Eastbound trans-Pacific

Westbound trans-Pacific

Eastbound trans-Atlantic

Westbound trans-Atlantic

Asia to Europe

Europe to Asia

Breakbulk

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

A surge in volume from Asia to the Mediterranean in March has carriers injecting capacity into the trade to capture growing demand from southern Europe.

Asia-Med container volumes hit four-year high in March: CTS 

OOCL is so confident its balance sheet can withstand current market challenges that the carrier has returned 70 percent of its net profit to shareholders.

Tale of two halves as OOCL banks $10 billion net profit for 2022 

Carriers can use their windfall profits of the COVID-19 era to withstand the market downturn and are investing in strategic ways to supplement core liner shipping activities.

Cash-rich ocean carriers can ride out market downturn: AlixPartners 

The European consumer goods and retail sectors are steadily working their way through excess inventory piled up at warehouses, with growing expectations of a second-half return of demand.

As European recession fears fade, hopes build for restocking surge 

The poor economic conditions affecting Europe’s major economies and the ongoing war in Ukraine continue to drag down container volumes at the continent’s second-largest port.

Antwerp-Bruges Q1 volumes slip amid Europe’s economic woes, Ukraine war 

Weak import demand, Russian sanctions, and the loss of cargo to neighboring ports combined to drag down volume at Europe’s largest container port in the first quarter.

Asia import drop, Russian sanctions hit Rotterdam’s Q1 container volumes  

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

A variety of data sources suggest it is premature to conclude that supply chain bottlenecks have reverted to their pre-COVID levels, as issues continue to be more pervasive than before the pandemic, writes analyst Jason Miller.

Global supply chains not quite back to pre-pandemic norms: analyst 

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, Genoa container spot rates (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

China 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 China to Europe container rate index (CTS) Gateway

North Asia to UK and Mediterranean container spot rates (Platts)

Container spot rates are produced by S&P Global Platts editors who are engaging with market participants to assess the current value of freight-of-all-kinds (FAK) rates on major container trades. The rates include bunker adjustment factors, general rate increases and emergency rare restoration. They also include low-sulfur, equipment imbalance, and repositioning surcharges. The rates exclude terminal handling, port security, overweight container, delivery, and detention and demurrage charges. [Platts](https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights)

Platts North Asia to Mediterranean and UK Continent Weekly Gateway

Asia to Europe and Mediterranean container short-term rates (Xeneta)

Xeneta’s ocean freight spot and contract pricing benchmarks gather over 10 million rates monthly from large volume global shippers and freight forwarders. Before releasing any market information, a minimum of five daily rates per route, per equipment type is required. This defines the foundation upon which Xeneta builds stronger benchmarks as additional rates are sourced. Xeneta aggregates freight rates for both short-term contracts valid for less than 32 days. [Xeneta](xeneta.com)

Xeneta Asia to Europe and Mediterranean container spot rates Gateway

Shanghai to North Europe and Mediterranean container spot rates (SSE)

The Shanghai Shipping Exchange’s (SSE) Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) reflects spot rates and associated seaborne charges for containerized exports from Shanghai. The SCFI includes indices of freight rates in 13 individual shipping routes and a composite index, using Oct. 16, 2009, as the base period (Oct. 16, 2009 = 1000). [SSE](en.sse.net.cn/indices/scfinew.jsp)

Shanghai to Europe container spot rates (SCFI-Weekly) Gateway

China to Europe and Mediterranean container shipping price index (CCFI)

The Shanghai Shipping Exchange’s (SSE) Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) reflects spot rates and associated seaborne charges for containerized exports from Shanghai. The SCFI includes indices of freight rates in 13 individual shipping routes and a composite index, using Oct. 16, 2009, as the base period (Oct. 16, 2009 = 1000). [SSE] (en.sse.net.cn/indices/scfinew.jsp)

China to Europe price index (CCFI-Weekly) Gateway

China to Europe container spot rates (Freightos)

China to Europe (Freightos) Gateway

North Asia to Europe container volume (CTS)

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

China to North Europe volumes (CTS)

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 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 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)