A surge in U.S.-bound shipments is underway! June freight rates have risen by more than 60%, and space remains severely constrained.

Driven by a confluence of factors—including adjustments to trade policies and robust U.S. restocking demand—the Asia–U.S. shipping market is experiencing an unexpectedly strong surge in cargo volumes, with capacity remaining tightly constrained; on some routes, June bookings are already nearly fully booked. Meanwhile, exports of sporting goods and equipment from Yiwu and other small‑commodity hubs continue to grow at a brisk pace. With multiple peak‑season booking windows overlapping, carriers have also been issuing price‑increase notices with increasing frequency.

Multiple demand drivers are converging, leading to a severe shortage of container space on U.S. routes.
         Industry insiders generally agree that the current surge in shipments to the U.S. market is primarily driven by shifting expectations regarding U.S. trade policy. At the same time, with the World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico just around the corner and U.S. Independence Day approaching, demand for inventory ahead of festive events and major sporting tournaments has risen sharply, prompting a substantial advance in the shipment of consumer goods. Concurrently, overall restocking needs in the U.S. market have also rebounded markedly, with procurement orders from large retailers and cross‑border e‑commerce channels growing in tandem. Under the combined pull of these multiple demand drivers, capacity on U.S.-bound routes has tightened noticeably since late May, with some regions even experiencing severe shortages—so tight that securing space has become nearly impossible—and shipping lines have been issuing price‑increase notices with increasing frequency.

Major shipping lines have been making frequent rate adjustments, leading to a sharp rise in freight rates in June.
         According to reports, Yang Ming and Wan Hai have planned to raise their U.S.‑bound freight rates starting June 1, with increases ranging from USD 1,000 to USD 1,500 per FEU. Maersk has announced that, effective June 17, it will impose a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) on routes between the Far East and the United States and Canada, at USD 1,000 per TEU and USD 2,000 per FEU. Meanwhile, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) will, beginning June 1, increase its Emergency Fuel Surcharge (EFS) on Asia–U.S./Canada services: USD 270 per TEU and USD 540 per FEU for routes to the U.S. and Canadian West Coast, and USD 213 per TEU and USD 426 per FEU for routes to the U.S. and Canadian East Coast.

         Following the latest round of rate hikes expected in early June, freight rates on the U.S. West Coast route are projected to reach approximately $4,800 per FEU, while those on the U.S. East Coast route are expected to hover around $6,000 per FEU. According to the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) released by the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, at the beginning of May, rates stood at $2,722 per FEU for the U.S. West Coast and $3,691 per FEU for the U.S. East Coast. This means that, over the past month, rates on U.S.-bound routes have surged by more than 60%, with the U.S. West Coast seeing an even steeper increase of 76%.

Short-term market trends are expected to persist, but medium- and long-term prospects remain uncertain.
         For this round of market conditions, industry consensus expects no near-term pullback, with the peak shipping season on U.S. routes likely to persist for one to two months. At the same time, it is important to note that global new‑ship deliveries will remain relatively concentrated in the second half of 2026, meaning the sector’s overall capacity continues to expand. According to industry data, total container‑capacity deliveries in 2026 are projected at roughly 1.6 million TEU; while this represents a moderation compared with the concentrated delivery peaks of the previous two years, additional capacity is still being gradually brought online. Should end‑user demand growth fall short of expectations, the market could experience a temporary correction, and the long‑term trajectory of freight rates will require continued prudent monitoring.