Shipping Weekly

A weekly roundup of the top 10 container carriers and ocean freight rate movements, written for exporters and forwarders shipping out of Japan.

2026.11.05 Shipping Weekly – 5 Nov 2026 | All but ZIM Head for Suez, Southwest Africa PSS Covers Japan
In the week of 29 October to 5 November 2026, the timetable for almost every major carrier's return to Suez on Asia–Europe fell into place. The Loadstar reported that ZIM is set to be the only major carrier still routing…
2026.10.29 Shipping Weekly – 29 Oct 2026 | Yang Ming and Evergreen Head for Suez, South Africa PSS Names Japan
In the week of 22–29 October 2026, the last carriers still routing around the Cape began moving back to Suez. According to Taiwanese press reports, Yang Ming will return its Asia–Mediterranean MD1 service to two-way Suez routing from 10 November…
2026.10.22 Shipping Weekly – 22 Oct 2026 | West Africa via Mediterranean Hubs, PSS Spreads to East Africa
The week of 16–22 October 2026 was defined by carriers converging on the Strait of Gibraltar transshipment hubs. Maersk rebuilt its West Africa network around Algeciras and Tanger Med (from the third week of December), launching WAF1 as a dedicated…
2026.10.16 Shipping Weekly – 16 Oct 2026 | Rates Rebound After 13 Weeks, a Container Ship Sinks in Hormuz
In the week of 9–16 October 2026, the 13-week decline in Asia-Europe rates came to a stop. The Drewry World Container Index published on 15 October rose 3% to $4,485, with Shanghai-Rotterdam up 6% to $3,522. Carriers are attempting FAK…
2026.10.09 Shipping Weekly – 9 Oct 2026 | Westbound Suez Happens, and Premier Alliance Folds
In the week of 1–9 October 2026, the westbound Suez transit that last week's issue flagged as "scheduled for 4 October" actually happened. COSCO/OOCL's 24,200 TEU OOCL Spain transited the canal westbound on 4 October on the AEU1/LL1 service (FAL5…
2026.10.01 Shipping Weekly – 1 Oct 2026 | The Westbound Suez Switch Finally Has a Date
The week of 24 September to 1 October 2026 gave a date to the one thing we said last week would really matter: the westbound switch. COSCO and OOCL have finished moving ten eastbound sailings through Suez since mid-September, and…
2026.09.24 Shipping Weekly – 24 Sep 2026 | The Suez Return Splits by Direction
In the week of 17 to 24 September 2026, the Ocean Alliance finally moved. On 16 September the 24,188 teu OOCL Portugal transited the Suez Canal southbound, the first southbound passage by COSCO Shipping Lines since the Red Sea crisis…
2026.09.17 Shipping Weekly – 17 Sep 2026 | Alliances Split on Suez
The week of 10 to 17 September 2026 was the week the alliances split on the Red Sea. On 14 September the Gemini Cooperation (Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd) said it would move four more services off the Cape of Good Hope…
2026.09.10 Shipping Weekly – 10 Sep 2026 | Suez Recovery Hits 30%
The week of 3 to 10 September 2026 was when the Red Sea and Suez recovery moved from announcements to measurable numbers. Maersk disclosed that it has already shifted more than 30% of its Cape-routed volumes back through Suez, making…
2026.09.03 Shipping Weekly – 3 Sep 2026 | Container Rates & Carrier Moves
The week of 27 August to 3 September 2026 combined three things: container spot rates falling for a third straight week, West Africa surcharges widening beyond reefer cargo, and Hapag-Lloyd's bid for ZIM running into regulatory resistance. Drewry's World Container…