Shipping Outlook

We’re now in that slightly unusual lull between China’s Mid Autumn Festival and Golden Week. Some businesses are back operating for a few days, while others are already winding down ahead of the National Day holiday.

For freight operators, the pressure to secure trucking and bookings has eased slightly, but the wider network is still feeling the effects of the pre-holiday rush.

Freight rates have increased again, with congestion, vessel delays and tightening capacity continuing to create uncertainty for shipments out of China.

Shanghai and Ningbo remain under pressure, while typhoon-related disruption and congestion at key transhipment hubs such as Busan, Hong Kong and Singapore continue to affect schedules.

We’re also seeing more vessels gradually testing the Suez Canal and Red Sea route again. It’s still too early to call this a return to normal, but it is something we’ll continue to watch as carriers assess the security situation and the impact on available capacity.

The message, as usual, remains fairly simple: plan ahead, book early and allow some flexibility around transit times over the next few weeks.

As one eagle eyed importer once asked me: has there ever been a time when a freight forwarder hasn’t suggested booking early?

The answer is no!

Golden Week is still in front of us, and with rates already moving higher again, there is still plenty to keep an eye on as we move into October.

Thanks - Amanda