“SUSPICIOUSLY quiet” is the way one forwarder has described the current freight rate situation from Asia to Australia.
“Ships are assuredly full, and there’s still a lot of schedule catch-up going on without much stability in sight – so why are China rates in decline?” DCN was asked rhetorically. “Has the predicted protracted peak petered out?”
The Week 45 SCFI for the median spot rate for the Shanghai–Sydney port pair stands at USD 5,052/FEU, down 1% from Week 44, when it was unchanged from Week 43. But Week 42 dived 8%, and a look at the wider trend shows a steady decline since Week 39’s USD 5,888/FEU.
Carrier schedules show the A3X peak season service with southbound departures ex Qingdao running out until early February, while Maersk’s Qilin – on which ONE is no longer taking slots – extends Shanghai-originating departures until late January.
However, TS Lines has no extra CA3 sailings listed beyond that of this month’s TS Qingdao voyage.
Xeneta’s South East Asia-Australia indices show incremental increases since China’s pivotal Week 39. At that time SEA-main ports Australia stood at USD 4,567/FEU. The index changed by 0%, 3%, 1%, 4% and 0% in successive weeks and now stands at USD 4,902/FEU. Sources say this may be attributable to continuing ‘second-leg’ demand as cargo from North Asia and Europe/Mediterranean/Middle East puts pressure on transhipment hubs and capacity.
The flow of rate and surcharge notifications has moderated considerably since our last report.
ANL will be implementing a rate restoration program from 15 November 2026 at USD 500 per 20’ dry/reefer and USD 1,000 per 40’ dry/reefer for all shipments from Asia to Australia. This increase will apply on top of current Spot/FAK rates subject to all applicable surcharges valid at the time of shipment.
On the same date ANL will be implementing a rate restoration program at USD 500 per 20’ dry and USD 1,000 per 40’ dry for all shipments from Asia/Indian Subcontinent/Middle East to New Zealand.
Also on 15 November an Overweight Surcharge (OWS) will apply to all shipments to Fremantle from North-East Asia, South-East Asia, Indian Subcontinent and Middle East. The surcharge will be USD 300/TEU.
Meanwhile, “to safeguard service stability and ensure continued access to capacity on the North-East Asia, South-East Asia, Indian Subcontinent and Middle East to Fremantle network”, ANL is applying a congestion surcharge from 1 December 2026 to 31 January 2027. “The congestion surcharge is intended to help us serve you better during this period by supporting stable vessel deployment and consistent sailing schedules on the Asia–Fremantle trade,” the carrier says.
This surcharge will be USD 300 per 20’ dry/reefer and USD 600 per 40’ dry/reefer. Parent CMA CGM will levy the same charges.
Hapag-Lloyd has advised that a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) from Asia and Oceania to Tema, Ghana, is coming into effect on 6 November. This PSS will apply to all cargo loaded on board until further notice, at USD 400/TEU. Already in place (from 3 November) is a PSS from Oceania to Durban and Cape Town, South Africa, at USD 500/TEU.
Maersk is revising the Port Additionals / Port Dues Export and Port Additionals / Port Dues Import for the scope: Tauranga, New Zealand to/from world effective from 1 December 2026 until further notice. See the carrier’s website for details. Similarly, as detailed on the website, Maersk is revising the current POI – Equipment Positioning Service – Import (Inland) surcharge to align with current market rates. The revised rates will apply to all containers moving from world via Brisbane and Sydney to Australia, effective 26 November 2026 for regulated countries and 1 November 2026 for non-regulated countries.
MSC has announced northbound bunker recovery charges applicable for December: