Eastbound trans-Pacific

Westbound trans-Pacific

Eastbound trans-Atlantic

Westbound trans-Atlantic

Asia to Europe

Europe to Asia

North America surface transport

Global shipping

Air cargo

There appears to be little that ocean carriers can do to stem an Asia-Europe spot market in free-fall as economic conditions deteriorate and freight volumes continue to soften. 

Demand slowdown overshadows capacity cuts on Asia–Europe

Market conditions may be normalizing for carriers as rates and demand drop closer to 2019 levels, but shippers in Europe continue to battle disruption in their import cargo flows.

‘Normal’ container shipping market not on horizon for European importers

Spot rates on the Asia–North Europe trade lane have now fallen 50 percent since January as softening demand and worsening economic indicators lead to a steady slowdown of the container shipping market.  

Asia–Europe ocean contracts under pressure as rates tumble

With prices on east–west routes out of Asia in freefall, high rate levels on the trans-Atlantic is encouraging carriers to shift capacity into the westbound trade, putting those rates under pressure.

Congestion propping up trans-Atlantic spot rates: analysts

Freight forwarders warned that shippers could face weeks of delays due to back-to-back typhoons that have battered China, while blank sailings are rising ahead of the Golden Week holiday.

Typhoon closes Qingdao and Dalian ports, adding to shipper woes

Departures from Shanghai and Ningbo are expected to face a two-day delay after a typhoon hit coastal areas of eastern China over the weekend, while some Busan services were also disrupted.

Typhoon delays liner services from key Asian ports

The trans-Atlantic westbound trade has bucked the falling rate trend on the major trade routes out of Asia, and carriers are shifting capacity to take advantage. 

Carriers ramp up trans-Atlantic capacity as rate levels rise

Falling import volumes into North Europe amid rapidly deteriorating economic conditions have not provided any relief for hub ports in the region as logistics challenges mount. 

Port congestion in Europe at ‘critical’ levels: carriers

With importers taking longer to pick up their containers from overflowing terminals at hub ports in North Europe, ship delays are increasing, particularly for the largest vessels serving the Asia–Europe trade.

North Europe port congestion worsens despite easing volume

Shanghai to Rotterdam

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{dateX.formatDate('MMM dd, yyyy')}: ${valueY} 
Y-o-Y: {Shanghai_to_Rotterdam_YoY}%

Shanghai to Genoa

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{dateX.formatDate('MMM dd, yyyy')}: ${valueY} 
Y-o-Y: {Shanghai_to_Genoa_YoY}%

Shanghai to Rotterdam, Genoa container spot rates (Drewry)

Source: World Container Index assessed by Drewry

The World Container Index (WCI) assessed by Drewry reports actual spot container freight rates for major east–west trade routes. The index consists of eight route-specific indices representing individual shipping routes and a composite index. All indices are reported in USD per 40-foot container and are weighted for volume as expressed in millions of TEUs. Data for the index is collected from transport intermediaries (freight forwarders non-vessel operating common carriers) in Europe, North America, and Asia. [Drewry](drewry.co.uk)

Shanghai to Europe container spot rates (Drewry) Gateway

Index level

Year-over-year % change

Asia to Europe container rate index (CTS)

The Container Trades Statistics (CTS) pricing indices compares monthly freight rates and associated volumes provided by container shipping lines that are members of World Liner Data Limited. An average rate for each trade combination is calculated at regional and subregional levels, then compared with the baseline average of 2008 (index = 100). Data is supplied for all cargo, dry cargo only, and refrigerated cargo only. [CTS](containerstatistics.com)

CTS Asia to Europe container rate index (CTS) Gateway

North Asia to Europe container volume (CTS)

CTS North Asia volumes to Northern Europe volumes (Monthly) Gateway

The Container Trades Statistics (CTS) volume index is based on monthly container volumes from specific ports of loading and discharge provided by container shipping lines that are members of World Liner Data Limited. Volumes are aggregated by port, country, subregion, and region. Additional data is collected from non-member carriers to ensure total volumes are accurate. Various trade lanes have competition rules that apply to port- and country-specific data. [CTS](containerstatistics.com)

CTS Greater China to North Europe volumes Gateway

Ningbo

Shanghai

Ningbo, Shanghai container port congestion index (Portcast)

Portcast reports on port congestion by processing and analyzing rich Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to determine vessels’ behavior and speed on the way to a given destination port to generate a congestion index for each port. Each index accounts for all vessels, including those that do not have estimated times of arrival (ETAs) or are waiting at anchorage, and uses multiple data sources monitored by humans to make corrections around edge cases. [Portcast](portcast.io/solutions/port-congestion-tracker)

China ports congestion index (Portcast) Gateway

Hamburg

Rotterdam

Hamburg, Rotterdam congestion index (Portcast)

Portcast reports on port congestion by processing and analyzing rich Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to determine vessels’ behavior and speed on the way to a given destination port to generate a congestion index for each port. Each index accounts for all vessels, including those that do not have estimated times of arrival (ETAs) or are waiting at anchorage, and uses multiple data sources monitored by humans to make corrections around edge cases. 

[Portcast](portcast.io/solutions/port-congestion-tracker)

Europe ports congestion index (Portcast) Gateway

Spot and contract rates, import volumes, port performance