International Shipping and Logistics Market Update Week 37/2026 | Phaata

International shipping and logistics market update - Week 37/2026

Table of Contents

1. World Container Index Week 37/2026

2. Asia - North America Ocean Freight Rates

3. Asia - Europe Ocean Freight Rates

4. Northern America - Asia Ocean Freight Rates

5. Northern Europe - Asia Ocean Freight Rates

6. Conclusions and Recommendations by Phaata

1. World Container Index Week 37/2026

Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) for Week 37/2026 (from September 7 to September 13, 2026) edged up by 0.25% compared to the previous week, reaching $4,476/FEU.

Drewry's World Container Index Week 37/2026 (Photo: Phaata)

2. Asia-North America Ocean Freight Rates

Supply and Demand:

Capacity Coordination and Golden Week Signals: Carriers currently maintain operational levels at near 100% of design capacity, with the blank sailing ratio held below 1% through mid-September. However, this status quo may shift as carriers begin adjusting operational plans for the Golden Week period. Early signals indicate that capacity cuts could intensify during and immediately following the holiday, thereby impacting capacity supply on the trade lane in October.

Origin Port Bottlenecks: The primary constraint on actual capacity supply currently stems not from blank sailings, but from port congestion. Ongoing operational disruptions in Shanghai and Ningbo continue to impede cargo turnaround speeds, prolonging vessel operational times and exacerbating schedule volatility.

Panama Canal Updates: Amid improved rainfall in certain regions, the Panama Canal Authority has deferred the implementation of tighter draft limits, temporarily easing pressure on vessel payload capabilities. Nevertheless, the daily transit quota remains capped at 34 vessels and is slated to drop further to 32 transits per day. Concurrently, canal-related surcharges are scheduled to be adjusted to a new baseline effective September 15.

Rate Developments:

Ocean freight rates from Asia to the North America West Coast in Week 37/2026 increased by 3.11% week-on-week, reaching $7,761/FEU. This rate is up 11.40% month-on-month, according to Xeneta data.

Spot Rates Sustain Upward Trend: The spot rate index on the Asia-U.S. corridor continues its upward trajectory across both the East and West Coasts. This trend is sustained as capacity supply remains constrained by congestion at several critical origin and transshipment ports, thereby continuing to exert upward pressure on the spot rate baseline.

Stay tuned to Phaata International Logistics Marketplace for in-depth and fast market updates.

Asia-North America Freight Rates | Week 37/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

US Tariff Updates:

1. Activation of Import Ban on Select Canadian Commodity Groups (Effective Sept 29)

Expanding Trade Measure Tools: Alongside tariff measures, the White House recently issued a series of executive orders imposing outright import bans on specific commodity groups originating from Canada. According to preliminary assessments by trade analysts, this marks the first time the executive branch has deployed an outright import ban under the legal framework of Section 338, covering an estimated $1 billion worth of goods.

Applicable Commodity Groups:

• Motor Vehicles: Banning imports of motorcycles with a cylinder capacity exceeding 800cc.

• Agriculture and Food: Whey, molasses, and non-alcoholic beer are subject to the ban.

• Alcoholic Beverages (by packaging): The regulation applies to beer, brandy, rum, and wine in direct-to-consumer packaging, including cans, bottles, kegs, and boxes. Shipments imported via pumps, vats, or bulk containers are exempt.

2. Expansion of Section 338 Scope and Tariff Stacking Risks (Effective Sept 15)

Expanding the 50% Tariff Roster: Parallel to the import ban, the U.S. administration continues to expand the list of Canadian goods subject to a 50% tariff under Section 338. New additions include cheese, animal hides, motorboats, outboard motors, paper products, electrodes, signage, golf carts, furniture, mattresses, and LED lights.

Tax Stacking Mechanism:

• Metals (Aluminum and Steel): Aluminum extrusions, bars, billets, tubes, alongside iron and steel poles, pillars, and beams, have been added to the Section 338 list but do not qualify for exemption from existing Section 232 duties. Consequently, the combined rate could reach up to 100%, drastically inflating import costs for these raw materials.

• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Components: Drone components previously granted temporary exemption from Section 338 because they were already subject to Section 232 no longer qualify for this waiver. Shipments in this category may face a stacking mechanism pushing total tariffs up to 150%.

Duty Exemption Updates: As of September 15, table salt is excluded from Section 338 applicability. For whiskey and liqueurs/cordials, only shipments transported in containers exceeding 4 liters are duty-exempt; smaller packaging formats remain subject to the 50% tariff.

Stay tuned to articles on the Phaata International Logistics Marketplace for rapid and in-depth market updates.

3. Asia-Europe Ocean Freight Rates

Supply and Demand: 

Capacity Maintenance and Long-Term Outlook: Carriers are currently maintaining operational levels at near 100% of design capacity, with the blank sailing ratio sitting near 0% across most of the forecast cycle. A notable signal for capacity adjustment appears in mid-October, with an expected cut of approximately 16%. However, given the extended timeframe, this adjustment remains fluid and subject to change based on booking velocities and actual market demand.

Schedule Risks at Origin and Destination Ports: At origin ports, cascading effects from operational disruptions across the Chinese port system continue to fuel the risk of vessel delays. At destination ports, ongoing labor strikes in parts of North Europe are mounting pressure on schedule reliability at key gateways, including Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hamburg, and Zeeland.

