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Nieuwsblad Transport reported this week that container shipping costs are approaching levels last seen during the COVID-19 crisis, whilst schedule reliability on several major trade lanes has deteriorated sharply. Xeneta reported that in August, only 6% of vessels on the Asia–Europe trade arrived within 24 hours of the originally published arrival time. Delayed vessels arrived, on average, more than eight days late. The combination of high prices and unreliable services is creating renewed pressure on freight forwarders, shippers and European supply chains.

According to the latest Drewry World Container Index, the average global spot rate increased to USD 4,500 per 40-foot container on 17 September 2026, 135% higher than a year earlier. The strongest increase was recorded on the Shanghai–New York route, where the rate rose by almost 7% in one week to USD 10,394. Xeneta recorded an even higher market average of USD 10,948. The Drewry spot rate from Shanghai to Rotterdam stood at USD 3,626 per 40-foot container this week. This was around 90% higher than in the same week last year and well above the approximately USD 1,300 recorded in September 2019.

This brings transpacific rates close to Xeneta’s pandemic-era record of USD 11,900, reached in January 2022. The comparison depends on the index used as Drewry, which applies a different methodology, recorded a Shanghai–New York peak of approximately USD 16,000 during the pandemic.

The increase is being driven by several factors. The conflict involving Iran has caused a sharp increase in bunker-fuel costs, which carriers are passing on through higher rates and surcharges. Further, importers have been bringing shipments forward ahead of China’s Golden Week, adding to the pressure on available capacity. Rapidly changing fuel prices are increasing transport costs across several modes.