Market average spot rates – 20 November 2025:
- Far East to US West Coast: USD 2190 per FEU (40ft container)
- Far East to US East Coast: USD 2838 per FEU
- Far East to North Europe: USD 2367 per FEU
- Far East to Mediterranean: USD 2943 per FEU
- North Europe to US East Coast: USD 1570 per FEU
Offered capacity (4 week rolling average) – w/c 17 November 2025:
- Far East to US West Coast: +5.4% from a week ago
- Far East to US East Coast: +11.4% from a week ago
- Far East to North Europe: +4.8% from a week ago
- Far East to Mediterranean: +8.7% from a week ago
- North Europe to US East Coast: +10.7% from a week ago
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Carriers offer more capacity across the five main haul trades for a second week in a row. Ranging from +4.8% into North Europe from the Far East to +11.4% into the US East Coast.
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The largest jump this week is found on the trade from the Far East to US East Coast. The total ‘offered capacity’ went up 11.4% from a week ago. This increase is mainly due to Ocean Alliance’s double departures of Ever Focus from Busan, Korea on 19 November and Texas Triumph from Ningbo-Zhoushan on 22 November. Both will call Savannah, Georgia before Christmas after transiting the Panama Canal.
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On the North Europe to US East Coast trade, capacity reached a 28-month high this week, just shy of 60,000 TEU (4 week rolling average). Comparing that to the 10-month low just one month ago, offered capacity is up a massive 55.5%. The expansion mainly comes from non-alliance capacity, up 157.1% - with Gemini Alliance offering 42.3% more over the same period.
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Capacity growth into the US East Coast from the Far East seemingly matched – and exceeded - demand as average spot rates fell 2.8% from a week ago. Down a total of 23% from the 1 November peak.
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The highest week-on-week decrease in average spot rates was seen into the US West Coast for a second week running. Rates slid 3.2% this week after dropping 17.2% last week.
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Moving in the other direction were average spot rates out of the Far East into Mediterranean and North Europe, up 4.1% and 5.6% respectively. As offered capacity also rose on these European bound trades from a week ago, demand into Europe seems healthy right now.
Xeneta analyst insight
Peter Sand, Xeneta Chief Analyst:
“There are striking differences in the fortunes for container shipping from the Far East into Europe compared to the US and it is setting for the scene for 2026.
“Average spot rates from Far East to North Europe and Mediterranean are up compared to a week ago while offered capacity is also increasing – suggesting healthy demand on these trades.
“The other side of the coin sees spot rates falling into the US East Coast and US West Coast this week, with increases in offered capacity seemingly too much for the level of demand.
“These trends on the fronthauls into Europe and US are likely to continue into 2026, with demand into Europe bolstered by Chinese goods finding new markets outside North America. At the same time, the US trade policy will have a negative impact on consumer demand and ocean container volumes in the year ahead.”
Source: Xeneta