- Freight rates to US fall as tariff pause ends; early peak season likely concluded.
- Volumes and rates rise on Asia–Europe routes, hinting at trade flow shifts.
- FBX indexes show weekly declines on US lanes; stability or gains seen to Europe.
With the 90-day suspension of US tariffs now concluded, freight rates from China and East Asia to the US have continued to decline. Industry analysts suggest this dip is partly driven by proactive importers front-loading their cargoes during the tariff-free window, effectively triggering an earlier-than-usual peak season.
Europe-Bound Trade Shows Growth
In contrast to the US lanes, freight volumes and pricing on routes to North Europe and the Mediterranean are showing resilience. This may indicate a shifting trade landscape influenced by US tariff uncertainty, which could present longer-term structural changes in global shipping patterns.
Weekly Freight Rate Snapshot
- FBX01 (China/East Asia to US West Coast) closed the week at $2,346/FEU, a drop of $225 compared to the previous Friday.
- FBX03 (China/East Asia to US East Coast) settled at $4,880/FEU, down by $121 week-on-week.
- FBX11 (China/East Asia to North Europe) increased slightly to $3,458/FEU, up $16 from last week.
- FBX13 (China/East Asia to Mediterranean) closed at $3,768/FEU, marking a $92 decrease.
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Source: Baltic Exchange
