Recently, freight rates across the global container shipping market have seen widespread increases, with both eastbound and westbound major routes showing a rebound trend. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) rose to 1,310.32 points on October 17, marking a weekly increase of 12.9%. Demand for European routes remains stable, with rates from Shanghai to major European ports rising 7.2% to $1,145/TEU. Mediterranean routes followed suit with a 3.5% increase to $1,613/TEU.

Fluctuations were more pronounced on North American routes. Rising supply chain costs, influenced by measures such as the U.S. Section 301 investigation against China, may trigger a “rush to export.” Rates from Shanghai to the U.S. West Coast surged 31.9% to $1,936 per FEU, while rates to the U.S. East Coast rose 16.4% to $2,853 per FEU. Concurrently, the Drewry World Container Index (WCI) rebounded for the first time after 17 consecutive weeks of decline, climbing 2% month-on-month to $1,687 per FEU.

Analysts note that the container shipping industry is entering a new phase of “fragmentation” and “turbulence.” Geopolitical uncertainties, the Red Sea crisis, and excess capacity (new ship orders account for 33% of the existing fleet) present major challenges. By 2030, trade growth is expected to shift more toward Asia and Africa, requiring the industry to build more flexible and agile supply chains to navigate future volatility.