The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) surged to 3,509.53 points, marking a 2.9% weekly rise and the highest level in 25 months.
This growth reflects factors like typhoon-induced delays at Asian ports, reduced Panama Canal transit capacity, and strong peak-season demand, all driving freight rates upward.
North American trade lanes show significant gains.
As of 28 August, the Shanghai-to-US West Coast base port rate reached USD 6,940 per FEU, a 2.6% increase, while the East Coast rate breached USD 10,000 per FEU for the first time since 2022, climbing 3.6% weekly. Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) places the Shanghai- New York spot rate at USD 9,333 per FEU, maintaining overall elevated levels despite a slight 2% correction.
Panama Canal restrictions are bolstering US East Coast rates, Daily vessel transits dropped from 36 to 34 slots on 3 September, with further reductions to 32 slated for 15 September.
Draft restrictions for Neopanamax locks have tightened to 48 feet and will decrease to 47.5 feet on 1 October, limiting capacity and keeping rates firm.
European routes continue to soften.
The Shanghai-Europe base port rate fell 4.4% to USD 2,716 per TEU, while the Mediterranean rate dropped 5.6% to USD 3,557 per TEU.
Increased capacity and resumed Suez Canal routings are easing supply-demand pressures.
WCI data shows Shanghai-Rotterdam and Shanghai-Genoa rates declined 3% and 2%, to USD 4,287 and USD 4,866 per FEU, respectively.
The Persian Gulf rate rose 7.1% to USD 6,139 per TEU due to geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz.
South America saw the highest percentage gain, increasing 11% to USD 8,663 per TEU, while Australia-New Zealand rates climbed 6.7% to USD 2,471 per TEU.
Short-sea routes benefitted from regional peak-season demand and typhoon disruptions.
Southeast Asia base port rates rose USD 68 to USD 796 per TEU, while Japan Kanto and Kansai rates increased slightly or held steady.
Globally, the Drewry Index eased 1% to USD 4,473 per FEU, as geopolitical risks and operational disruptions continue to pressure supply chains.
Freight forwarders should plan ahead, closely monitor rates, and secure early space commitments, particularly on constrained lanes like the US East Coast and South America.
Karachi Port Trust Staff College to serve as maritime training and knowledge hub: Chairman
KARACHI: The Karachi Port Trust (KPT) has launched its International Maritime Organisation (IMO)-accredited Staff College as a platform for specialised training, seminars and knowledge exchange among maritime professionals, stakeholders and academia.
The First Seminar, titled Port Resilience & Maritime Stability,” was held at the Staff college on Thursday focusing on maritime resilience, port infrastructure and Pakistan’s blue economy.
Speaking as chief guest, KPT Chairman Rear Admiral Shahid Ahmed, SI(M), S. Bt (Retd), highlighted the port’s performance during FY2025-26 and said KPT ha improved by 30 positions in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index.
He also pointed to an improvement in Pakistan’s Liner Shipping Connectivity Index, describing the developments and evidence of KPT’s commitment to operational excellence.
Earlier, Commodore Irfan Taj, SI(M), CEO of Monsoon Maritime Services, underscored the importance of seaborne trade and Pakistan’s Strategic maritime position.
He described Karachi Port as the country’s National economic lifeline” and said a strong maritime sector was essential for economic prosperity.
Syed Tanvir Ahmad, Senior Ad sorto GCNP-MACN, and Captain Sy Aziz-ul-Haque, a master marine shared their perspectives on port reience, transit trade, regional conntivity and maritime infrastructure.
The seminar was attended prominent representatives of shipp lines, port terminals, academia and pauthorities.
The organisers receive and overwhelming response, with tendance exceeding the available seeing capacity.
The event concluded with n working among participants, distriltion of shields and a group photograph.
Asia's Container Ports Buckle as July Congestion Deepens, Threatening Global Supply Chains
Schedule reliability across Asia’s largest container gateways collapsed in July, with all 14 of the region’s busiest ports posting weaker performance as typhoons compounded already-stretched terminal operations, according to new data from analyst Sea-Intelligence.
The deterioration now threatens to ripple through global supply chains well into the final quarter.
Shanghai, the world’s busiest container port, ranked among the hardest hit.
Its schedule reliability plunged to just 21 percent.
