The freight rate increase plan, originally scheduled for implementation on December 1st, suffered a setback. A member of an Asian shipping alliance took the lead in announcing that it would not raise prices, resulting in the freight rate for the US West Coast falling back to $1,450 per TEU and the US East Coast remaining at $2,300 per TEU. The original plan was for an increase of $1,900-$2,050 for the US West Coast and $2,700-$2,900 for the US East Coast. However, due to the average loading rate of ships being only 60%-70%, the market experiencing a low price of $1,350 in advance, and some non-alliance shipping companies delaying the price increase, the plan failed to be realized. The industry expects other alliance members to follow suit by either reducing prices or narrowing the increase range, while the European route, which is dominated by ultra-large ships, did not participate in this price adjustment.

The main reason for the failure of this price increase is that the ship loading rate is only about 60-70%, and the market freight rates had already declined before the price increase. Some companies even postponed the price increase. Industry analysts believe that the first to cancel the price increase is a strategy to compete for cargo sources. The European shipping routes also did not increase prices.

Data shows that between December 1st and January 4th, 2026, global container shipping companies canceled 56 voyages (accounting for 8% of the planned 719 voyages). The cancellation rate for eastbound transpacific routes was 48%, for Asia-Europe/Mediterranean routes it was 25%, for westbound transatlantic routes it was 27%, and the remaining 92% of flights operated normally.

Meanwhile, industry reports indicate that the profits of the top ten shipping companies have plummeted by more than half year-on-year in the first three quarters. Looking ahead, due to weak demand and the continuous delivery of new ships, the freight rate outlook is bleak, and it is expected to remain under pressure until 2026.

Despite potential short-term fluctuations caused by congestion in Nordic ports and the US tariff ruling, the overall oversupply situation in the shipping market remains unchanged, and the outlook is pessimistic.