International Shipping and Logistics Market Update Week 40/2026 | Phaata

International shipping and logistics market update - Week 40/2026

Table of Contents

1. World Container Index Week 40/2026

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 40/2026

Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) for Week 40/2026 (from September 28 to October 4, 2026) decreased by 0.76% compared to the previous week, settling at $4,434/FEU.

Drewry's World Container Index Week 40/2026 (Photo: Phaata)

2. Asia-North America Ocean Freight Rates

Supply and Demand:

Capacity Coordination & Golden Week Scenarios: Continuing last week's trend, carriers maintained 100% of operational capacity this week. Capacity adjustments via blank sailings are projected to hit approximately 8% during the week of October 5, primarily aimed at balancing supply ahead of a potential volume dip during China's Golden Week holiday. Subsequently, the adjustment rate is expected to fall below 5% for the remainder of October.

Origin Port Conditions & Stable Demand: Import demand on the trade lane remains relatively high. Meanwhile, lingering congestion at several Chinese origin ports from the previous week continues to threaten operational planning and short-term schedule reliability.

Rate Developments:

Ocean freight rates from Asia to the North America West Coast in Week 40/2026 increased by 0.74% week-on-week, reaching $8,278/FEU. This rate is up 10.65% month-on-month, according to Xeneta data.

Spot Rates Sustain Elevated Levels: The container freight rate baseline on the route has climbed to its highest point since mid-2022. This trajectory is supported by robust import demand, while actual operational capacity remains somewhat hampered by congestion at Asian port clusters.

New GRI Effective October: Amid a tendency for shippers to front-load exports ahead of the holidays, carriers announced a new General Rate Increase (GRI), effective October 1. This development may exert further upward pressure on the rate baseline in the early part of the month.

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

Asia-North America Freight Rates | Week 40/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

US Tariff Updates:

1. Import Ban on Select Canadian Goods: Customs Declaration Process Updated Effective Sept 29

Entry Processing Updates: The U.S. import ban on certain commodity groups originating from Canada officially took effect on September 29. Consequently, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) system will reject entries utilizing HTS codes listed as prohibited, returning the technical error code: “HTS Not Allowed for Country of Origin.”

Applicable Commodity Groups: The prohibited roster includes motorcycles with a cylinder capacity exceeding 800cc (HTS 8711.50.00), whey, molasses, and non-alcoholic beer. For certain alcoholic beverages—such as beer, wine, brandy, and rum—the regulation applies to goods in retail packaging, including cans, bottles, or kegs. Products transported as bulk cargo or in industrial packaging may qualify for exemptions under the regulation.

2. Roadmap Update on Chinese Goods Tariff Adjustments: Section 301 Review Continues

Public Comment Process Continues: U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer stated that the planned tariff rate adjustments for 77 "non-sensitive" import groups from China will remain under review via the public comment process under the Section 301 framework.

Reviewed Commodity Scope: The list focuses on several consumer goods categories, including small home appliances (e.g., microwaves, toasters, and coffee makers), household textiles, children’s products, sporting equipment, and specific event decor products.

Adjustment Timeline: The consultation process will be completed before subsequent decisions are finalized. Currently, the specific adjusted tariff rates and their implementation timelines hinge entirely on the review outcomes and final agency decisions.

3. Multilateral Steel Treaty: Enhanced Traceability Requirements

Updates on Steel Origin Requirements: A coalition of economies representing approximately 55% of global steel trade is deploying a mechanism that requires exporters to identify the specific country where the steel in each shipment was melted and poured, rather than solely identifying the country of final processing or finishing. The U.S., Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, and 16 European nations are among the participating entities.

Strengthening Origin Verification Capabilities: Mandating supplementary production origin data aims to assist regulatory bodies in more accurately ascertaining the true origin of steel, particularly for products that undergo processing or finishing stages in third countries.

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 & Schedule Impacts: Congestion at several Chinese ports continues to disrupt operational planning and schedules at loading ports. In this context, carriers are holding operational capacity at near 100% of design levels through mid-October.

Delayed Capacity Adjustments: Compared to the Trans-Pacific route, capacity adjustments aimed at offsetting volume declines during Golden Week are slated to occur later on the Asia-Europe corridor. Blank sailings are projected to spike to roughly 9-10% of total capacity in the final week of October, before tapering off heading into November.

Operational Efficiency Remains Under Pressure: Schedule reliability remains a critical concern for Europe-bound cargo flows. Global on-time performance plummeted to 49.9% in August, the lowest level recorded since September 2022. The lingering effects of congestion at Asian ports continue to severely degrade schedules and transport network connectivity.

