Ocean freight rates from Asia to North Europe look to be peaking. After six straight weeks of increases through May and June, next week’s rise is about 7%, far gentler than the double-digit jumps of the past two months. Shypple’s read is that the market is near the top, with signals pointing to rates easing from the end of July.
Space is a different matter. Capacity remains very tight, and carriers planned only four blank sailings on the Asia to US route next week, a sign the squeeze will persist. India is now facing the same pressure as China: equipment shortages, congestion at Nhava Sheva and Mundra, and ghost bookings that make real space harder to find. Shypple’s advice to shippers is to book early and share forecasts so space can be secured before it sells out.
In Europe, last week’s extreme heat forced the APMT and ECT terminals in Rotterdam to close their truck gates on the Maasvlakte. Ships were still unloaded, but trucks could not collect containers. The heat has eased and the backlog is being worked through; importers should expect delays collecting boxes for a few more days.
Costs are moving too. From July 1, the EU emissions surcharge rises on most lanes, with Asia to Europe up to €89 per container from €85, and the UK introduces a similar fee for ships in its waters. The same day, Dutch trucks switch to a per-kilometer toll and Belgium’s rate goes up.
On routing, CMA CGM has started sending its FAL3 service back through the Suez Canal eastbound, the first sign carriers may slowly return. The Strait of Hormuz remains risky after a container ship was hit by a projectile near Oman, so the long route around Africa is still the norm and Asia to Europe transit times and costs stay high for now.