Over the past two years the global container fleet has absorbed the largest capacity delivery in its history. New tonnage, combined with rerouting on some trades, keeps supply and demand swinging on the main lanes.
Rates: diverging, not falling in a straight line
Europe and Transpacific do not move in step. Rerouting absorbs effective capacity on Europe services, keeping rates firmer, while Transpacific reacts more sharply to new tonnage. For Yiwu exporters, LCL pricing usually lags FCL — quote both before you book.
Space: still needs booking early in peak season
Falling rates do not mean loose space. Every year the August–October peak fills the popular sailings. We advise confirming bookings two to three weeks before the planned shipment date, especially when a specific sailing is required.
Three practical points
- Do not decide on rate alone — schedule reliability and destination service matter just as much
- For time-critical orders, lock space early and prepare a backup sailing
- Watch surcharges: confirm whether fuel and peak-season surcharges are already included in the quote
