- Market average spot rates – 31 July 2025:
- Far East to US West Coast: USD 2264 per FEU (40ft container)
- Far East to US East Coast: USD 3775 per FEU
- Far East to North Europe: USD 3358 per FEU
- Far East to Mediterranean: USD 3662 per FEU
- North Europe to US East Coast: USD 1993 per FEU
- Market average spot rate on the Transpacific trade from Far East to US West Coast increased 10% mid-month on 15 July, but has declined steadily in the second half of the month to stand at USD 2264 per FEU.
- Average spot rates from Far East to US West Coast are now down 59% since the market peak on 5 June and are expected to fall further at the beginning of August, moving towards USD 2000 per FEU.
- Market average from Far East to US East Coast has fallen 46% since the peak on 15 June to stand at USD 3 775 per FEU. Looking ahead to August and spot rates are expected to drop below USD 3 500 per FEU.
- Average spot rates on both trades from Far East to US East Coast and US West Coast are now at the lowest level since December 2023, with US West Coast in particular now closing in on pre-Red Sea Crisis levels.
- Average spot rates from Far East to North Europe have flattened at USD 3358 per FEU after increasing 78% between 31 May and 1 July.
- Average spot rates from Far East to Mediterranean have declined 11% since 1 July to stand at USD 3662 per FEU.
- The spread in average spot rates on the Far East trades to North Europe and Mediterranean is now USD 304. The is the narrowest spread between these trades since November 2024 and has decreased from USD 1720 on 15 June.
- Looking ahead to August and the average spot rates to North Europe are expected to hold strong while rates into the Mediterranean will move down toward USD 3 400 per FEU. This means the spread between these trades will be closing in on parity in August.
Xeneta analyst insight - Transpacific
Emily Stausbøll, Xeneta Senior Shipping Analyst:
“Average spot rates on the major fronthauls from the Far East to US have been falling hard and are now at the lowest level since December 2023. With further decreases expected in August, freight rates are now closing in on pre-Red Sea crisis levels, especially into the US West Coast.
“The US is striking multiple trade deals, but this is unlikely to spark a cargo rush in the remainder of 2025 and prevent further softening of rates. Carriers are trying to manage capacity, but they may be fighting a losing battle and have no choice but to accept lower freight rates.
“If the forecast for the remainder of 2025 is challenging for carriers, it will also be tough for shippers. They may benefit from falling freight rates, but this will not come close to offsetting the financial impact of tariffs.”
Xeneta analysis insight – Europe
Emily Stausbøll, Xeneta Senior Shipping Analyst:
“With no sign of a peak season that would have traditionally pushed spot rates up in Q3, there is further bad news for carriers on trades from Far East to North Europe and Mediterranean. Carriers will have expected this downturn, but it will not make it any easier to manage given the significant overcapacity in the global fleet.
“Average spot rates from Far East to Mediterranean will continue their descent in August while rates into North Europe hold a little a little stronger. This means the spread in spot rates on these trades will close in on parity in August, which is a dramatic shift since it stood at USD 1720 in mid-July.”
Ends
About Xeneta
Xeneta is the leading neutral ocean and air freight rate and market intelligence provider, transforming how freight is bought and sold by reducing friction and uncertainty for thousands of procurement and logistics professionals world-wide.
Powered by 15m contracted rates analyzed per month, shippers and service providers rely on Xeneta’s complete and accurate ocean and air freight rates, carrier performance data and market outlooks, to optimize freight spend, safeguard their supply chains and improve their procurement forecasting and planning. Their range of market rates and insight provide companies like Volvo, John Deere, Nestle and Kuehne + Nagel with the data and intelligence to save negotiation time, secure the right shipping service at the right cost, and de-risk supply chain weaknesses.
Xeneta is a privately held company with over 200 employees worldwide and headquartered in Oslo, Norway. www.xeneta.com
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