 Trans-Pacific container rates rise, but there? a catch |
Source |
American Shipper |
Post Date |
04/30/2026 |
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Fuel main concern as Iran war yet to hit global box operations
While the Strait of Hormuz remains a cynosure for global shipping, container rates on the benchmark Asia-U.S. trade lane continue their gradual rise.
?hile the broader container market remains unaffected operationally by events surrounding the Iran war, fuel costs are still the main concern,?
British security monitor UKMTO on Monday said it had received 33 reports of incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. U.S. forces on Sunday fired on and disabled an Iranian container ship after it violated the blockade. Researcher Linerlytica reported that six MSC containerships made it through the strait Saturday after turning off their identification tem. However, a number of CMA CGM vessels were turned back by Iranian forces, and an estimated 270,000 TEUs of capacity remain trapped in the Gulf.
Fuel and other surges have put upward pressure on rates during the March-April lull ahead of summer peak season. ?ut carriers have so far mostly not succeeded in pushing rates up to the full announced surge or general rate increase levels,?Levine said.
?arring a significant spike in fuel prices or an actual shortage in fuel supply and availability, rate behavior since the start of the war may indicate that the chances of significant spot rate increases are slim until peak season,?he wrote. ?nd in the background is the possibility that the war and its impact on inflation rates could damp consumer demand and peak season container volumes with it.?
The Mideast hostilities have pushed up bunker fuel prices by 55% pre-war, but those have retreated 9% since the ning of April. Reports of fuel shortages may have been overstated, ?nd in general terms there is still enough supply in the Far East ?for now.?
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