In order to avoid the uncertainty brought about by the labor negotiations at ports on the west coast of the United States, many American importers continued to choose the route calling on the east coast of the United States, which pushed up the container freight rate of the east coast of the United States and further strengthened.
Congestion at East Coast ports is increasing, and the situation is likely to increase further in the short term as more ships arrive.
"The high-end market is starting to pick up again, especially given the diversification of the U.S. West Coast at this time," said a U.S. logistics provider. "Queues at U.S. East Coast ports are starting to build up, so it's getting pretty tricky to ship from the U.S."
Heard that the US West Coast has premium booking rates as high as $16,000/FEU, while the US East Coast remains premium. Spot bookings are said to be as high as $17,500/FEU, not far from the peak at the end of 2021, when prices were in the $20,000/FEU range.
As in other regions, the real problem in the market is not sea freight, but inland logistics shortages. A lack of chassis and railcars is preventing importers from moving cargo from ports to inland distribution networks.
However, premium rates are not only seen in the trans-Pacific region. Conditions at European ports have deteriorated, with cargo delays prompting some premiums on transatlantic routes to continue or even grow.
"There are serious delays in Europe right now, so we're starting to see some premiums in the transpacific start to pick up," said a U.S. freight forwarder. "The level isn't high, but people pay a price for fast shipping or they end up at the bottom of a growing stack."
These premiums were heard in the $8,500/FEU region for North European to North American East Coast cargo.
In the week ended March 25, the average freight rate for the Southeast Asia-US East route was 17,000-18,000 US dollars/FEU, and the Southeast Asia-US West route was 15,000-16,000 US dollars/FEU, the same as a week ago, but there are some quotations grow rapidly.
On March 25, the freight rate of PCR 25 (Platts Container Freight 25 Index, Southeast Asia-North America East Coast Route) was estimated at US$10,500/FEU, and the freight rate of PCR 23 (Southeast Asia-North America West Coast) was estimated at US$9,500/FEU , which was basically the same as the previous week.
The index of freight rates on the India-Middle East short-haul route rose due to higher bunker fuel costs and increased supply chain uncertainty. On March 25, the freight rate of PCR 33 representing the India West Coast-Middle East route was estimated at US$2,300, up US$200 from the previous month.
