Data highlights
- Market average spot rates – 2 October 2025:
- Far East to US West Coast: USD 1681 per FEU (40ft container)
- Far East to US East Coast: USD 2638 per FEU
- Far East to North Europe: USD 1703 per FEU
- Far East to Mediterranean: USD 2220 per FEU
- North Europe to US East Coast: USD 1648 per FEU
- The average spot rates of all trades slightly declined from last week. Ranging from -6.6% to -4.6%. This follows from last week, when there were sharper drops across the board.
- September was a month of turmoil and upheaval for the US-bound short-term market out of Far East. There was a significant jump in spot rates on 1 September and then some turbulence during the month, but by 30 September the earlier spike had been wiped out.
- On 2 October, rates from Far East into US East Coast and US West Coast are both down 8% compared to end-August.
- Less drama into Europe from the Far East where short-term rates were consistently in decline throughout September.
- 10 days ago, short-term rates into North Europe from the Far East eclipsed that ‘summer-bubble’ that developed from June and spiked in first half of July. Now at USD 1703 per FEU compared to USD 1912 per FEU at end-May.
- Spot rates are less volatile from North Europe into US East Coast - falling 5.5% from one week ago, 5.8% from two weeks ago and 10.2% from end-August.
- North Europe to US East Coast is now at a 21-month low and the lowest point since end-2023.
- The latest average spot rate data is provided in the attached documents ‘Xeneta - weekly market update 2.10.25’ and ‘Xeneta - weekly market update chart 2.10.25’.
Xeneta analyst insight – Transpacific and FE-Europe
Peter Sand, Xeneta Chief Analyst:
“Average spot rates on the Transpacific trade are now below the levels at the end of August, with the unexpected spike at the beginning of September more than wiped out.
“The September spot rate spike should act as a reminder that markets are still volatile. Freight rates will continue a steady decline for the rest of 2025, but there is always the potential for drama on the way.
“China has passed legislation allowing them to take countermeasures against any nation it believes is acting against its national trade interests. The lights are still flashing red on the geo-political dashboard so it would be foolish for shippers to believe there is not potential for more pain as we look ahead to 2026.”
Ends
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