News and Articles

• Drewry World Container Index rose 3 percent to 2,286 dollars per 40-foot unit in the first week of May
• Shanghai to New York spot rates climbed 7 percent to 3,721 dollars per 40-foot container
• MSC raised Asia to U.S. East Coast Emergency Fuel Surcharge from 430 to 644 dollars
• CMA CGM introduced 2,000 dollar Peak Season Surcharge on Transpacific effective 1 May
• Asia to Mediterranean effective capacity expected to fall 10 percent month on month in May

Global container freight rates moved higher last week after three consecutive weeks of decline, lifted primarily by surcharge activity on Transpacific lanes and modest gains on Asia-Europe routes. According to Drewry data published on 12 May, the World Container Index climbed 3 percent in the week ending 7 May to reach 2,286 dollars per 40-foot equivalent unit, reversing the recent softening trend in spot pricing.

The rebound was driven largely by carrier action on routes between Asia and the United States, where major ocean lines rolled out Emergency Fuel Surcharges and Peak Season Surcharges. Spot rates from Shanghai to New York rose 7 percent week on week to 3,721 dollars per 40-foot container, while Shanghai to Los Angeles rates climbed 5 percent to 3,062 dollars. Mediterranean Shipping Company raised its Emergency Fuel Surcharge on the Asia to U.S. East Coast lane from 430 dollars to 644 dollars per 40-foot container, and lifted the Asia to U.S. West Coast charge from 272 dollars to 467 dollars. CMA CGM introduced a Peak Season Surcharge of 2,000 dollars per 40-foot container effective 1 May.

On Asia-Europe trade lanes, movement was more restrained. Shanghai to Rotterdam rates edged up 2 percent to 2,170 dollars per 40-foot container, while Shanghai to Genoa moved 1 percent higher to 3,075 dollars. CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd and MSC have announced Freight All Kinds rates for mid-May targeting 3,500 to 4,500 dollars per 40-foot container on Asia to North Europe routes and 4,500 to 4,600 dollars on Asia to Mediterranean services, effective 15 May. Whether carriers can successfully implement these increases remains uncertain given weak underlying demand and the continued presence of excess vessel capacity across major east-west trades.

To support pricing, carriers have continued to manage capacity through blank sailings and service reductions. Effective capacity on Asia to North Europe is expected to decline 3 percent month on month in May, with Asia to Mediterranean capacity expected to fall 10 percent. Drewry projected that rates would remain stable in the following week, though the situation in the Strait of Hormuz continues to be watched closely, with carriers maintaining caution around routing and operational decisions for vessels in the Middle East region.

The procurement implications are significant for importers and exporters preparing for the second half of 2026. Surcharge mechanisms are reshaping how landed costs are calculated, and clauses on Emergency Fuel Surcharges, Peak Season Surcharges and Freight All Kinds rates are becoming central elements of carrier contract negotiations. Buyers with critical Q2 and Q3 shipments are being advised to confirm bookings ahead of any further surcharge waves and to review carrier capacity assumptions in light of the ongoing blank sailing programme.