From Yahoo Finance: 2025-05-28 15:16:00

“Fear and Uncertainty in Ocean Shipping” as container rates surge on Asia-U.S. trade during China-U.S. tariff pause. Shippers desperate to move goods, paying higher rates. Xeneta data shows spot rates rising to $3,000 per FEU for U.S. West Coast and $4,069 for U.S. East Coast.

Carriers pushing for big spot rate hikes from China to U.S., offering ‘Diamond Tier’ services. Shippers in 75th percentile paying $3,200 per FEU to U.S. West Coast and $4,250 to U.S. East Coast. Capacity squeeze and fear driving rate increases, expected to peak in early June before softening.

Xeneta chief analyst Peter Sand advises shippers to question rate severity amid capacity squeeze and fear in the market. Spot rates to peak in first half of June before softening later in the month. Combination of factors driving rate increases, carriers shifting capacity back to China-U.S. trades.

More articles by Stuart Chirls can be found here. Related coverage includes CMA CGM developing $600M Vietnam container terminals, Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd partnering on new Asia-Long Beach service, and Maersk more than halfway through $1B stock buyback. Drewry reports China-US container rates up by double digits.

Read more: ‘Fear and uncertainty’ driving up China-US container rates