Transpacific Rates Firm on Typhoon Disruptions and August GRI

The Transpacific market enters the second half of August with rates strengthening for the second consecutive week, supported by typhoon-related port congestion and schedule delays in East and South China that reduced effective capacity. Carriers successfully implemented a General Rate Increase from August 15 with increases applied across both U.S. West Coast and U.S. East Coast services, though underlying demand has proven softer than carriers anticipated. Blank sailing activity remains moderate through mid-September, with 14 cancellations scheduled and peak concentration during the week of August 31 to September 6. Regional space dynamics continue to diverge, with North China facing stricter allocation policies while South China and West Coast gateways show improved availability.

To help you better understand the current market and support your sales activities at origin, please find below our latest market observations and outlook.

Rate Trend for Second Half of August

• Transpacific rates strengthened for the second consecutive week according to the August 7 Shanghai Containerized Freight Index, with U.S. West Coast rates rising and U.S. East Coast rates increasing, mainly supported by typhoon-related port congestion and schedule delays in East and South China which reduced effective capacity during the first half of August.
• Carriers successfully implemented the August 15 General Rate Increase with increases applied to both U.S. West Coast and U.S. East Coast shipments, though market demand has proven softer than carriers expected. Post-increase FAK rate levels have firmed substantially, while moving rates are running lower, reflecting carriers’ need to secure bookings in a more cautious demand environment.
• Peak Season Surcharges have been extended by most carriers, with MSC, CMA CGM and Evergreen implementing slight increases. Current surcharge levels vary by carrier and equipment type, supporting the overall rate structure as carriers manage peak season capacity and equipment positioning.
• Carriers are prioritizing light cargo for U.S. East Coast shipments and offering spot rate discounts for certain booking profiles. ZIM is providing competitive rates for 20GP heavy shipments, presenting opportunities for partners with heavier cargo moving to East Coast destinations.
• Major carriers including CMA CGM, ONE, Hapag-Lloyd, ZIM, MSC, COSCO, Yang Ming and HMM are imposing or increasing Panama Canal Surcharges on Asia to U.S. East Coast and Gulf shipments from mid-August through September, addressing ongoing canal weight restrictions. Charges that were previously capped at several hundred dollars have now been raised by some carriers to significantly higher levels per container, with most collected separately from ocean freight.
• Overseas agents with larger-volume opportunities or project cargo are encouraged to engage with us early. While carriers have implemented substantial increases, market conditions remain negotiable for certain cargo profiles, and tailored solutions continue to be available where booking volumes and routing flexibility support competitive pricing.

Capacity Outlook and Space Situation

• A total of 14 blank sailings are scheduled from August 24 to September 13, with peak concentration during the week of August 31 to September 6 when 8 cancellations are planned. This represents selective capacity control as carriers work to support utilization following the mid-August General Rate Increase implementation.
• U.S. East Coast and Pacific Southwest will each see 4 blank sailings during the period, followed by Pacific Northwest with 3, Gulf with 2 and Hawaii with 1. By alliance, Premier Alliance accounts for 7 cancellations, Ocean Alliance for 5, and MSC/ZIM for 2, reflecting coordinated capacity management across the major carrier groups.
• Some carriers are skipping Shanghai and Ningbo port calls due to typhoon conditions to ease congestion, temporarily affecting schedules on certain services but helping to normalize operations as weather conditions improve.
• Space availability varies significantly between North China and South China origins. North China faces stricter space-release policies with fewer spot rate opportunities, while South China shows better availability. U.S. West Coast space has improved considerably, and Pacific Northwest space has generally eased compared with the first half of August.
• Ocean Alliance has enhanced its Asia to North America West Coast network by adding direct calls at Port Klang, Haiphong and Yantian, providing improved connectivity to Los Angeles, Oakland, Vancouver and Seattle. Three new service rotations have been launched involving CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen and OOCL, strengthening the alliance’s Southeast Asia and South China coverage to West Coast gateways.
• Equipment shortages persist across the trade, though space for shipper-owned container shipments is gradually easing, particularly for inland destinations. This provides improved flexibility for partners with access to their own equipment as carriers work through container repositioning following the typhoon disruptions.

Operational Developments and Regulatory Outlook

• Weight restrictions on U.S. East Coast shipments have resumed and vary by vessel, with several carriers including ZIM and MSC introducing restrictions that prioritize cargo under 10 tons. Heavy cargo may face higher rollover risk as carriers manage vessel stability and port handling requirements on East Coast services.
• Recent reporting indicates the U.S. Trade Representative is continuing work on broader Section 301 investigations targeting excess industrial capacity, potentially involving China and other major trading partners. While no final product list or effective date has been announced, this represents a potential shift in the tariff landscape that could affect sourcing decisions and landed cost calculations in the coming months.
• Typhoon activity in East and South China during early August caused port congestion and schedule delays, reducing effective capacity and supporting the recent rate strengthening. As weather conditions normalize and carriers work through the backlog, operations are expected to improve gradually through the second half of August.
• Ongoing Panama Canal weight restrictions continue to drive operational adjustments for carriers serving U.S. East Coast and Gulf destinations, with the increased surcharges reflecting higher canal transit costs and the need to manage vessel drafts within current water-level constraints.

RS Logistics will continue monitoring carrier pricing strategies, capacity deployment adjustments, blank sailing patterns and regulatory developments across the Transpacific trade. Our teams across China and Southeast Asia remain available to support booking planning, routing evaluation and space coordination for upcoming shipments. We will continue sharing timely updates as market conditions evolve.

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