Our weekly Cancelled Sailings Tracker provides a snapshot of blank sailings announced by each Alliance versus the total number of scheduled sailings.
Global Shipping Sees Diverging Rates as Capacity Cuts Increase
A week of contrasts: aggressive blank sailings helped steady Asia–Europe rates, while Transpacific softened as carriers grappled with subdued demand.
Over the next five weeks—week 51-2025 (15–21 December) to week 03-2026 (12–18 January)—carriers have cancelled 64 of 709 planned sailings—around 9% of departures. Most blanks sit on the Transpacific eastbound (50%), followed by Transatlantic westbound (31%) and Asia–Europe/Med (19%), though 91% of sailings remain scheduled as planned.
December alone will see 67 cancellations, adding roughly 4% more capacity MoM, while early-January schedules include 47 blanks, pointing to a further 3% rise in available capacity.
Rate signals reflected mixed market conditions. Drewry’s World Container Index rose 2% WoW to $1,957 per 40ft container, supported by a 10% jump on Asia–Europe/Med, steady Transatlantic pricing and a 6% drop on the Transpacific.
Meanwhile, cautious progress toward a Red Sea recovery continued, with CMA CGM scheduling selected Suez transits and geopolitical risks showing early signs of easing. A full return remains distant, but once it comes, released capacity could add further pressure to a market already coping with oversupply.
Looking ahead, 2026 may bring new challenges: potential US tariff changes, a surge of new tonnage and a gradual shift back to Suez routes could reshape demand and amplify capacity pressures.
For shippers, agility will be essential—monitoring GRIs and blank sailings, keeping booking plans flexible and preparing for sudden market swings as volatility remains the defining feature of today’s container landscape.
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Source: drewry
