International shipping and logistics market update - Week 14/2025

International shipping and logistics market update - Week 14/2025

Drewry's global aggregate container freight rate index in week Week 14/2025 increased by 2% to USD 2,208/FEU compared to the previous week. This freight rate index is 55% higher than the average of 2019 before the pandemic (USD 1,420).

Drewry’s World Container Index Week 14/2025 (Photo: Phaata | Source: Drewry)

1. Asia - Northern America route

Ocean freight rates from Asia to the West Coast of North America continued to decline in week 14/2025 shifted sharply up by 19.24% compared to the previous week, reaching USD 2,956/FEU. This price decreased by 4.55% compared to the previous month, according to Xeneta data.

Demand in April increased compared to March as shippers rushed to ship goods before the new tariffs took effect. This pushed up spot rates sharply. Shipping lines successfully applied the General Rate Increase (GRI) in April. Peak Season Surcharges (PSS) are not expected to be applied in April.

Capacity in April is expected to remain the same as in March, with some cancellations occurring on the East Coast (EC) and Pacific Southwest (PSW) routes.

Container equipment supplies are plentiful, available at most Asian origin ports, and no significant shortages are expected in the coming weeks.

Asia-US West Coast Freight rate | Week 14/2025 (Image: Phaata.com)

US Tariff Update:

On April 2, President Donald Trump announced a 10% base tariff on all imports, effective April 5. He also announced country-specific reciprocal tariffs, effective April 9.

Country-specific reciprocal tariffs will mean higher tariffs for trading partners such as China, Japan, and the European Union. According to the White House's calculations, these tariffs will be set at half the rate that countries currently charge the United States.

Most reciprocal tariffs will be about half the rate that the Trump administration claims the United States is facing.

In total, China will face the highest tariffs, including a new 34% reciprocal tariff, in addition to the Section 301 tariff, the 20% IEEPA tariff from March, and the base US tariff.

This executive order does not affect the current 25% tariff on Canada and Mexico. Tariffs on imports subject to the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement will remain suspended, with the exception of steel, aluminum, and non-US autos.

Meanwhile, duty-free “de minimis” shipping will be eliminated from all countries once the necessary systems are in place.

In early February, President Trump announced plans to eliminate the “de minimis” policy on imports from China. Shortly thereafter, he announced that the “de minimis” policy would remain in effect until systems were in place to process and collect taxes effectively. Under the April 2 executive order, those systems are now in place and the “de minimis” policy on imports from China and Hong Kong will officially end on May 2, 2025. This new tax policy will have a huge impact on the air transport industry, sellers on e-commerce platforms, and consumers.

Currently, many countries around the world have spoken out against this reciprocal tax policy of the United States, even declaring strong responses. This new tax policy of the United States is having a strong negative impact on global trade and economy.

Source: The White House

2. Asia - Northern Europe route:

Container freight rates from Asia to Northern Europe continued to decline slightly by 0.49% week-on-week in week 14/2025 to $2,172/FEU. This is down 20.52% month-on-month, according to Xeneta data.

MSC has re-deployed its 23,000 TEU superjumbos to its Asia-Europe Lion Service in late March and early April, while the OA alliance has also increased its capacity allocation. The Gemini Cooperation alliance reported three more blank sailings in the first two weeks of April compared to the previous week, indicating a tightening of capacity in the first half of the month. However, capacity will recover in the last two weeks of the month, surpassing the 310,000 TEU threshold. Supply is expected to remain relatively high relative to demand.

Currently, the volume of cargo is not large enough to create excess capacity, so it is unlikely to generate a significant price recovery in April. The April GRI implementation was unsuccessful, with most carriers postponing planned rate increases until the end of April and lowering the proposed rate adjustments. Therefore, freight rates are likely to remain stable in the coming weeks.

Asia-Northern Europe Freight rate | Week 14/2025 (Image: Phaata.com)

3. Northern America - Asia route:

The freight rate from North America (West Coast) to Asia increased sharply by 4.52% compared to the previous week, reaching USD 648/FEU in week 14/2025. This price increased by 3.35% compared to the previous month, according to Xeneta data.

US West Coast - Asia Freight rate | Week 14/2025 (Image: Phaata.com)

4. Northern Europe-Asia route:

Northern Europe to Asia freight rates in week 14/2025 reversed sharply down 14.79% compared to the previous week, down to USD 219/FEU; this price decreased 8.37% compared to the previous month, according to Xeneta data.

Northern Europe - Asia Freight rate | Week 14/2025 (Image: Phaata.com)

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See more:

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Source: Phaata.com

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