<p data-path-to-node="2" id="p-rc_03d33805359dd825-479" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-769" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Reflecting a sharp tightening of global ocean freight capacity, the Drewry World Container Index (WCI) surged 9% this week to hit </span><b data-path-to-node="2" data-index-in-node="143" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">USD 4,530 per 40-foot container (FEU)</b><span class="citation-769 citation-end-769" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3748162914="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3748162914="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-768 citation-end-768" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The substantial weekly benchmark leap is fueled by aggressive rate increases across major East-West trade lanes, with spot pricing accelerating on both the Transpacific and Asia-Europe corridors amid an unprecedentedly early peak shipping season.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3748162914="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3748162914="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1333177768="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1333177768="" _nghost-ng-c4102783319="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="3" id="p-rc_03d33805359dd825-480" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-767 citation-end-767" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The index expansion marks a 61% increase compared to the same operational period last year, demonstrating sustained upward pricing pressure across the global supply chain.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3748162914="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3748162914="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1333177768="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1333177768="" _nghost-ng-c4102783319="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h3 data-path-to-node="5" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="0" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Blank Sailings and Peak Season Surcharges Heat Up Spot Markets</b></h3><p data-path-to-node="6" id="p-rc_03d33805359dd825-481" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-766 citation-end-766" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The upward pricing trajectory is being driven by tight vessel space, strategic capacity management by carriers, and ongoing regional security challenges:<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3748162914="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3748162914="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1333177768="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1333177768="" _nghost-ng-c4102783319="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><ul data-path-to-node="7" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="7,0,0" id="p-rc_03d33805359dd825-482" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="7,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Transpacific Spikes:</b><span class="citation-765 citation-end-765" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> Spot rates on the Transpacific lane continued to strengthen significantly.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3748162914="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3748162914="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-764" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Rates from Shanghai to New York climbed 11% to reach </span><b data-path-to-node="7,0,0" data-index-in-node="149" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">USD 7,902 per 40ft container</b><span class="citation-764" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, while rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles increased 10% to settle at </span><b data-path-to-node="7,0,0" data-index-in-node="247" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">USD 6,349 per FEU</b><span class="citation-764 citation-end-764" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3748162914="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3748162914="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1333177768="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1333177768="" _nghost-ng-c4102783319="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="7,1,0" id="p-rc_03d33805359dd825-483" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="7,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Capacity and Surcharge Pressure:</b><span class="citation-763 citation-end-763" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> To protect inventory timelines, carriers have announced eight blank sailings on the Transpacific trade for the upcoming week.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3748162914="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3748162914="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> Furthermore, ocean lines are aggressively introducing new Peak Season Surcharges (PSS); for instance, HMM is slated to implement a hefty USD 3,000 per FEU surcharge effective July 15, 2026.<sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1333177768="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1333177768="" _nghost-ng-c4102783319="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="7,2,0" id="p-rc_03d33805359dd825-484" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-762" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></span><b data-path-to-node="7,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Asia–Europe Cargo Gains:</b><span class="citation-762 citation-end-762" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> The Asia-Europe lane mirrored the upward trend as lines successfully executed higher FAK (Freight All Kinds) levels.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3748162914="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3748162914="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="8" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-761" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Freight spot rates from Shanghai to Genoa rose 10% to </span><b data-path-to-node="7,2,0" data-index-in-node="196" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">USD 6,360 per 40ft container</b><span class="citation-761" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, while Shanghai to Rotterdam pricing climbed 7% to </span><b data-path-to-node="7,2,0" data-index-in-node="276" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">USD 4,682 per FEU</b><span class="citation-761 citation-end-761" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3748162914="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3748162914="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="9" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1333177768="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1333177768="" _nghost-ng-c4102783319="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="7,3,0" id="p-rc_03d33805359dd825-485" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-760" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></span><b data-path-to-node="7,3,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Geopolitical Volatility:</b><span class="citation-760 citation-end-760" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> While the interim US-Iran agreement has allowed a progressive reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and stabilized initial vessel flow, regional maritime safety concerns remain highly elevated.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3748162914="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3748162914="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="10" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-759 citation-end-759" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The suspension of certain ship escort operations following a recent vessel attack near Oman continues to inject substantial market uncertainty, keeping spot rates resilient.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c3748162914="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c3748162914="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="11" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c1333177768="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c1333177768="" _nghost-ng-c4102783319="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></source-inline-chip></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul>