THE CHINA-Australia Shanghai Containerised Freight Index showed a mysterious recovery this week, with the Shanghai-Sydney median rising 12% to USD 1,390/FEU after three consecutive weeks of decline.
“Rates are all over the place at the moment,” one line commented, which was borne out by offers DCN received from a Chinese forwarder of USD 1,200/FEU to Brisbane/Sydney/Melbourne from Ningbo/Shanghai and USD 1,350/FEU to Port Adelaide.
In the South East Asia-Australia trade Xeneta’s mean rate to Australian main ports was USD 1,658/FEU for Week 14, up a whole four dollars on last week.
Some sources have suggested the moderate recovery China-Australia may be in response to the appearance (or non-appearance) of additional blanked voyages, with MSC’s Wallaby blanking one early April, Panda an April/May, and Kangaroo an early April and another two weeks later.
CAT is blanking Week 16, CA2 has two blankings in April, and NAX/NEAX in Weeks 13 And 20. A3C has a late April blanking ahead of two withdrawals for scheduled drydockings and A3S lost a late March sailing for the same reason.
Meanwhile, rates from Asia may have actually held up better than they have any right too, with Alphaliner analysing that the Far East-Oceania trade has seen a significant capacity expansion over the past twelve months.
The consultancy found total deployed slots — on a trade group defined as Northeast Asia and South East Asia to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific — increasing by about 84,000 TEU or 12% to reach 811,141 TEU as of 16 March 2026. This is double the global liner fleet growth of about 6% registered during the same period, Alphaliner calculated.
“MSC recorded both the largest nominal and proportional increase in deployed tonnage over the past year, adding 29,478 TEU, a 40% surge compared to its 2025 capacity. This expansion, which brings MSC’s total slots in the route to 102,837 TEU, was primarily fuelled by the introduction of the dedicated China Australia ‘Kangaroo’ service, utilising five 2,500–8,000 TEU units, and the extension of the China-Indonesia-Australia ‘Koala’ loop, which added a 4,000 TEU vessel.
“These moves solidify MSC’s fourth place, with more than double the deployed capacity of ONE (47,215 TEU) in fifth. CMA CGM recorded the second-largest capacity growth of 23,000 TEU (21%). This shift resulted in a rank reversal as the French carrier climbed to second place, narrowly overtaking Maersk. In mid-March, the Danish operator slipped one spot with 131,693 TEU, while CMA CGM expanded its footprint to 133,383 TEU."
China’s COSCO Group (including COSCO SHIPPING Lines and OOCL) continues to top the list with over 182,000 TEU in operated slots as of mid-March this year, Alpahliner said. ZIM showed the only real decline.
Swire Shipping continues to dominate regional trades.
In conclusions that will come as no surprise to local shippers Alphaliner found mainline operators clearly dominate the Far East-Oceania trade, controlling roughly 91% of all deployed slots.
The capacity share is also highly concentrated at the top, where the four leading lines (COSCO, CMA CGM, Maersk, and MSC) now hold 68% of the entire trade capacity, an uptick from 65% last year. In terms of ship count, they also lead the pack with a combined 120 vessels out of a total 207 currently active on the route, Alphaliner outlined in its weekly newsletter (Shipping Newsletters by Alphaliner).
In a rates and charges update ANL-CMA CGM’s Dampier port - Export & Import terminal handing charges will be revised effective from 15 April 2026 for all brands.
On the same day ANL will be implementing a rate restoration program at USD300 per 20’ dry/reefer & USD600 per 40’ dry/reefer for all shipment from Asia/Indian Subcontinent/Middle East to Australia & New Zealand. This increase will apply on top of current Spot/FAK rates subject to all applicable surcharges valid on time of shipment.
Also on 15 April COSCO SHIPPING Lines will activate a RR from Northeast Asia to all ports and points in Australia of USD 300/TEU, USD 600/FEU, and the same will be applicable to all southbound shipments from Southeast Asia to all ports and points in Australia.
COSCO has also announced ‘adjustments’ to rail freight rates between Adelaide and Melbourne, effective yesterday [1 April]: Adelaide-Melbourne $2,150/TEU, $2,950/FEU while Melbourne-Adelaide is $1,600/TEU and $1,950/FEU.