“A traditional pre-Lunar New Year cargo rush at the start of the 2026 is a key driver behind dramatic increases in spot rates out of the Far East – up almost 60% into the US West Coast compared to a month ago.

“It is refreshing there is still some seasonality to be found in ocean container shipping after the chaos of Red Sea conflict and US tariffs disrupted the familiar ebb and flow across the world’s major trades.

“With Lunar New Year just over a month away, shippers will ramp up efforts to get goods out of the Far East before the holiday shutdown, so there will be further upward pressure on rates. The question is whether the expected increase in deployed capacity will be enough to outweigh higher demand.

“Shippers must view spot rate developments alongside long term rates in the Xeneta platform to gain a clearer understanding on whether increases are driven by short term seasonality and supply chain threats or stronger underlying market fundamentals.

“The recent increases are dramatic, particularly into the US, but the longer term expectation is for spot rates to come down, so shippers must be wary when entering long term contract negotiations.”

Data highlights

• Market average spot rates – 8 January 2026
  • Far East to US West Coast: USD 2 835 per FEU (40ft container)
  • Far East to US East Coast: USD 3 807 per FEU
  • Far East to North Europe: USD 2 844 per FEU
  • Far East to Mediterranean: USD 4 815 per FEU
  • North Europe to US East Coast: USD 1 577 per FEU

• Offered capacity (4-week rolling average) – w/c 5 January 2026
  • Far East to US West Coast: +2.1% from end of 2025
  • Far East to US East Coast: -0.8% from end of 2025
  • Far East to North Europe: +6.8% from end of 2025
  • Far East to Mediterranean: -5.2% from end of 2025
  • North Europe to US East Coast: –15.3% from end of 2025

Trade view: FAR EAST to US WEST COAST

• Since end of 2025 (31 December):
  Spot rates: Jumped from USD 2,183 to USD 2,835 (+29.9%). Largest increase across the major fronthaul lanes.
  Capacity: Slightly higher (+2.1%) at 314,616 TEU for the week.
• Month-on-month:
  Rates: Dramatic increase, up $1,056 (+59.4%).
  Capacity: Up 17,785 TEU (+6.0%)

Trade view: FAR EAST to US EAST COAST

• Since end of 2025 (31 December):
  Rates: Increased to USD 3,807 by Jan 8 (+24.9% vs Dec 31), with very little movement inside January.
  Capacity: Essentially flat to slightly lower (-0.8%), ending 182,201 TEU for the week.
• Month-on-month:
  Rates: Severely higher, up USD 1,224 (+47.4%).
  Capacity: Up 7,771 TEU (+4.5%).

Trade view: FAR EAST to NORTH EUROPE

• Since end of 2025 (31 December):
  Rates: Up to USD 2,844 by Jan 8 (+10.8% vs Dec 31); stable through the first week.
  Capacity: Proved to increase the most among the lanes (+6.8%), reaching 317,058 TEU for the week.
• Month-on-month:
  Rates: Up USD 480 (+20.3%).
  Capacity: Significantly up 36,718 TEU (+13.1%).

Trade view: FAR EAST to MEDITERRANEAN

• Since end of 2025 (31 December):
  Rates: Up to USD 4,815 by Jan 8 (+16.5%).
  Capacity: Dropped by 5.2% to 186,954 TEU for the week, after growing throughout December.
• Month-on-month
  Rates: Up considerably by USD 1,393 (+40.7%). The most by all lanes in dollar terms.
  Capacity: Up by 16,033 TEU (+9.4%).

Trade view: NORTH EUROPE to US EAST COAST

• Since end of 2025 (31 December):
  Rates: Saw only a small uplift to USD 1,577 (+2.5% vs Dec 31), and basically unchanged during Jan. But a reversal of the falling trend since mid-November.
  Capacity: Clearly dropped (-15.3%) to 37,210 TEU for the week. The lowest since July 2022.
• Month-on-month
  Rates: Slightly up +$18 (+1.2%).
  Capacity: Down materially -8,577 TEU (-18.7%).
  Source: Xeneta