Freight Rate Developments: 

Ocean freight rates from Asia to Europe in Week 40/2026 decreased by 4.89% week-on-week, dropping to $3,595/FEU. This rate is down 18.46% month-on-month, according to Xeneta data.

Spot Rates Continue Downward Trend: The spot rate baseline recorded its 12th consecutive week of decline. Since early July, freight rates to North Europe have plummeted by approximately 30%, while rates to the Mediterranean have dropped by roughly 40%.

October GRI: Carriers have announced plans to implement a General Rate Increase (GRI), slated to take effect October 19. The viability of sustaining this increase will depend on market demand dynamics and actual capacity supply, particularly as several services are gradually being rerouted via the Suez Canal.

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

Asia-Europe Freight Rates | Week 40/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

4. North America - Asia Ocean Freight Rates

Ocean freight rates from North America (West Coast) to Asia in Week 40/2026 decreased by 9.65% week-on-week, falling to $646/FEU. This rate is down 10.15% month-on-month, according to Xeneta data.

North America (West Coast) - Asia freight rates | Week 40/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

5. Northern Europe - Asia Ocean Freight Rates

Ocean freight rates from North Europe to Asia in Week 40/2026 decreased by 3.86% week-on-week, settling at $224/FEU. This rate is up 3.7% month-on-month, per Xeneta data.

Container Freight rates from Northern Europe to Asia | Week 40/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

6. Conclusion and Recommendations from Phaata

Week 40/2026 continues to highlight stark divergences in rate trajectories and operational conditions across main trade arteries. While spot rates on the Asia - North America route maintain an upward trend, the Asia - Europe market remains under downward pressure. In North America, declaration and traceability requirements are increasingly taking center stage.

Trans-Pacific Route (Asia - North America): West Coast spot rates climbed to $8,278/FEU, marking the highest level since mid-2022. This trajectory is underpinned by persistently strong U.S. import demand, coupled with the General Rate Increase (GRI) applied on October 1. Concurrently, carriers are adjusting roughly 8% of capacity in the first week of October, primarily to balance supply against a potential volume dip around the Golden Week holiday. Congestion at select Chinese ports also continues to impair actual operational capacity and short-term schedule reliability.

Far East - West Europe Route: Spot rates continued their descent for the 12th consecutive week, currently hovering around $3,595/FEU. Beyond the rate trajectory, schedule reliability remains a critical red flag, as global on-time performance sank to 49.9%. Carriers plan to apply a GRI effective October 19, amidst relatively cautious route demand and the ongoing restoration of select services via the Suez Canal.

U.S. Trade Compliance Environment: Requirements concerning import cargo controls and origin traceability continue to be prioritized. The CBP system has activated a rejection mechanism for entries falling under the import ban on Canadian goods. In the steel sector, the tightening of requirements for raw material origin data at the initial melt and pour stages signals a clear trend toward enhancing supply chain transparency and cracking down on transshipment activities.

Recommendations from Phaata

Space and Schedule Management:

North American Route: Amid rising rate baselines post-October 1 GRI, businesses should consider early booking strategies for shipments slated to depart near Golden Week. For cargo originating from Shanghai and Ningbo, factoring a 5-7 day buffer into transport plans will equip businesses with the necessary leeway to manage potential delays stemming from port congestion or altered operational schedules.

European Route: Alongside freight costs, schedule reliability should be heavily weighted when evaluating transport options. For highly time-sensitive shipments, building in extra buffer time and staying updated on schedule changes or late-October blank sailing notices will allow businesses to adapt their plans more effectively.

Monitor Customs Compliance Requirements:

Canadian Goods: Continue to rigorously audit HTS codes, country of origin, and packaging specifications for commodity groups falling under regulatory scopes to mitigate the risk of CBP system rejections or supplementary processing requests.

Steel-Origin Goods: Businesses must coordinate with suppliers and manufacturers to update data regarding raw material origins and manufacturing processes. Preparing comprehensive traceability documentation will streamline the declaration process and facilitate origin verification when required.

Section 301 Tariffs on Chinese Goods: Regarding the 77 commodity groups currently under USTR review, businesses should continue tracking the consultation progress and subsequent rulings before hardcoding new tariff assumptions into their Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) planning. Until official confirmation of tariff rates and effective dates is issued, benchmarking various cost scenarios will enable businesses to remain proactive in their import and pricing strategies.

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