International Shipping and Logistics Market Update Week 31/2026 | Phaata

International shipping and logistics market update - Week 31/2026

Table of Contents

1. World Container Index Week 31/2026

2. Asia - North America Ocean Freight Rates

3. Asia - Europe Ocean Freight Rates

4. Northern America - Asia Ocean Freight Rates

5. Northern Europe - Asia Ocean Freight Rates

6. Conclusions and Recommendations by Phaata

1. World Container Index Week 31/2026

Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) for Week 31/2026 (from July 27 to August 2, 2026) decreased by 2.72% compared to the previous week, dropping to $4,255/FEU.

Drewry's World Container Index Week 31/2026 (Photo: Phaata)

2. Asia-North America Ocean Freight Rates

Supply and Demand:

Capacity Coordination: The blank sailing ratio ticked up slightly to 1.2% of total scheduled capacity, compared to 0.5% the previous week. Forward-looking sailing schedules indicate the capacity withdrawal rate may continue to climb to approximately 2.9% next week. This reflects a trend of carriers beginning to recalibrate supply following an aggressive capacity injection phase in July.

Operational Efficiency Remains High: Despite the deployment of numerous extra loaders throughout July, transport demand has remained robust. Consequently, fill rates across the majority of sailings remain high, demonstrating that the injected capacity is being efficiently absorbed by the market.

Panama Canal Continues to Constrain Supply: Amid steadily declining water levels, the Panama Canal Authority has further tightened operational restrictions, particularly concerning payload limits. In response to this development, an increasing number of carriers are levying a Panama Canal Surcharge. This not only inflates transport costs but also continues to restrict the supply of available space on routes bound for the U.S. East Coast (USEC) and the U.S. Gulf.

Rate Developments:

Ocean freight rates from Asia to the North America West Coast in Week 31/2026 decreased by 1.25% week-on-week, settling at $5,933/FEU. This rate represents a 0.27% increase month-on-month, according to Xeneta data.

Rate Baseline Enters a New Stabilization Phase: Carriers have uniformly announced the implementation of a General Rate Increase (GRI) effective August 1. Compounded by the impact of the Panama Canal Surcharge, this adjustment is forecast to help curb the downward momentum of freight rates in the short term and sustain the rate baseline at a higher plateau than the preceding period.

Stay tuned to Phaata International Logistics Marketplace for in-depth and fast market updates.

Asia-North America Freight Rates | Week 31/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

US Tariff Updates:

1. U.S. Eliminates De Minimis Exemption and Expands Enforcement Focus

• Policy Update: U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) official decision to terminate the de minimis duty-free exemption has garnered support from multiple trade associations. Meanwhile, express carriers are urging CBP to apply equivalent regulatory standards to the postal system.

• Market Data: According to CBP, prior to the new regulation taking effect, the postal channel processed approximately 8% of total parcel volume falling under the de minimis threshold.

2. Section 301 Tariffs Face New Legal Challenges

• Legal Developments: According to trade lawyers, Section 301 tariff measures currently possess a more robust legal foundation than tariffs enacted under IEEPA or Section 122, should litigation arise in court.

• New Actions: The Liberty Justice Center has officially filed a class-action lawsuit, aiming to expand the scope of the ruling to encompass all affected businesses, rather than limiting it to direct plaintiffs.

3. Russian Sanctions Bill Reaches Bipartisan Consensus

• Legislative Progress: The bipartisan group of senators sponsoring the bill—which combines Russian sanctions with secondary tariffs—announced they have reached a consensus on the core tenets of the draft legislation.

4. U.S. Trade Policy Continues to Issue Mixed Signals

• Section 301 Investigation: U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer stated that the Section 301 investigation concerning global overcapacity is entering its final stages, with conclusions expected to be published shortly.

• USMCA Agreement: Conversely, President Donald Trump indicated there are no current plans to renegotiate the USMCA agreement. This stance somewhat diverges from the USTR's earlier direction regarding strengthening enforcement mandates within the agreement's framework.

