Freightos Baltic Index

Iran is likely to assert newfound control over the gateway to the Persian Gulf and its crude oil stockpiles.

Hostilities among Israel, Iran and the United States failed to disrupt most transportation markets as container rates fell in the eastbound trans-Pacific.

Container rates on the Asia-U.S. trade lane surged as shippers rushed early peak- season traffic and carriers announced general rate increases, according to SONAR and Freightos data.  

Freightos Baltic Index container rates showing the effects of  the China-U.S. tariff break and carrier rate hikes.

Trans-Pacific container rates moved ahead as trade shockwaves fueled a race to get ahead of the latest tariff announcements.

Trans-Pacific container rates to the United States were narrowly mixed in the latest Freightos index.

Uncertainty over President Trump’s plans for more tariffs punctuated a week that saw trans-Pacific container rates fall more than 20% below 2024 lows.

Months of frontloading by importers has further weakened trans-Pacific container rates amid a seasonal lull.

After months off frontloading by importers that boosted prices, container rates on the trans-Pacific are declining following Lunar New Year, said analyst Freightos.

Shippers have won a reprieve from levies on the United States’ largest trading partners, but tariff threats are boosting frontloading.

The developing U.S.-China trade war will likely keep eastbound trans-Pacific container rates elevated as shippers pull imports forward.

Trans-Pacific container rates will likely remain elevated as importers look to avoid more U.S. import tariffs.

Weaker container rates for Asia-U.S. volumes could give way to increases, but that depends on carriers’ plans in the coming weeks, said analyst Freightos.

Container rates from Asia to the United States are in a holding pattern after an East Coast longshore strike was averted.

Trans-Pacific container rates increased sharply to start 2025, according to analyst Freightos, as importers brought shipments forward ahead of Lunar New Year.

Shippers continue to navigate the known and the unknown as trans-Pacific container rates moved higher as 2024 comes to an end.

Frontloading by importers ahead of 2025 helped Asia-U.S. ocean freight rates stay elevated into mid-December.

Fears of new tariffs and a strike at East Coast ports combined to push up ocean container rates on Asia-U.S. routes in December.

Rates on Asia-U.S. West Coast and Asia-U.S. East Coast container transport fell for the latest week tracked by Freightos but rose by double digits for Asia-Europe/Mediterranean traffic.

The Freightos Baltic Index (FBX) is the world’s leading—and most accurate—index of market rates for 40′ containers.