Trans-Pacific container spot charges have been largely unchanged final week, signaling the market has peaked and is prone to soften via the rest of 2026, in accordance with analyst Xeneta.
Common spot charges from Asia to the U.S. West Coast edged up 0.2% within the week ending Oct. 23 to $8,311 per forty-foot equal unit. Charges to the U.S. East Coast additionally elevated 0.2%, reaching $11,525 per FEU.
“This confirms the U.S. trades have peaked and we count on them to melt via the rest of 2026,” mentioned Peter Sand, Xeneta’s chief analyst, in a be aware to purchasers.
The weekly plateau leaves trans-Pacific charges nicely above earlier benchmarks. West Coast charges have been up 18.9% from July 1 and 342% from Feb. 28, which Xeneta makes use of as its pre-Hormuz disaster benchmark. East Coast charges have been up 31.7% and 335%, respectively.
Asia–U.S. East Coast charges additionally remained greater than 3 times these from Asia to North Europe.
In distinction to the largely flat trans-Pacific market, Asia–North Europe spot charges rose 6.8% through the week to $3,698 per FEU, whereas charges to the Mediterranean climbed 5.8% to $4,442.
The European will increase reversed regular declines since July, even because the persevering with return of container delivery providers to the Purple Sea freed up fleet capability.
“This can be a conundrum as a result of the discharge of capability into the worldwide fleet ought to ease stress on charges, however we’re seeing the alternative,” Sand mentioned.
Robust demand has helped help European charges, in accordance with Xeneta, with volumes shipped from Asia to Europe growing 12.2% within the first seven months of 2026.
“Disruption corresponding to Center East battle brings volatility and sudden shocks, however demand is a robust upward drive for charges,” Sand mentioned. “If demand will not be there, then charges will collapse, however it has been sturdy sufficient on the European fronthauls to forestall this, whilst Purple Sea capability returns.”
Regardless of the weekly features, North Europe charges remained 33.2% under July 1 ranges, whereas Mediterranean charges have been down 36.7%. In contrast with Feb. 28, nonetheless, charges have been nonetheless up 67% into North Europe and 33% into the Mediterranean.
On the trans-Atlantic, North Europe–U.S. East Coast charges slipped 0.2% through the week to $2,963 per FEU, remaining 16% above July 1 and 101% above the pre-Hormuz disaster benchmark.
Why it issues: The diverging tendencies counsel a return to Purple Sea routes alone won’t decide how shortly container delivery prices ease. U.S. importers face the prospect of declining charges from still-elevated ranges, whereas sturdy European cargo demand is supporting renewed will increase regardless of further vessel capability turning into out there.
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