Freightos’ Post

This year’s much-anticipated – and possibly extreme – air cargo peak season rush has still not materialized, while concerns grow over a January ILA strike as renewed negotiations quickly collapsed last week.  Here are the key insights from this week’s Freightos Weekly Update: Operations resumed at locked out Canadian container ports on both coasts last week as the government ordered the ports reopened and the parties to binding arbitration. The union in British Columbia plans to file a challenge to the order. Post-peak season transpacific ocean rates have leveled off at about $5,400/FEU to both coasts – well above the previous lows for the year in April – as shippers may be frontloading ahead of possible tariff increases next year and an ILA strike at East Coast and Gulf ports if they don’t approve a new contract by January 15th. ILA -USMX negotiations restarted last week – for the first time since June – and quickly collapsed as the sides remain far apart on the role automation will play at these ports, adding to concerns over a January strike.  Asia - Europe ocean rates – which had fallen back to April levels –  increased by 30% to start the month on GRIs and have stayed elevated. Some carriers also announced December GRIs to push rates to $6,000/FEU when the early Lunar New Year rush may begin. Middle East - N. America air cargo rates have climbed 22% in the last three weeks to $3.78/kg, a high for the year, possibly on a peak season bump, including some shippers opting for sea-air instead of direct Far East air shipments.  China - N. America air rates have increased 17% to $7.00/kg – a high for the year – since late October. But many expected prices to spike much higher by now as e-commerce volumes continue to take up capacity. More carriers and forwarders are skeptical this surge will materialize as many shippers adjusted and planned ahead to avoid a chaotic peak season. Transatlantic air rates increased 45% since mid-October to $2.60/kg, their highest level since early 2023, reflecting a reduction in capacity as carriers introduced winter passenger schedules as well as some shift of freighter capacity to ex-Asia routes. You can read this week's full update by following the link in the first comment below.

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