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IMO 2020 fuel surcharges push container rates higher

Box ships are now switching to low-sulfur fuel. (Photo credit: Flikr/Glen)

This is a crucial time for container lines. Their future financial health relies upon whether or not they can pass along new fuel costs to cargo shippers.

Only three weeks remain until the IMO 2020 regulation takes effect. On Jan. 1, all vessels without exhaust-gas scrubbers will have to switch from cheaper 3.5% sulfur fuel to more expensive 0.1-0.5% sulfur fuel.

In the case of larger container ships doing long-haul routes, that transition has almost certainly already occurred (to prevent a ship from still carrying 3.5% sulfur fuel in mid-voyage on the deadline day).

Container lines implemented their IMO 2020 surcharges on Dec. 1. The Freightos Baltic Daily Index tracks the price to ship 40-foot-equivalent (FEU) boxes along various routes. If higher fuel costs are being passed along, the index levels should have bumped up, not just piecemeal, but across all major lanes.


The good news for container lines is that the fuel surcharges appear to be working. The caveat is that it’s still very early days.

According to Eytan Buchman, chief marketing officer of Freightos, “Prices are rebounding, with several lanes surpassing November highs. Chief among the supply drivers is the start of low-sulfur fuel oil or scrubber installation costs being passed on to shippers ahead of the IMO fuel-regulation rollout.”

The two largest container trades are Asia-U.S. and Asia-Europe. In the transpacific market, pricing on the China-to-North American West Coast route (SONAR: FBXD.CNAW) is up 15% between Nov. 29 and Dec. 10. Pricing on the China-to-East Coast route via the Panama Canal (SONAR: FBXD.CNAE) is up 11% in the same period.

Freightos Baltic Daily Index China North America West and China North America East

The same pattern holds true in the Asia-Europe market. In the trade lane from China to North Europe (SONAR: FBXD.CNER), container pricing rose 9.4% between Nov. 29 and Dec. 10. In the China-to-Mediterranean lane (SONAR.FBXD.CMED), pricing increased 11%.


Freightos Baltic Daily Index China North Europe and China Mediterranean

Looking at the global index, which averages all of the estimated pricing changes along the various lanes, the rates are up by around $110 per FEU during the period, equating to an increase of 8.6%.

Freightos Baltic Daily Index Global

Of course, factors besides the fuel surcharges could be at play, but if it’s a normal seasonal pattern, it would have shown up in pricing during the previous years. There’s no evidence of a seasonal factor behind the early December rise. Last year, pricing measured by the global index fell sharply between late October and mid-December. In 2017, rates fell between late November and mid-December. More FreightWaves/American Shipper articles by Greg Miller

Freightos Baltic Daily Index Global

Editor’s note: Freightos has a business agreement with FreightWaves that includes editorial coverage.

Greg Miller

Greg Miller covers maritime for FreightWaves and American Shipper. After graduating Cornell University, he fled upstate New York's harsh winters for the island of St. Thomas, where he rose to editor-in-chief of the Virgin Islands Business Journal. In the aftermath of Hurricane Marilyn, he moved to New York City, where he served as senior editor of Cruise Industry News. He then spent 15 years at the shipping magazine Fairplay in various senior roles, including managing editor. He currently resides in Manhattan with his wife and two Shih Tzus.