Global container shipping rates have posted a 7% increase, climbing to $1,927 per 40-foot container after three weeks of decline. This upward movement signals renewed volatility across major trade lanes as carriers adopt fresh pricing strategies to stabilise yields.

Route-Wise Rate Movements

The latest surge was driven by strong rate performances across the Transpacific and Asia–Europe corridors:

• Transpacific Gains
  • Shanghai–Los Angeles: ↑ 8% to $2,256
  • Shanghai–New York: ↑ 6% to $2,895
• Asia–Europe Strength
  • Shanghai–Genoa: ↑ 15% to $2,648
  • Shanghai–Rotterdam: ↑ 4% to $2,241

These adjustments reflect improved carrier discipline and tighter capacity management as year-end demand patterns evolve.

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Shift to Weekly GRIs: A New Pricing Discipline

Carriers are increasingly replacing biweekly GRIs with weekly incremental General Rate Increases.
This approach helps maintain steady upward pressure on rates while avoiding the rapid decline that typically follows large, infrequent hikes.

Forecasters expect rate stability through next week, supported by agile adjustments in capacity and pricing.

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Suez Canal Concerns Continue to Disrupt Trade Lanes

Ongoing challenges around the Suez Canal continue to inject uncertainty into Asia–Europe routes. Potential diversions and capacity reallocation add further volatility to freight pricing.

At the same time, the industry is juggling:

• Seasonal fluctuations
• Equipment repositioning challenges
• Geopolitical disruptions
• Pressure to maintain profitability with controlled capacity

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Historical Average Rate Trends (40-ft Containers)

Year	Average Rate (USD)	Notable Trends
2020	1,500 – 2,000	Rates began rising significantly due to COVID-19 disruptions.
2021	3,800 – 5,000	Peak levels amid global supply chain bottlenecks and port congestion.
2022	2,800 – 4,000	Gradual decline post-pandemic, still above pre-COVID norms.
2023	1,800 – 3,000	Continued normalisation with intermittent fluctuations.