Shanghai, November 4 (Xinhua Finance): Recently, the freight rates in the container transportation market have been active, with continuous increases in rates. Many listed companies have opened new routes to seize market opportunities, adjust their strategic layout, and better meet the needs of goods transportation.

The industry players are unanimous in their belief that the basic demand for container transport exports from China is relatively stable, and the majority of routes in the market are showing a steady upward trend. Looking ahead, factors such as geopolitical issues may exacerbate the uncertainty in the shipping market, and the freight rates in the international container transport market are likely to show a fluctuating trend by route.

Container freight rates continue to rise

Since the beginning of October, the market price of container transportation has been rising one after another. Recently, the overall booking of the shipping market has been positive due to the good news.

The data released by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange on October 31 showed that the Shanghai Export Container Commodity Index was at 1,550.70 points, up 10.5% from the previous period and up nearly 40% from the relative low on September 26. The basic market freight rates for exports from the Shanghai Port to the West and East Coast ports of the United States increased by 22.9% and 13.4%, respectively, up 81.30% and 44.15% from the relative low on September 26, respectively.

The relevant person in charge of CCCC said to the reporter that container transportation plays a key role in supporting China's national strategy and the global layout of China's advanced manufacturing industry, such as important regions such as Southeast Asia, South America, the Middle East, and Africa.

"Before this, some ships canceled calls at ports in China and the United States, leading to a slight decrease in transport capacity , but this volume is insignificant compared to the huge volume of freight between China and the United States." A relevant person in charge of COSCO Shipping said. "As the overseas Christmas and our Spring Festival approach, there is usually a small peak in shipments, which drives up freight rates. However, as freight rates rise, the deployment of transport capacity also increases, thus causing freight rates to enter a new fluctuation cycle."

The data released by the Ningbo Shipping Exchange on October 31 shows that the shipping index for the Europe route was 965.6 points, an increase of 17.4% compared to the previous period; the shipping index for the Mediterranean route increased by 36.6%; and the shipping index for the Western Mediterranean route increased by 26.3%.

The Ningbo Shipping Exchange believes that the recent suspension of some voyages, coupled with the contraction of available transport capacity , has further exacerbated the overall cabin shortage. In addition, the increase in destination peak season surcharges by container lines has led to a significant rise in freight rates.

"The increase in the spot market price in Europe at the end of the year is mainly to lay the foundation for the signing of long-term, quarterly and other contracts at the beginning of next year, rather than a manifestation of the increase in both volume and price." said a relevant person in Haijie Shipping to the reporter.

Industry veterans say that from the supply and demand side, at present, the freight volume of the China-US and China-EU routes can support the relatively strong performance of the freight rate, but as the overall market capacity is gradually released, the container market freight rate may eventually be under pressure to decline to a stable trend.

Clarkson latest forecast, global container shipping volume is expected to grow by 3.3% in 2025 compared to 2024, but the capacity growth rate reaches 6.7%, significantly higher than the growth rate of transport demand. "In a market pattern where global capacity exceeds demand, the rise in freight rates is expected to be limited," said an industry veteran.

Open new routes one after another

Recently, the first voyage of the Far East-South America West (WSA3) route under the control of the COSCO Shipping Group's container shipping company, COSCO Shipping Container Lines, was completed at the Yangpu International Container Terminal in Hainan (referred to as the "Yangpu Port"). Before this, if Hainan companies wanted to connect with the WSA3 route, they had to be transshipped through other ports, which not only increased the transportation time but also pushed up the comprehensive logistics cost. This new route officially opened the direct flight route between the Hainan Free Trade Port and the Port of Chancay in Peru.

COSCO said the move allows the Yangpu Port to connect the "domestic coastal-Southeast Asia-Pacific-South America" logistics chain, establishing a direct "trade bridge" between Hainan and Qian Kai, laying a foundation for trade facilitation after the subsequent closure of the port.

Ningbo Ocean Shipping has been meeting external challenges, continuously strengthening its core shipping business, expanding the global route network layout, focusing on promoting the continuous improvement and upgrading of shipping services in the Southeast Asia route, and accelerating the construction of a green and intelligent fleet. Since this year, Ningbo Ocean Shipping has renovated two Thailand-Vietnam direct dedicated lines, adding a direct import fruit business from Thailand and Vietnam; the company's first "Ningbo-Wenzhou-Manila" self-operated direct express route has been launched, building a "golden waterway" directly connecting the core ports of the Philippines along the coast of Zhejiang.

As of now, Ningbo Ocean Shipping has more than 40 routes, building a wide-reaching and closely connected network system of inland-waterway and domestic, as well as near-sea and ocean routes. Looking ahead, Ningbo Ocean Shipping said it will continue to adhere to its strategic determination and comprehensively enhance its comprehensive competitiveness.

China Merchants Shipping said that the company's operation on the main routes such as Japan and South Korea has shown a steady performance. The volume of cargo on emerging routes such as Southeast Asia and India has increased significantly, and the company has further expanded its network coverage by opening new routes such as the Far East to Mexico and East China to Thailand. Through measures such as refined cost control, optimization of charter structure, and increasing the proportion of own containers, the company has effectively achieved cost reduction and efficiency improvement. In addition, the company has promoted the construction of "end-to-end" capabilities and the establishment of overseas outlets, laying a foundation for deepening the Southeast Asian market in the future.

Jinjiang Shipping is promoting the replication and extension of its Southeast Asian boutique routes, strengthening the linkage of regional routes, and continuing to build its core competitiveness with boutique services. Previously, Jinjiang Shipping Logistics (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. officially opened for business, further enhancing its ability to serve customers.

The person in charge of Haijie Shipping introduced that the company has previously launched the world's first China-Europe Arctic container express, providing a faster and lower-carbon international logistics option for China's high-end manufacturing, cross-border e-commerce, new energy and other industries. Haijie Shipping plans to invest more ice-strengthened ships to increase transport capacity in 2026, striving to achieve fixed routes with weekly or bi-weekly services in the summer navigation area. In the future, it will strive to achieve the goal of annual navigation of the China-Europe Arctic route.

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