Read our Seafreight Insights to find out about the latest developments in the global sea cargo industry. Get an update on trade and rate developments as well as flexible solutions offered by cargo-partner to deal with the current challenges.
The current sea freight market is characterized by capacity constraints, geopolitical disruptions, and increasing freight rates as the industry enters peak season.
Geopolitical uncertainty has brought forward peak-season demand while carriers continue to practice an aggressive capacity management strategy through continued blank sailings to keep supply tight. As a result, available capacity is lower than expected at the beginning of the month.
Carriers have used the past weeks to introduce general rate increases, fuel-related surcharges, as well as peak season surcharges on long-haul trades like the Transpacific and the Asia-to-Europe route.
The Strait of Hormuz is still blocked to commercial traffic while most carriers remain cautious regarding a return to Suez Canal routings for container vessels. Re-routing via the Cape of Good Hope continues to absorb capacities. As long as the military conflict in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz persist, fuel costs will remain high, creating a higher cost floor for ocean carriers.
Key market dynamics and trends include:
Carriers have successfully implemented consecutive rate hikes due to the early peak season.
Record numbers of newly built vessels continue to enter the market. To prevent a rate collapse and offset oversupply, carriers are aggressively scheduling blank sailings and slowing vessel speed.
Carrier capacity discipline, blank sailings, longer routing patterns and fuel-related cost pressure are constraining the availability of reliable capacity in the market.
With the expansion of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) and unpredictable global oil costs, carriers are actively passing on bunker adjustment factors (BAF) and green surcharges to shippers.
Congestion at transshipment hubs in Asia, such as Singapore, Port Kelang and Tanjung Pelepas, but also in Middle Eastern and European ports, leads to delays.
We recommend booking at least four weeks before the desired sailing dates to secure the required space.
Current market assessment from June 1, 2026:
Trade Analysis: Far East Westbound
Trade Analysis: Transpacific
Trade Analysis: Far East Eastbound
Trade Analysis: Transatlantic
