21/10/2025
Sea Freight:
To curb the excessive decline in freight rates on the Europe–US routes, carriers have adopted strategies such as increasing blank sailings and reducing capacity supply to stabilize prices. These measures have started to take effect. According to the latest data on the 17th, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) rose by 12.91% to 1310.32 points, achieving a second consecutive increase. All four major routes saw freight rate growth, with the US West Coast route showing the most significant increase of over 30%, and the US East Coast route rising by more than 15%.
In the Far East–Europe long-haul market, negotiations for the 2026 annual contracts have begun. Major carriers are unwilling to sign low-rate contracts, which has helped stop the decline and lead to a rebound in European freight rates.
Currently, the spot rate of major alliance carriers on the Europe route has risen to around USD 1600 per 40HQ, though customers with steady cargo volumes can still negotiate prices. As the Europe route long-term contract negotiation season begins, carriers are planning another rate increase from November 1, aiming to raise spot prices to support higher long-term contract rates.
Compared with the Europe–US routes, intra-Asia markets are performing relatively strongly. Industry experts expect a promising Q4 peak season, with freight rates likely to outperform those on the Europe–US routes. Particularly, the China–US trade war and reciprocal tariff policies have accelerated global supply chain restructuring. As manufacturers shift production to Southeast Asia (e.g., Vietnam, Cambodia), the global logistics landscape is also undergoing migration.
SCFI Rates as of October 17:
Shanghai → Europe: USD 1145/TEU, up USD 77, +7.21%
Shanghai → Mediterranean: USD 1613/TEU, up USD 55, +3.53%
Shanghai → US West Coast: USD 1936/FEU, up USD 468, +31.88%
Shanghai → US East Coast: USD 2853/FEU, up USD 401, +16.35%
Persian Gulf Route: USD 1248/TEU, up USD 273, +28.0%
South America (Santos): USD 2658/TEU, up USD 212, +8.7%
Intra-Asia routes:
Far East → Southeast Asia: up USD 38/TEU, +9.24%
Far East → Japan Kansai / Japan Kanto / Korea: unchanged from the previous week.
Air Freight:
This week, prices on China–Europe and China–US routes continue to rise, increasing by USD 0.3–0.5/kg compared to last week. Current space availability is around October 26, with limited capacity still available for October 23–24 on certain airlines. Shippers are advised to book space in advance to ensure timely shipment.
Reasons for price increases this week:
Winter–Spring schedule transition: Many flights canceled or adjusted on Europe–US routes, causing capacity shortages.
Double 11 e-commerce sales have started, increasing cargo volume and tightening space.
The upcoming Black Friday, Halloween, Christmas, and New Year shopping seasons are prompting merchants to ship goods early.
Considering these multiple factors, air freight prices are expected to remain strong in the coming weeks. Recommendation: Provide shipment plans early and book space in advance to secure capacity.
Trucking:
Kazakhstan is currently conducting strict inspections on transit cargo, causing vehicle congestion and capacity shortages, leading to higher trucking costs. Additionally, as winter weather approaches, snow and icy roads are slowing down vehicle speed and affecting overall transit times.
Railway:
Transit times are generally normal. Express trains remain stable in terms of transit time, while regular trains may experience delays due to border reloading queues. LCL freight rates remain stable, and FCL prices are also steady, with slight increases on certain routes.
