Ocean Freight Rates Continue to Rise: U.S. and Southeast Asia Shipping Costs Increase

     As the October Golden Week holiday in China approaches, the container shipping market continues to experience upward pressure. A combination of concentrated pre-holiday shipments, port congestion, and vessel schedule delays has contributed to the latest increase in ocean freight rates.

    According to the latest data, the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) recorded its sixth consecutive weekly increase. On September 4, the SCFI rose by 80.52 points to 3,590.05, representing a 2.29% increase compared with the previous week.

U.S. Routes Remain a Major Driver

    North American routes continued to be one of the main factors behind the recent increase in freight rates. Both U.S. West Coast and U.S. East Coast freight rates increased during the latest reporting period.

    At the same time, short-distance routes within Asia also experienced noticeable increases. Port congestion in some Asian locations has added further pressure to regional shipping capacity and schedules.

    Among these routes, Southeast Asia recorded a weekly increase of approximately 12%, making it one of the most notable increases in the latest SCFI data.

What Does This Mean for Exporters?

   For manufacturers and exporters, rising freight rates can have a direct impact on the overall landed cost of products. In addition to the freight rate itself, port congestion and vessel delays may also affect shipping schedules and delivery planning.

   For customers who are preparing new orders or planning shipments before the Chinese Golden Week holiday, we recommend allowing sufficient time for production, booking, and container loading arrangements.

Sihai's Approach to Shipment Planning

   At Guangdong Sihai Iron-Printing and Tin-Making Co., Ltd., we continue to closely monitor changes in international shipping conditions and work with our customers to plan shipments as efficiently as possible.

   For suitable orders, we can also discuss full-container shipment arrangements, which may help optimize freight costs and reduce the potential risks associated with mixed LCL cargo.

   We understand that freight costs and delivery schedules are important factors in international purchasing. Therefore, our team will continue to communicate closely with customers regarding production schedules, container loading, and shipping arrangements, helping customers make practical decisions based on the latest logistics situation.

   For any upcoming aerosol can or tinplate packaging orders, please feel free to contact our team in advance to discuss production and shipping arrangements.