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Posted by Dale Crisp
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15 June, 2026
WHILE China-Australia container rates again rose for Week 24 — this time by another 6% — South East Asia freights also lifted by 6%, after literally months in the doldrums.
Shanghai Containerized Freight Index’s mean spot rates for imports from China hit USD3,148/FEU for Shanghai-Sydney, the first time the three thousand level has been cracked this year and, indeed, the highest since Week 47, 2025.
According to Xeneta the greatest prior increase in South East Asia-Australia rates this year was 7% in Week 7 and that took applicable rate to USD1,788/FEU. Yet this week’s ‘boost’ actually took the level to only USD1,779/FEU, thus actually below the previous high point!
As has been noted previously, myriad rate rises, rate recoveries and peak season surcharge announcements almost monthly have hardly moved the needle — and one carrier told DCN the Xeneta index rise this week was “inexplicable and interesting”, noting there appeared to have been no change in fundamentals.
Meanwhile, those advisories keep on coming from the usual suspects and this week include a rare peak season surcharge from Ocean Network Express.
1 July is the next key date for infliction of further pain on shippers if, of course, the increases stick.
ANL will kick off with a rate restoration of USD 500/TEU dry & reefer, USD 1,000/FEU dry & reefer for all shipments from North & East Asia to Australia.
On the same date ANL will apply a rate restoration of USD 300/TEU dry & reefer and USD 600/FEU dry/reefer for all shipments from South East Asia, Indian Sub-Continent & Middle East to Australia.
Also, ANL will be implementing a rate restoration program from 1H July 2026 at USD 200/TEU dry & USD 400/FEU dry for all shipments from Asia/Indian Subcontinent/Middle East to New Zealand.
ANL will also be implementing a general rate increase for all shipments from North East Asia, South East Asia, Indian Subcontinent, Middle East and Gulf to Fiji, commencing 1 July, of USD300/TEU, dry & reefer; USD 600/FEU dry & reefer.
A week later, 8 July, ANL will introduce a peak season surcharge of USD 500/TEU dry & reefer, USD 1,000/FEU dry & reefer for all shipments from North East Asia, South East Asia, Indian Sub-continent & Middle East to Australia and on 15 July a peak season surcharge of USD 350/TEU dry & reefer, USD 700/FEU dry & reefer for all shipments from North East Asia, South East Asia, Indian Sub-continent & Middle East to New Zealand.
COSCO Shipping will be seeking a rate restoration of USD 500/TEU and USD 1,000/FEU for all shipments from South East Asia to all points and ports in Australia; simultaneously the same quantum rate restoration will apply to all shipments from North & East Asia on 1 July.
On 15 July Hapag-Lloyd will bring into effect a peak season surcharge of USD 500 for all container types shipped from the Far East, Indian Sub-Continent, Red Sea and Middle East to Australia.
MSC advises that a 1 July rate restoration will be implemented on all cargo moving from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia to Australia per below:
- USD 500/TEU from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan and Korea to Australia.
- USD 300/TEUfrom Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia to Australia.
Separately, MSC has again revised its 1 July peak season surcharge applicable for all cargo moving from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Philippines and Indonesia to Australia, this time downward from USD 800/TEU to USD 500/TEU.
On 10 July ONE (Ocean Network Express) will implement a peak season surcharge of USD 450/TEU dry & reefer and USD 900/FEU dry and reefer on all cargo from Asia, India Sub-Continent and Middle East to Australia.
Elsewhere, in a rather frank admission, Norway’s Höegh Autoliners noted, in reporting latest results, that May delivered within expectations, with continued disruptions related to Middle East-bound volumes and strong demand from Asia.
“The increase in gross rates largely reflects one-off surcharges covering additional voyage and handling costs associated with rerouted cargo following the Middle East disruption,” the company said.
