Register Free Trial The SCFI index rose sharply by 15.9% to reach 2,572 points, and has risen by 92.9% since the Iran-US conflict started 3 months ago. The prolonged Hormuz blockade and high oil prices have not dampened cargo demand, but have instead spurred further growth of clean energy goods while US imports have been boosted by the removal of the IEEPA tariffs. The strong container freight rate momentum looks set to last at least until the end of July as carriers continue to cash in on the

COSCO Shipping will launch a new Southeast Asia India Service 2 (SEI2) connecting Qinzhou, Xiaochan Beach, Haiphong, Singapore, Mundra, Singapore, Hong Kong, Qinzhou from 4 June 2026. The service will turn in 35 days and will deploy 5 ships of 3,300 teu to 4,400 teu starting with the 4,250 teu XIN TAI CANG at Qinzhou on 4 June 2026. The service will offer the first direct connection between Haiphong and India.

COSCO's intra-European arm Diamond Line will launch a new Germany Gdynia Shuttle (GGS) service connecting Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Gdynia, Bremerhaven from 30 May 2026. The service will turn in 7 days starting with the 868 teu DINA TRADER at Bremerhaven on 30 May.

Register Free Trial MARKET BRIEF 2026 WEEK 21 Freight rates out of Asia are rising sharply across the board with higher FAK rates and Peak Season Surcharges set to take effect from 1 June. An early peak season cargo rush is keeping capacity tight across all main tradelanes with limited new vessel deliveries and port congestion helping to cap vessel space availability. Carriers’ earnings will receive a strong boost in the 2nd quarter from the higher rates that are expected to stick until the end

Maersk will launch a new Qilin service calling at Shanghai, Sydney, Melbourne, Shanghai from 24 July 2026. The service will turn in 5 weeks and will deploy 5 ships that are still to be named. It will offer the fastest transit time from Shanghai to Sydney and Melbourne at 14 days and 17 days respectively compared to 18 days and 21 days currently on Maersk's Dragon service.

MSC will launch a new Ochna service calling at Dalian, Xingang, Qingdao, Haiphong, Ho Chi Minh City, Dalian. The new service will turn in 4 weeks using 4 ships of 2,500 teu starting with the 2,526 teu MSC HAILEY ANN III at Dalian on 19 June 2026.

CMA CGM will launch a new Mekong Transpacific Express (MTE) service connecting Haiphong, Cai Mep, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Oakland, Kaohsiung, Shekou, Haiphong from the end of May 2026. The MTE will turn in 63 days using 9 ships of 9,000 to 13,000 teu starting with the 9,365 teu APL DANUBE at Haiphong on 28 May 2026. OCEAN Alliance partners will also participate on the service with COSCO branding it as the SEA2, OOCL as the SEAP and Evergreen as the PE1. The service will replace US West Coast leg

Register Free Trial A year after the launch of the Gemini Cooperation by Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk, the 2 partners continue to under-perform the rest of the market as earnings plunged and turned negative in the 1st quarter despite the purported cost savings from the Gemini alliance. Continued losses are expected for the rest of this year even though all of their main rivals have posted positive earnings after freight rates rebounded in the 1st quarter. The rate momentum remains positive, with TEU

Maersk will launch a new Far East-India Subcontinent 2 (FI2) service connecting Shanghai, Ningbo, Nansha, Tanjung Pelepas, Nhava Sheva, Pipavav, Port Qasim, Shanghai from 4 June 2026. The FI2 will turn in 42 days and will deploy 6 ships of 3,500 to 5,900 teu starting with the 4,496 teu MAERSK COTONOU. The service will complement Maersk’s existing Far East-India Subcontinent 3 (FI3) service that it operates jointly with X-Press Feeders.

Maersk will add a Seasonal Transpacific Loader (TPX) service connecting Cai Mep, Busan, Long Beach, Cai Mep from 8 June 2026. The TPX will turn in 49 days and will deploy 5 to 7 ships of 3,500 to 4,600 teu starting with the 4,395 teu REN JIAN 16. The seasonal loader will operate until September 2026 with 10 sailings currently scheduled and additional sailings to be added depending on market demand. 

COSCO will add a new feeder at its Peruvian hub of Chancay with the launch the Chancay Express 3 (CHX3) service connecting Chancay, Paita, Chancay from 23 June 2026. The CHX3 will turn in 14 days and will deploy the 1,114 teu MEDKON ZOE and 1,296 teu SL HAWK. The new feeder service will add to the existing Chancay Express (CHX) and Chancay Express 2 (CHX2) service that calls respectively at Chancay, Callao, Lirquen, San Antonio, Chancay and Chancay, Callao, Iquique, Arica, Matarani, Chancay.

Hapag-Lloyd has launched a new Poland Germany Express (PGX) service connecting Hamburg, Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven, Gdynia, Hamburg from 22 April 2026. The service is operated independently by Hapag-Lloyd and turns in 14 days using the 2,824 teu AS CLAUDIA and 2,826 teu IRENES REMEDY. It replaces the former Poland Germany Shuttle (PGS) that is operated together with Maersk as part of the Gemini Cooperation's Europe Shuttle 16, calling the same rotation without the call at Bremerhaven.