A flood of new tonnage in the early part of this year suggests container rates will inevitably head into decline, but a series of unexpected events have benefitted lines up to now, with the latest boost from US tariffs.
Certainly, spot rates out of China to the US west and east coasts have surged by US$745 and US$734/FEU, respectively, but market commentators do not hold any long-term expectation that these rates can last.
Braemar data reveals that 730,000 TEUs have been delivered this year, with more than 9 million TEUs on order. The idea that there are capacity shortages driving spot rates ever higher has left shippers incredulous at what are seen as speculative GRIs aimed at Pacific shippers.
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