OCEAN FREIGHT RATES WEEK 33/2026: NORTH AMERICA UP, EUROPE DOWN

The Asia–North America trade lane continued to experience upward rate pressure, while the Asia–Europe route began to cool. At the same time, global supply chains remained under pressure from port backlogs in China following Typhoon Dolphin, potential changes in Panama Canal operating conditions, low water levels on the Rhine River, and evolving U.S. tariff and customs policies.

For importers and exporters, these developments highlight the importance of proactive ocean freight planning, booking management, route optimization, and logistics cost control.

Ocean Freight Rates – Week 33/2026

The following table summarizes the key ocean freight rates for Week 33/2026:

Shipping Route	Rate	Vs. Previous Week	Vs. Previous Month
Asia – North America West Coast	$6,986/FEU	+0.53%	+1.61%
Asia – Europe	$4,832/FEU	-0.21%	-10.83%
North America West Coast – Asia	$694/FEU	+1.61%	-0.14%
Northern Europe – Asia	$261/FEU	-0.76%	-7.45%
Global WCI	$4,339/FEU	+0.98%	—

Overall, the international container shipping market is showing a clear divergence. While the Asia–North America corridor is entering a new upward rate cycle, the Asia–Europe market is gradually moving away from the high freight levels seen earlier in the summer.

1. Asia–North America Ocean Freight Rates Continue to Rise

High Demand and Near-Maximum Operating Capacity

The ongoing peak season continues to support strong demand for container transportation. Shipping lines are currently operating at near-maximum capacity across the Asia–North America trade lane.

Cargo volumes remained high throughout August, while early market indicators suggest that demand could remain stable into early September.

However, supply chain operations continue to face disruptions at several Chinese port clusters following Typhoon Dolphin. Temporary port closures created cargo backlogs and contributed to delays in vessel schedules.

To clear accumulated cargo, shipping lines are expected to continue making flexible schedule adjustments. Additional sailings to the U.S. West Coast (USWC) in late August and early September are also expected to support the recovery of port operations and reduce backlogs.

Asia–U.S. West Coast Freight Rates Increase

In Week 33/2026, ocean freight rates from Asia to the U.S. West Coast increased 0.53% week-on-week, reaching $6,986 per FEU. The rate was also 1.61% higher than the previous month.

After declining during the second half of July, spot freight rates reversed direction from August 1 and have continued to move upward.

Meanwhile, freight rates on the Asia–U.S. East Coast route have reached their highest level of the year, while the Asia–U.S. West Coast route has also recorded significant increases.

Panama Canal Remains a Key Risk Factor

In addition to port congestion in China, the Panama Canal remains an important factor for businesses shipping to North America.

According to hydrological forecasts, water levels in the Panama Canal may continue to decline in September. Some carriers have already started increasing their Panama Canal Surcharge.

If this trend continues, available capacity on services to the U.S. East Coast (USEC) and U.S. Gulf could come under additional pressure.

For businesses with shipments to these destinations, monitoring vessel schedules, surcharges, available capacity, and alternative routing options will be increasingly important.

2. Asia–Europe Ocean Freight Rates Begin to Cool

In contrast to the North America trade lane, Asia–Europe ocean freight rates continued to decline in Week 33/2026.

Freight rates from Asia to Europe fell 0.21% week-on-week to $4,832 per FEU. Compared with the previous month, the rate was down 10.83%.

Although carriers continue to operate at near-maximum capacity and vessels are still being rerouted via the Cape of Good Hope, spot rates on the Asia–Europe route have started to ease.

This suggests that the Asia–Europe freight market is gradually moving away from the elevated rate levels seen following the sharp increases earlier in the summer.

Rhine River Water Levels Put Pressure on European Inland Logistics

At the destination end, prolonged drought has caused Rhine River water levels to decline, limiting barge operations at critical points such as Kaub.

Inland waterway vessels are being forced to operate with restricted loads. This can result in low-water surcharges and increase pressure on road and rail networks as some container volumes shift to alternative transport modes.

For businesses with cargo moving deep into continental Europe, early planning of road and rail capacity can help reduce exposure to disruptions in inland waterway transportation.

3. Backhaul Ocean Freight Rates

While the main eastbound trade lanes are seeing divergent trends, backhaul freight rates are also moving in different directions.

North America West Coast – Asia

Freight rates from the North America West Coast to Asia increased 1.61% week-on-week, reaching $694 per FEU.

However, the rate remained 0.14% lower than the previous month.

Northern Europe – Asia

On the Northern Europe–Asia route, freight rates declined 0.76% compared with the previous week, reaching $261 per FEU.

Compared with the previous month, the rate was down 7.45%.

The contrasting movements across these routes demonstrate that international ocean freight rates continue to be influenced by the specific supply-demand balance, operating capacity, and market conditions of each trade corridor.