Ningbo fell to 34.6 percent, while Singapore, the world’s largest transshipment hub, managed 43.2 percent.
Yantian recorded the sharpest monthly deterioration, dropping 23.5 percentage points to 48.3 percent.
Hong Kong declined 20.4 points, and Ningbo fell 20.1 points over the month.
The breadth of the decline suggests the problem is no longer confined to isolated bottlenecks.
Sea-Intelligence noted that eight major trade lanes terminating in Asia saw schedule reliability fall by an average of 7.5 percentage points in July.
Those trade’s accounted for 39 percent of all vessel arrivals measured during the month.
The pressure extended well beyond Asia.
Globally, schedule reliability fell 6.1 percentage points to 56.4 percent, the sharpest monthly decline since January 2021.
Late vessels arrived an average of 6.06 days behind schedule.
Signs of strain were increasingly visible outside port limits.
Linerlytica estimated last week that more than 4.3 million TEU of containership capacity was waiting to berth worldwide, surpassing even the absolute peak recorded during the pandemic.
Consultancy Drewry has separately warned that average vessel waiting times have nearly doubled compared with 2019.
Sea-Intelligence estimates that 6.6 percent of the global containership fleet is currently tied up in delays, equivalent to around 2.3 million TEU held out of effective circulation.
The disruption is unlikely to ease quickly.
Sea-Intelligence expects congestion to take between four-and-a-half and six months to return to the lows recorded in June 2025, placing continued strain on carriers, cargo owners and the wider logistics network as the year draws to a close.
For shippers weighing delivery commitments against a tightening market, the data point to sustained volatility, reinforcing the value of real-time visibility, flexible routing, and proactive risk management in preserving reliable transit in the months ahead.
OOCL Adds Another 24,000 TEU Vessel - World's Largest Methanol Dual-Fuel Fleet Series Grows Once More
On 28 August, Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) held a naming ceremony at the NACKS (Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd.) shipyard in Nantong, officially christening its second methanol dual-fuel container vessel, OOCL Grace.
The vessel is the second in a series of seven 24,000 TEU-class methanol dual-fuel container ships being constructed by NACKS for OOCL – a series the carrier has designated the world’s largest methanol dual-fuel container ship fleet.
OOCL’s green fleet development is advancing with clear momentum.
In May of this year, the series’ lead vessel, OOCL Wisdom, was officially named; by July, the ship had completed its inaugural green methanol bunkering at the Port of Qingdao and set sail on its maiden voyage to Europe, OOCL previously disclosed that OOCL Wisdom carries a maximum capacity of 24,168 TEU and is equipped with methanol dual-fuel systems across its main engine, auxiliary engines, and boilers, alongside energy efficiency management, intelligent monitoring, and safety assurance systems.
With the formal naming of OOCL Grace, the first two vessels in the seven-ship series have now passed their respective milestones on schedule.
In April this year, OOCL announced the construction of twelve 13,600 TEU-class LNG dual-fuel container ships.
In July, OOCL Wisdom inaugurated its green methanol maiden voyage.
Now, the second large methanol dual-fuel vessel has been formally named.
OOCL is simultaneously advancing fleet deployment across multiple green fuel pathways, encompassing both methanol and LNG technologies.
In its interim 2026 performance materials published on 27 August, OOCL affirmed its commitment to continued fleet expansion, decarbonisation, and digital development – pursuing the green transformation of its fleet through a diversified portfolio of technical approaches.
For OOCL, the successive deliveries of new vessels represent not merely fleet renewal, but a strategic opportunity to optimise capacity deployment and enhance its global trade lane network.
Speaking at the naming ceremony, Peter Pan, Member of OOCL’s Trade and Executive Committee, stated that as OOCL Grace and its sister ships enter service, the company will continue to refine capacity deployment and network configuration, delivering more stable and sustainable logistics solutions to its customers.
The full series of seven 24,000 TEU-class methanol dual-fuel vessels is currently progressing through construction and delivery.
As subsequent ships enter operation, the scale of OOCL’s green large-vessel fleet will continue to expand.
Viewed against the broader industry trajectory, the adoption of methanol dual-fuel technology in large container shipping has moved decisively from single-vessel trials to large-scale fleet deployment – and the combination of green fuel technology with high-capacity tonnage is emerging as a defining direction for carrier fleet renewal across the liner industry.