5. CBP and FDA Update Compliance Requirements CBP and the FDA continue to adjust various regulatory procedures to enhance the control of imported goods.

• Error Code System: Starting in August, CBP will implement a new set of error codes for Post Summary Correction (PSC) filings.

• Specialized Management Guidelines: CBP has updated the enforcement guidelines for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the flag enforcement table for Partner Government Agencies (PGAs).

• AD/CVD and Import Alerts: As of July 27, CBP continued to issue new notices regarding Anti-Dumping and Countervailing Duties (AD/CVD). Concurrently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expanded its Import Alerts portfolio.

6. Heightened Compliance Requirements for Select Specialized Commodities U.S. regulatory bodies are simultaneously reviewing multiple regulations, signaling the likelihood of additional compliance requirements for imported goods in the near future.

• Regulatory Reviews: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is soliciting comments on import regulations under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Simultaneously, USDA APHIS has proposed strengthening data requirements for imported meat shipments, while the FTZ Board has also issued new operational notices.

• Lithium-ion Batteries: A notable development is the CPSC's draft regulation on lithium-ion batteries, which is expected to append numerous certification and compliance requirements upon import. Businesses trading in or utilizing this product group should review their customs declaration procedures and coordinate with customs brokers to prepare for compliance once the regulations are officially enacted.

Stay tuned to articles on the Phaata International Logistics Marketplace for rapid and in-depth market updates.

3. Asia-Europe Ocean Freight Rates

Supply and Demand: 

Capacity Coordination: The blank sailing ratio this week dropped to 0%, indicating that carriers have not executed any scheduled capacity cuts. However, forward-looking data suggests the capacity withdrawal rate could climb to roughly 4% over the next two weeks. Given the highly volatile market context, these short-term forecasts should be viewed as directional indicators subject to ongoing adjustment based on actual market developments.

Volume Drivers & Maritime Risks: Underlying transport demand on the Far East - Westbound (FEWB) route remains stable. However, the most significant risk currently stems from attacks by Houthi forces targeting Saudi-linked commercial vessels over the past week. This development continues to diminish the likelihood of carriers resuming Suez Canal transits in the near future. In the short term, the Cape of Good Hope detour will remain the dominant operational routing on the FEWB corridor.

Freight Rate Developments: 

Ocean freight rates from Asia to Europe in Week 31/2026 increased by 0.71% week-on-week, settling at $5,135/FEU. This rate is up 7.25% month-on-month, according to Xeneta data.

Rate Baseline Remains Elevated: Spot rates on the FEWB route continue to anchor at the high levels established recently. Notably, this rate plateau has maintained its stability even as global container freight indices have begun to signal a correction after peaking in early July.

Stay tuned to Phaata International Logistics Marketplace for in-depth and fast market updates.

Asia-Europe Freight Rates | Week 31/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

4. North America - Asia Ocean Freight Rates

Ocean freight rates from North America (West Coast) to Asia in Week 31/2026 increased by 6.58% week-on-week, reaching $664/FEU. This rate is up 1.07% month-on-month, according to Xeneta data.

North America (West Coast) - Asia freight rates | Week 31/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

5. Northern Europe - Asia Ocean Freight Rates

Ocean freight rates from North Europe to Asia in Week 31/2026 increased by 2.21% week-on-week, settling at $278/FEU. This rate is up 6.92% month-on-month, per Xeneta data.

Container Freight rates from Northern Europe to Asia | Week 31/2026 (Photo: Phaata.com)

6. Conclusion and Recommendations from Phaata

In Week 31/2026, the global container shipping market indicated a significant deceleration in the downward momentum of spot rates. Drewry's composite WCI index fell 2.72% to $4,255/FEU. Meanwhile, freight rates on the Asia - Europe route reversed course with a slight 0.71% increase, reflecting a rate baseline that is gradually stabilizing following a corrective phase. Market dynamics in early August highlight three notable trends:

Capacity well-absorbed, costs sustained by surcharges: Although carriers continuously deployed extra loaders throughout July, fill rates across most sailings remain high. Furthermore, the implementation of a General Rate Increase (GRI) effective August 1, coupled with the Panama Canal Surcharge, is curbing the rate decline and sustaining the transport cost baseline at elevated levels in the short term.

