NOTE: quotes and insight from Xeneta Chief Analyst Peter Sand follow the data highlights below.
Data highlights
- Market average spot rates – 27 November 2025:
- Far East to US West Coast: USD 1958 per FEU (40ft container)
- Far East to US East Coast: USD 2667 per FEU
- Far East to North Europe: USD 2335 per FEU
- Far East to Mediterranean: USD 2941 per FEU
- North Europe to US East Coast: USD 1585 per FEU
- Offered capacity (4 week rolling average) – w/c 24 November 2025:
- Far East to US West Coast: -2.5% from a week ago
- Far East to US East Coast: +1.3% from a week ago
- Far East to North Europe: +3.1% from a week ago
- Far East to Mediterranean: +1.4% from a week ago
- North Europe to US East Coast: -1.7% from a week ago
- The development of ‘offered capacity’ was divergent across the main haul trade lanes. Ranging from -2.5% from Far East to US West Coast to +3.1% from Far East to North Europe.
- The past week has seen sliding spot rates across fronthaul trades out of the Far East (Transatlantic is a trade going against the downward trend – see further down).
- Taking a slightly longer month-on-month view, the biggest decreases in average spot rates are on Far East to US trades. Down 12.7% into US East Coast and 9.1% into US West Coast, while capacity increased 11.9% and 11.4% respectively.
- The spread in average spot rates between the two main US coasts seems to have stabilized at USD 710 in the past week - suggesting market trends are impacting the trades in similar fashion.
- Average spot rates from Far East to Europe are moving in a different direction to US trades – up 26.1% and 18.3% month-on-month into Mediterranean and North Europe respectively. Offered capacity has a slight uptick (0.4%) into North Europe compared to a month ago and 4.9% into the Mediterranean.
- For more insight on carrier capacity management tactics across major fronthaul trades read the latest Xeneta blog by Emily Stausbøll, Senior Shipping Analyst.
- Spot rates moved sideways on the Transatlantic in the past week, remaining at USD 1 585 per FEU. This followed a slight increase the previous week, while capacity slightly decreased -1.7%. This indicates demand fell at a similar rate to capacity this week.
Xeneta analyst insight
Peter Sand, Xeneta Chief Analyst:
“Carriers are working hard to manage capacity and they are having some success when you consider average spot rates are up on all major fronthauls compared to first half of October, despite considerable decreases on Far East to US trades in November.
“Whether it is year-end market sentiment heading into tender season or a semblance of underlying demand, it is a strong finish to the year for carriers and provides much-needed momentum for them heading into what will be an extremely challenging 2026.
“There is ongoing speculation of a largescale return of container ships to the Red Sea, but the situation remains fragile. Carriers will continue to test the water – particularly on backhaul services with less cargo and therefore lower liability - but insurance remains a major stumbling block when ships are still sailing through an area designated as high risk.”
Ends
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