ahead of a potential new round of US tariffs on dozens of countries expected later this month.
In addition to longer journey times, higher fuel costs linked to the Strait of Hormuz disruption are adding to freight costs, with carriers now passing higher bunker fuel expenses on to customers.
Meanwhile, the Shanghai to Rotterdam and Genoa routes have also more than doubled since May
