Markets/Trades

Charter rates have retraced all of their recent slump after the reversal of the US tariffs pushed the market back up to where they started in early April. Vessel availability in the larger sizes remains very limited with all open candidates over 4,000 teu including relet units already snapped up or withdrawn. Forward deliveries have stretched into September but with little clarity on market direction after the 90-day tariff truce ends in the US, only a few carriers are willing to commit forward

The EC2506 contract, which will be settled based on the average SCFIS published on the last three Mondays of June, currently trades at a 46% premium to the SCFIS, which remained in a narrow band of 1,247-1,265 index point in the last 3 weeks. Even if SCFIS matches the SCFI’s 38% gain last week, rates need to rise further to match current forward prices. Maersk’s extended their low Freight All Kinds (FAK) quotation for the second week of June at just $2,100 per FEU mid-week before raising them ab

Carriers pushed ahead with Asia-Europe rate hikes in June but the gains were lower than initially expected with the SCFI rates rising to $1,587/teu to North Europe, compared to initial plans to raise rates to $1,800-1,900/teu and $3,000-3,200/feu. Carriers have already started to undercut these rates with the Transpacific rate strength failing to spillover to the European routes. June rates are expected to roll back as attention shifts to the next round of rate hikes in July with CMA CGM announ

Shanghai’s freight futures market drifted aimlessly on Friday, with traders caught between hopes for a rebound in shipping rates and a conspicuous lack of resolve among major liners. The indecision was plain to see. The Tianjin Shipping Index for Europe, a daily benchmark, fell 2.6% to $1,492 for a 20-foot container and $2,404 for a 40-foot box. With Chinese markets set to close on Monday for a public holiday, traders pared positions, sending open interest down 8% to fewer than 87,000 lots—the

EC2508 surged during the afternoon session on rumors of another round of General Freight Rate increases for the second half of June, expected to be announced imminently. Maersk’s quotation for a June 12 shipment also rose, with some moves up to $2,319, which may have provided additional support to the market. Open interest in EC2508 increased by 2,813 lots.

EC2508, Shanghai’s benchmark freight futures contract, slid further in the afternoon session, closing at 1,949.5—dashing hopes that the market had found a floor at yesterday’s low - 1,987. The culprit, once again, was Maersk, which opened its FAK (Freight All Kinds) quotation for the second week of June at $2,100 per FEU. Yet, almost as soon as shippers began booking at that rate, the offer was abruptly raised to $2,231, rendering the initial price little more than a lure. With the Shanghai Con

The restoration of suspended Transpacific services along with the addition of extra loaders have fully restored the total capacity available on the Far East-North American route. These capacity additions are expected to mitigate the impact of soaring Transpacific rates which are expected to rise to $6,000/feu to the US West Coast and $7,000/feu to the US East Coast on 1 June 2025. With container equipment availability and port congestion both under control, coupled with the rebound in vessel ca

Freight futures on the Shanghai–North Europe corridor continued their slide, with the benchmark EC2508 contract tumbling 13% week on week. Traders spent much of the period rolling short positions from the soon to expire EC2506 contracts into later maturities, wagering that any near-term firmness arising from the spill over from the Transpacific route would prove transitory as Far East to North Europe now commands the lowest rates among major routes. Average daily volume dropped 38% while open in

Asia-Europe rates are torn in 2 different directions, with the SCFIS declining by 1.4% on 26 May, while the forward looking SCFI recorded a strong gain of 14.1% on Friday. Carriers have stumbled on their bid to hike rates on 1 June, with Maersk once again undercutting their rivals even before the GRI was implemented. Rising congestion at European ports have severely disrupted schedules, with ships rerouting where possible to avoid berthing delays but this has failed to lift market momentum. Alt

The freight futures contracts dropped this morning on profit taking with longer dated contract being weaker. Trading remain active as 105,043 contracts traded before the intermission for the morning session. Open interests remain at over 120,000 contracts. Liner's FAK quotations for Shanghai-WCNA mostly remain unchanged except for Maersk that again adjusted its quotations for May shipment upward, this time by $250/FEU to $3600 for 26 May departure. Last week's SCFI for USWC was $2347 per FEU. F