Space pressured by technical and geopolitical factors: Forecast data points to a rising trend in blank sailings over the coming weeks, projected to reach roughly 2.9% on the Trans-Pacific and 4.0% on the FEWB routes. Additionally, the Panama Canal's continued tightening of payload limits, combined with prolonged security risks in the Red Sea, limits the prospect of a full Suez Canal restoration in the near term. Consequently, the Cape of Good Hope detour remains the primary operational routing for many carriers.

Compliance risk taking center stage: New measures by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)—including the termination of the de minimis exemption, the deployment of new PSC error codes, and heightened scrutiny on lithium-ion batteries—signal a sharp pivot in regulatory focus toward customs compliance. For import-export businesses, compliance capabilities will increasingly exert a direct impact on supply chain operational efficiency and costs.

Recommendations from Phaata

Optimize Booking Plans and Freight Management

In anticipation of potential space constriction due to rising blank sailing ratios, businesses should maintain booking lead times of 4–6 weeks in advance, particularly for shipments destined for the U.S. East Coast (USEC), U.S. Gulf, and West Europe.

Concurrently, businesses must accelerate the adoption of digital logistics exchange platforms to monitor freight rates and surcharges in real-time. Enhancing the ability to update and benchmark pricing will optimize costs and increase proactivity when negotiating with carriers and logistics service providers.

Enhance Customs Compliance and Cost Control

Audit Specialized Documentation: Businesses exporting lithium-ion batteries, meat products, and agricultural goods to the U.S. must collaborate closely with customs brokers to audit documentation against CPSC, FDA, and USDA APHIS requirements, thereby minimizing the risk of cargo detention or prolonged customs clearance.

Proactively Assess Tariff Impacts: With secondary tariff bills and Section 301 investigations advancing, businesses with supply chains tied to China and India should promptly formulate cost scenarios. Advanced preparation will empower businesses to be more proactive in budget planning, commercial negotiations, and risk management in the period ahead.

For U.S. East Coast Routes: Businesses may consider reallocating a portion of their volume to U.S. West Coast (USWC) ports, subsequently utilizing Inland Point Intermodal (IPI) rail transport. This strategy alleviates pressure from payload restrictions via the Panama Canal and allows for better overall control of logistics costs.

Supply Chain Operations Management

For Europe Routes: Continue building transport plans predicated on the Cape of Good Hope routing, while factoring a 7–10 day buffer into delivery schedules to mitigate risks arising from prolonged transit times and stagnant schedule reliability.

Stay tuned to articles on Phaata.com or Phaata fanpage for rapid and in-depth market updates.

Find Freight Rates Here
 
Find Logistics Companies Here

See more:

• COSCO schedules: Vietnam - North America in Aug 2026
• SITC updates Vietnam-Intra Asia sailing schedules in Aug 2026
• COSCO Invests USD 1.1 Billion in 15 New Newcastlemax Bulk Carriers
• MSC Merges West Africa and Red Sea Services to Optimize Network Operations
• CMA CGM Revises FAK Rates on Three Key Trade Lanes Effective Mid-August 2026
• Tanker Freight Rates Face Sharp Upside Risk as Security Threats Escalate in the Red Sea and the Gulf
• SITC Restructures China–Vietnam–Malaysia Service Network
• Panama Canal Expands Preventive Maintenance Program to Enhance Reliability and Increase Capacity
• Maersk Revises Emergency Contingency Surcharge (ECS) for Shipments via Oman and UAE Transshipment Hubs
• ONE Adjusts Emergency Fuel Surcharge Across Its Global Network

Source: Phaata -  Where Shippers & Logistics Providers Connect

► Find Better Freight Rates & Logistics Service Providers!