Mark Woolnough

Quiet week on the freight rate front due to the Chinese New Year break. Rates had already dropped significantly and may have finally bottomed out, but with traditionally soft demand after CNY, expect more blank sailings and schedule disruption. As always, for the best current spot pricing, just click below

Our first issue of 2023 🥳 It’s too late to bother with the happy new year stuff now, so I’ll leave that there… Rates finally appear to have bottomed out, even seeing a slight increase with some carriers. This has been reinforced by the New Year holidays in China,

Rates We’ve not hit the bottom yet, as rates continue to erode from Asia to the UK. 40’ containers can now be booked at under $1500 into Southampton, however sailings are still a little erratic as the lines implement yet more blanking sailings to halt the pain. Get in

Rates More reductions incoming, as carriers are seeing rates crash back down to pre-pandemic levels (and below). There is the small issue now of not being certain of getting on the sailing you are aiming for due to blanking’s, but at least you’re not paying $20,000 for

Rates How low can they go? There’s talk that rates may have finally bottomed out, with capacity being removed from the market. However, I think there may be a room for further falls over the next month. There are headline rates available at $2250 per 40’ container if you’

Rates Rates continue to drop, with blank sailings not appearing to have the desired effect of halting the slide. Space can be secured across the board at $3500 per FEU. When this actually sails on a ship is another matter, with the blank sailings and new COVID-19 lockdowns in China