- 94% of East–West departures to proceed as scheduled.
- Transpacific volumes peaked in July ahead of tariffs.
- European congestion and US port fees shaping strategies.
Carriers are still holding back on making significant cuts to capacity, even though demand is starting to dip. Looking at the key East–West trade routes, out of 729 sailings scheduled between weeks 36 (September 1–7) and 40 (September 29–October 5), only 44 (which is about 6%) are set to be cancelled. Most of these cancellations are happening on the Transpacific eastbound route (68%), followed by Asia–North Europe & Med (21%) and Transatlantic westbound (11%). This means that a solid 94% of the planned weekly departures are still on track to go ahead as scheduled, reports Drewry.
Market Drivers and Deployment Shifts
It seems that Transpacific volumes hit their peak in July, as shippers hurried to get their cargo moving before tariff deadlines kicked in. Other factors influencing the market include congestion at European ports and the new US port fees for vessels linked to China starting in mid-October, which are already leading carriers to rethink their deployment strategies.
Spot Rates Under Pressure
Freight rates are continuing to drop, with the Drewry World Container Index (WCI) falling by 6% week-on-week to $2,119 on August 28, marking its 11th consecutive decline. Transpacific spot rates fell by 4%, Asia–Europe/Med rates decreased by 8%, while Transatlantic rates held steady.
Outlook for Shippers
Shippers should tread carefully as weak demand, uncertainty around tariffs, service changes, and rising regulatory costs are all contributing to a higher chance of further rate fluctuations and schedule disruptions in the weeks ahead.
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Source: Drewry
