The Xeneta Weekly Ocean Shipping Market Update provides data and intelligence including the latest freight rates and capacity movements across global trade with supporting insight from Emily Stospol, Senior Shipping Analyst at Xeneta.
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Emily Stospol, Senior Shipping Analyst at Zeneta:
“Spot rates on key transoceanic container shipping trades from the Far East continue to decline, falling -1% in the US West Coast, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean while remaining flat in the US East Coast. There will likely be further declines at the beginning of August, but the gradual slowdown shows how rates are falling much more slowly than during the market rally.”
“Some empty cruises are starting to appear on deals from Asia to North America, but even if prices start to decline, they are still at a very healthy level for airlines that want to ensure they have the capacity available to take advantage of the advantage for as long as possible.
“No single airline wants to be the first to withdraw significant capacity when competitors can step in and take their volumes, which limits the scope for capacity management to reverse spot price declines.
“Carriers will use the renewed conflict between Iran and the United States – and the associated rise in fuel costs – as justification to slow the decline in prices through surcharges. But operationally, nothing has changed for container shipping this week because the vast majority of ships were not transiting the Strait of Hormuz or the Red Sea before the latest escalation, and are not doing so now.”
“The market fundamentals of increasing capacity and cooling demand are working against carriers. While geopolitical tensions may slow the decline, they will not defy gravity.”
Data highlights
Average spot market prices – July 24, 2026:
Far East to US West Coast: USD 6,225 per FEU (40′ container)
Far East to US East Coast: $8,846 per FEU
Far East to Northern Europe: $5,212 per FEU
Far East to Mediterranean: US$6,510 per FEU
Northern Europe to US East Coast: $2,521 per FEU
Spot price changes over the past week – July 24 vs. July 17, 2026:
Far East to US West Coast: -1% ($6,296 to $6,225 per FEU)
Far East to US East Coast: 0% ($8,856 to $8,846 per FEU)
Far East to Northern Europe: -1% ($5,258 to $5,212 per FEU)
Far East to Mediterranean: -1% ($6,554 to $6,510 per FEU)
Northern Europe to US East Coast: 0% ($2,522 to $2,521 per FEU)
Spot price changes since the end of February (pre-crisis) – July 24 vs. February 28, 2026:
Far East to US West Coast: +231%
Far East to US East Coast: +234%
Far East to Northern Europe: +135%
Far East to Mediterranean: +96%
Northern Europe to US East Coast: +71%
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Source: Zenita