4. U.S. Tariff and Customs Policy Updates

In addition to changes in container freight rates, importers and exporters should closely monitor developments in U.S. tariffs and customs regulations.

These policy changes can directly affect import costs, customs compliance requirements, and the overall landed cost of goods.

Section 232 Tariffs on Polysilicon Move to MIP Mechanism

According to the latest update, effective December 4, 2026, polysilicon and related derivative products will be subject to Section 232 tariffs under a Minimum Import Price (MIP) mechanism rather than a fixed tariff rate.

The current price floors are:

• $21/kg for raw silicon.
• $100/kg for wafers and ingots.
• $0.22/watt for photovoltaic cells.
• $0.38/watt for solar modules.

Importers may reduce tax liabilities arising from the price difference through a self-certification process accompanied by an affidavit, subject to review by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

An additional tariff of up to 15% based on product origin is also referenced in the update. Businesses importing solar equipment should therefore assess the potential impact on landed costs and overall import expenses.

Potential Tariffs of Up to 100% on Russian Energy Imports

A bill under consideration in the U.S. Senate could give the President authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on economies that continue importing oil and gas from Russia.

The proposed measure could affect major energy-consuming economies, including India, China, Türkiye, and the European Union.

Businesses with supply chains connected to these markets should proactively assess potential tariff exposure and review the origin of raw materials used across their supply chains.

IEEPA Duty Refunds Require Continued Monitoring

The U.S. government continues to take a cautious position regarding the Court of International Trade (CIT) ruling on IEEPA duty refunds for entries that have already been liquidated.

Until further official guidance is issued, importers should not assume that eligible duties will be refunded automatically. Businesses should monitor guidance from U.S. authorities and review the applicable statutes of limitations for individual cases.

MPF Adjustment Effective October 1, 2026

Starting with the new fiscal year on October 1, 2026, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will adjust the Merchandise Processing Fee (MPF) for inflation.

The minimum fee will increase from $33.58 to $34.58, while the maximum fee will rise from $651.50 to $670.86.

Importers should incorporate the updated MPF levels into their cost and cash-flow planning for the new fiscal year.

Mandatory 2FA for ACE Users

Beginning in September, users of the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) system, including customs brokers and importers, will be required to establish two-factor authentication (2FA).

Businesses should coordinate with their customs brokers to complete the setup and reduce the risk of disruptions in customs data transmission.

5. How Should Importers and Exporters Prepare?

With ocean freight rates, vessel schedules, port operations, and trade policies continuing to change, businesses should take a proactive approach to logistics planning rather than focusing solely on the current booking rate.

Allow Additional Time for Shipments from Shanghai and Ningbo

For shipments scheduled to depart from Shanghai and Ningbo over the next 2–3 weeks, shippers should build additional time buffers into their cargo readiness schedules.

This can provide greater flexibility in dealing with potential vessel delays and port backlogs.

Evaluate Alternative Routes to North America

For shipments bound for the U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico, businesses should evaluate alternative routing options if operating conditions at the Panama Canal remain unfavorable.

One option is to route cargo through U.S. West Coast port clusters and then combine ocean transportation with inland rail transport (IPI). This approach can provide greater flexibility in managing transit times and logistics costs.

Proactively Manage Inland European Transportation

For shipments destined for inland Europe, businesses should assess road and rail capacity early and consider securing transport capacity in advance when necessary.

This can reduce dependence on inland waterways and help mitigate the impact of low water levels on the Rhine River.

Manage Customs Compliance and Landed Cost Risks

Importers of solar equipment should proactively model potential costs under the Minimum Import Price (MIP) mechanism and prepare the required self-certification and affidavit procedures where applicable.

Businesses should also review their Tier 2 and Tier 3 supply chains, particularly raw material sources connected to China and India, to better understand potential exposure to future tariff measures.

6. Conclusion

The ocean freight market in Week 33/2026 is entering a period of clear divergence across major trade lanes.

The Drewry WCI reached $4,339 per FEU, representing a 0.98% week-on-week increase. The Asia–North America route continues to face upward price pressure, with rates to the U.S. West Coast reaching $6,986 per FEU, while rates on the Asia–Europe route declined to $4,832 per FEU.

In the short term, businesses should closely monitor port backlogs in China following Typhoon Dolphin, Panama Canal conditions, Rhine River water levels, vessel schedules, and U.S. tariff and customs policies.

For importers and exporters, proactive booking, adequate time buffers, alternative routing, and total logistics cost management will be essential to mitigating disruption risks and maintaining supply chain stability.

Dolphin Sea Air Services Corp continues to monitor developments in the international ocean freight and logistics markets, supporting businesses in selecting suitable shipping solutions, managing logistics risks, and optimizing supply chain efficiency.

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