Liner operators are taking advantage of a rush in pre-Chinese New Year cargoes, with demand for vessels high and many voyages sailing with full loads.
Spot rates from Shanghai to Los Angeles rose 25% to reach $1,791 per 40-foot equivalent unit container in the week ending 2 January, according to the World Container Index.
Space is tightest on the transpacific routes, where carriers are poised to “blank”, or withdraw, a record number of scheduled sailings through to the end of February because of a decline in demand as a result of the US-China trade war.
