- A US federal appeals court has upheld a ruling against the legality of imposed tariffs, with further appeals possible, prolonging uncertainty into next year.
- Container freight rates strengthened on Far East to US routes, while Far East to Europe lanes softened.
- Rate adjustments appear linked to anticipated USTR port call costs expected from mid-October.
The long-running tariff dispute remains unresolved. A US federal appeals court upheld a ruling that the tariffs were imposed on an unlawful basis. The Trump administration now has until mid-October to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court. Any final judgment is unlikely before next year, ensuring that tariff-related uncertainty will persist well into 2026.
Freight Rate Movements
As September began, container freight rates showed a mixed trend. Far East to US East and West Coast routes experienced firm gains, possibly in anticipation of upcoming USTR port call costs in mid-October. In contrast, rates on the Far East to North Europe trade have softened, slipping by about $1,000 from the start of the month.
Key Index Levels
The week closed with notable movements across key FBX indices:
FBX01 (China/East Asia – US West Coast): Rose by $585 to $2,313 per FEU.
FBX03 (China/East Asia – US East Coast): Increased by $536 to $3,239 per FEU.
FBX11 (China/East Asia – North Europe): Declined by $305 to $2,541 per FEU.
FBX13 (China/East Asia – Mediterranean): Eased by $81 to $2,918 per FEU.
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Source: Baltic Exchange
