Container rates on the benchmark Asia to U.S. trade lanes are rising again, with the Asia-U.S. East Coast benchmark hitting a fresh high of $9,400 per forty-foot equivalent unit (FEU) this week, according to FreightWaves. The latest Freightos Baltic Index showed Asia-U.S. East Coast prices up 1% to $9,144 per FEU, a new high for the year, while Asia-U.S. West Coast rates jumped 11% to $6,826 per FEU. The gains come amid surprisingly spry consumer demand following an early peak shipping season, with inflationary pressures pushing up the cost of retail goods and industrial products, FreightWaves reported. Trans-Pacific rates that had been moving in tandem with Asia-Europe prices since the early peak season start in late May have lately diverged.
Rate benchmarks: East Coast and West Coast diverge
According to Judah Levine, chief analyst for Freightos — a contributor to SONAR data — East Coast rates had been about stable since hitting the $9,000/FEU mark in early July but are now up to a new high of $9,400/FEU so far this week. West Coast prices, which fell through most of July, have climbed $1,300/FEU since the start of the month to about $7,400/FEU so far this week, though rates remain $200/FEU below their July high, Levine said.
| Lane | Latest Freightos Baltic Index rate | Index change | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asia-U.S. East Coast | $9,144 per FEU | +1% | New high for the year; spot high of $9,400/FEU so far this week |
| Asia-U.S. West Coast | $6,826 per FEU | +11% | Climbed $1,300/FEU since the start of the month to about $7,400/FEU; $200 below July high |
"East Coast rates which had been about stable since hitting the $9,000/FEU mark in early July are up to a new high of $9,400/FEU so far this week," said Judah Levine, chief analyst for Freightos.
Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz: carriers hold course
In the Middle East, the stalemate over control of the Strait of Hormuz shows no sign of abating, FreightWaves reported. As the U.S.-Iran war stretches into its sixth month, President Donald Trump’s command-by-social-media-post has failed to put together the framework of a reasonable exit strategy, leaving Tehran in a position to dictate terms. Iranian leadership this week said they would wait out the remaining two-plus years of Trump’s administration, if necessary.
Iran’s escalating demands now include a ban on U.S. vessels, transit fees and war reparations. That has not deterred the global liners CMA CGM, Maersk (OTC: AMKBY) and Mediterranean Shipping Co. from expanding or returning to the Red Sea, despite renewed attacks there, according to FreightWaves.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations security monitor reported two incidents in the region on Tuesday: a cargo vessel off the coast of Yemen in the southern Red Sea was hit by an unknown projectile, while a container ship was targeted by military forces in the Gulf of Oman. There were no further details.
Demand outlook: NRF revises import forecast
The surprise rate surge led the National Retail Federation to revise its outlook from a significant import drop in August and into September to more even, elevated demand through September, FreightWaves reported. Levine attributed the shift to shippers who had been frontloading ahead of the July tariff deadline extending their ordering now that a sharp duty hike did not materialize. Others who may have been cautious with peak-season ordering due to economic uncertainty may be increasing shipments as consumers continue to show resilience despite elevated rates of inflation.
What shippers and operators should watch
For freight forwarders, 3PLs and ocean carriers, the East-West rate divergence points to lane-specific capacity dynamics. West Coast prices fell through most of July — possibly due more to capacity additions than volume drops in retrospect — and then climbed sharply in August, according to Levine. East Coast rates have pushed past the $9,000/FEU threshold after holding steady since early July, setting fresh highs for the year.
Operators also need to weigh the Red Sea security environment: despite renewed attacks, CMA CGM, Maersk and Mediterranean Shipping Co. are expanding or returning to Red Sea services, which could influence transit times and vessel deployment on Asia-U.S. routes.
Watch list
- Whether Iran follows through on escalating demands — a ban on U.S. vessels, transit fees and war reparations — and how carriers respond.
- Security incidents in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Oman, as reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations.
- National Retail Federation’s revised import outlook, which now calls for more even, elevated demand through September.
- Freightos Baltic Index spot rate movements on both trans-Pacific lanes for further shifts.
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