Suez Rerouting Scope Expands: The phased resumption of Suez Canal transits by select carriers is broadening the array of transit time options for shippers. The advantage of shorter transit times is now being applied more widely across certain services. However, the extent of deployment still varies among carriers and service loops; therefore, businesses must evaluate routing specifically by port rotation and operational schedule.

Freight Rate Developments: 

Ocean freight rates from Asia to Europe in Week 37/2026 dropped by 5.07% week-on-week, settling at $4,140/FEU. This rate represents a 14.60% decrease month-on-month, according to Xeneta data.

Spot Rates Continue Downward Trend: Spot rates from Asia to North Europe and the Mediterranean continue their descent, prolonging the cooling trend that emerged in late July.

Rising Supply Adds Pressure to the Rate Baseline: The decline in spot rates during this period reflects not only a demand correction but also significant supply-side impacts. The gradual restoration of the Suez routing is shortening vessel turnarounds, thereby injecting additional operational capacity back into the market. This improvement in actual capacity supply is compounding downward pressure on the rate baseline, even in the absence of a substantial shift in booking volumes.

Stay tuned to Phaata International Logistics Marketplace for in-depth and fast market updates.

Asia-Europe Freight Rates | Week 37/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

4. North America - Asia Ocean Freight Rates

Ocean freight rates from North America (West Coast) to Asia in Week 37/2026 decreased by 3.30% week-on-week, down to $703/FEU. This rate is up 0.29% month-on-month, according to Xeneta data.

North America (West Coast) - Asia freight rates | Week 37/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

5. Northern Europe - Asia Ocean Freight Rates

Ocean freight rates from North Europe to Asia in Week 37/2026 increased by 8.76% week-on-week, reaching $236/FEU. This rate is down 10.61% month-on-month, per Xeneta data.

Container Freight rates from Northern Europe to Asia | Week 37/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

6. Conclusion and Recommendations from Phaata

The global logistics market in Week 37/2026 continues to exhibit a stark divergence in rate baselines and operational conditions across the two primary East-West trade corridors. The composite WCI index ticked up slightly by 0.25% to $4,476/FEU, but intra-trade dynamics remain highly differentiated:

Trans-Pacific Route (Asia - North America): Upward rate pressure holds firm, pushing West Coast spot rates to $7,761/FEU. This momentum stems not primarily from blank sailings (currently under 1%), but from the significant degradation of actual capacity supply caused by congestion at Shanghai and Ningbo. Furthermore, Panama Canal transits remain capped at 34 vessels per day—with a projected cut to 32—while canal-related surcharges adjusted to a new baseline effective September 15. These factors continue to exert pressure on both costs and transit times for USEC-bound cargo.

Far East - West Europe Route: Market dynamics remain more favorable for shippers as spot rates dropped 5.07% to $4,140/FEU. The phased resumption of Suez Canal transits by some carriers and alliances is injecting capacity back into the market by accelerating vessel turnarounds. This supply-side factor is adding downward pressure on the rate baseline, though the risk of schedule disruptions due to strikes at several North European ports requires ongoing monitoring.

North American Trade Compliance Risks: Shifts in US-Canada trade policy are expanding impact perimeters from tariffs to outright import controls on specific commodity groups. The import ban effective September 29 on select Canadian goods, coupled with a tariff stacking mechanism that could push total duties to 100% - 150% on certain aluminum, steel, and UAS components, threatens to drastically alter the COGS structures of supply chains tied to the North American market.

Recommendations from Phaata

Proactive Space Preparation Ahead of Golden Week:

Early Booking: Businesses should consider locking in bookings for October export shipments earlier than usual. Market signals suggest blank sailing ratios could spike during and after the Chinese holiday. Proactively securing early bookings can mitigate rollover risks and associated retention costs.

Integrate Buffer Margins: For containers routing through Shanghai and Ningbo, logistics departments should consider adding approximately 5–7 days to cargo-ready dates, contingent upon schedule stability and port operational status. This buffer can provide businesses with critical flexibility against the risk of congestion-induced vessel delays.

Flexible Cargo Routing:

North American Corridor: For USEC and Gulf Coast shipments utilizing an all-water route via the Panama Canal, businesses must verify and secure transit slots prior to finalizing transport plans. Should canal transit conditions fail to meet schedule requirements, shippers can evaluate diverting cargo through West Coast port clusters, combined with inland rail and road transport, as a viable alternative.

European Corridor: For shipments calling at Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Hamburg, and Zeeland, businesses should factor additional buffer time into transport and delivery schedules. Closely monitoring strike developments and updating operational schedules at destination ports will enable shippers to proactively adapt their strategies when necessary.

US-Canada COGS and Legal Risk Management:

Audit Import-Restricted Shipments: Procurement departments must audit orders originating from Canada involving motorcycles over 800cc, retail-packaged alcoholic beverages, whey, and molasses, particularly for shipments slated to arrive at U.S. ports from September 29 onward. Early auditing empowers businesses to proactively adjust purchasing and transport plans if goods fall under the ban's scope.

Update Landed Costs: For importers of aluminum, steel, and UAS components from Canada, businesses should remodel their landed costs based on the potential application of stacked tariff mechanisms. If import costs threaten to significantly impact business performance, companies should further explore supply diversification strategies outside the North American market.

Stay tuned to articles on Phaata.com or Phaata fanpage for rapid and in-depth market updates.

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Source: Phaata -  Where Shippers & Logistics Providers Connect

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