In its latest weekly report, the Baltic Exchange reveals that container freight rates out of the Far East have risen across all key routes — a development linked in part to new port‐fee dynamics between the U.S. and China.
Freight rates on the China/East Asia to U.S. West Coast route (FBX01) surged by US $641 over the week, reaching US $2,072. The U.S. East Coast route (FBX03) also recorded a strong gain of US $349, taking the rate to US $3,362, which remains one of the most expensive lanes due to its longer transit distance. Meanwhile, the North Europe trade (FBX11) jumped by US $541 to US $2,262, and the Mediterranean route (FBX13) increased by US $177 to US $2,285. The broad-based rise indicates a strengthening market sentiment that may persist into the coming weeks.
A major factor driving this uptick is the introduction of reciprocal port fees between the U.S. and China. American ports have implemented new charges targeting vessels connected to Chinese trade, while China has responded with similar fees on U.S.-linked vessels. These policy shifts are reshaping cost structures for carriers, prompting them to adjust freight rates to maintain profitability. The added costs, coupled with seasonal demand and tightening vessel space in Asia, have contributed to the current upward movement.
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Source: Baltic Exchange