OOCL registers profit
Orient Overseas (International) Limited (OOCL) announced its financial results for the first half of 2026, reporting revenue of US$5.17 billion, up 6.1% year-on- year.
Net profit stood at US$730 million, a 23.6% decline from the previous year.
Earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) reached US$730 million, down 26.1%, while EBITDA was recorded at US$1.25 billion, a 14.4% decrease.
EBITDA and EBIT margins were 24.2% and 14.1%, respectively.
Cargo volumes grew 5.2% to 4.132 million TEUS, with average revenue per TEU remaining steady at US$1,132.
OOCL highlighted ongoing challenges in the global container shipping market, which has yet to stabilize amid persistent uncertainty.
The prolonged Middle East conflict disrupted Red Sea transits, contributing to oil price volatility, inflation pressures, and rising EU emissions compliance costs.
Additionally, renewed US tariff and trade policy turbulence fueled concerns over supply chain gealignment.
Despite these headwinds, global supply chain restructuring, regionalized trade expansion, and growth in emerging markets supported demand.
Early restocking demand in the US also spurred peak season activity ahead of schedule.
In response to shifting trade patterns, OOCL has strengthened its presence on east-west trade lanes and expanded operations in emerging markets.
The company continues to enhance end-to-end service capabilities and maintain a flexible operating model anchored in its global supply chain network.
Leveraging the Ocean Alliance platform and collaborating with COSCO SHIPPING Lines, OOCL has advanced cost-efficiency measures and service quality, building a resilient and agile supply chain.
OOCL remains committed to sustainability and fleet modernization, announcing in April 2026 the addition of 12 LNG dual-fuel container ships with a 13,600 TEU capacity.
This follows earlier orders for methanol dual-fuel vessels, underscoring its focus on transitioning to cleaner energy solutions.
Looking ahead, OOCL anticipates ongoing market volatility, with freight rates potentially under pressure as new vessel deliveries increase and peak season momentum wanes.
While global trade faces uncertainties from geopolitical risks, evolving tariff regimes, and environmental compliance complexities, OOCL sees opportunities for agile carriers.
The company will prioritize risk resilience, sustainable development, trade corridor optimization, and enhanced service integration to navigate the challenges of today’s market and support long-term growth.
CMST Net Profit Jumps 227.57% in First Half of 2026
China Merchants Energy Shipping Co., Ltd. (CMST) reported impressive results for the first half of 2026.
Operating revenue reached RMB 19.651 billion, up 56.15% year-on-year, with net profit soaring by 227.57% to RMB 6.960 billion.
The company attributed this growth to its expanding fleet capacity, which drove a 5.4% increase in cumulative cargo volume (1,235.985 million tonnes) and a 4.22% rise in turnover volume (762.623 billion tonne nautical miles).
In the container shipping segment, however, CMST saw a slight decline.
Revenue fell 1.47% year-on-year to RMB 2.975 billion, while net profit dropped 7.57% to RMB 580 million.
Despite this, the fleet carries $590,000 TEUS of laden contain an 8% rise year-on- year.
CMST emphasized a customer-centric strategy, extending value-added services to maintain high-quality development.
Its service network spans major markets, including Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and Australia, with the Japan and cross-strait routes holding leading market positions.
A subsidiary, Sino-Trans Container Transport Co., Ltd., complements these operations with multimodal transport services, such as river-sea intermodal and sea-rail intermodal solutions, strengthening inland connections.
As of June 30, 2026, CMST operated 39 vessels on international container trade routes with a combined capacity of 62.982 TEUS, ranking 30th globally.
The company also signed contracts for 12 new vessels, adding 52,000 TEUS of capacity by 2028.
CMST streamlined its route network from 63 to 57 weekly sailings, focusing on efficiency and customer value.
Laden container volumes increased 8% year-on-year, Chinese export volumes rose 11%, and slot utilization hit 90%.
In the near term, geopolitical factors like Middle East-tensions and fluctuating fuel costs may support freight rates.
However, CMST expects cargo volume growth to slow as temporary boosts from alternative export flows diminish.
Over the medium to long term, trade growth in emerging markets like Southeast Asia and the Middle East offers opportunities, but ongoing vessel deliveries and market normalization may ease supply-demand pressures, moving toward a more balanced market.