Finance & BusinessWorld News & Politics

Trans-Pacific Shipping Costs Down 7%, But Tariffs May Disrupt Trade

24
Trans-Pacific Shipping Costs Down 7%, But Tariffs May Disrupt Trade

Trans-Pacific shipping rates declined as Chinese factories slowed operations for the Lunar New Year.

  • Asia-U.S. West Coast rates fell 7% to $4,938 per 40-foot container (FEU) last week.
  • Asia-U.S. East Coast rates dropped 1% to $6,656 per FEU.

Asia’s factories and logistics networks shut down for 15 days during the holiday, reducing shipping demand.

However, rates remain more than double their 2019 levels due to ongoing Red Sea shipping disruptions.

Tariff Fears May Cause Import Surge

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico starting Feb. 1.

  • Shippers may rush to import goods before the tariffs take effect.
  • This could temporarily push ocean freight volumes and prices higher.
  • If tariffs happen, demand could drop in later months.

Trump has also suggested using tariffs for non-trade-related issues, such as a recent dispute with Colombia over deportations.

Red Sea Crisis Keeps Rates High

The Red Sea conflict continues to disrupt global shipping, forcing companies to take longer, costlier routes.

  • Freight prices from Asia to North Europe fell 12% to $4,122 per FEU.
  • Asia-Mediterranean rates dropped 4% to $5,075 per FEU.
  • Most shipping companies are avoiding the Red Sea, despite a temporary ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Only French carrier CMA CGM continues to use the Suez Canal for its Shanghai-Beirut service.

New Shipping Alliances Could Impact Rates

In February, major ocean carriers will launch new alliances to improve efficiency.

  • Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd’s “Gemini” alliance promises 90% schedule reliability.
  • Global schedule reliability in December was only 53.8%.
  • The average delay for late vessels dropped to 5.28 days, the lowest since July 2024.

These changes could stabilize shipping prices, but Trump’s tariffs may create uncertainty in global trade.

Written by
Saif Kabir

I've always been passionate about tech, gadgets, and anime, which is why I started writing blogs. In my free time, I dive into graphic design and explore the latest trends in technology, sharing insights with fellow tech enthusiasts.

Related Articles

Smoking Ban Sign
World News & Politics

France to Ban Smoking in Public Places from July 1st to Protect Children

Starting July 1st, 2025, France will ban smoking in public areas where...

Xi Mingze, Daughter of Xi Jinping
World News & Politics

MAGA Activist Demands Deportation of Xi Jinping’s Daughter, Claims She’s in U.S. Without Proof

Far-right activist Laura Loomer has publicly called for the deportation of Xi...

Elon Musk & Donald Trump
World News & Politics

Elon Musk Quits Trump Admin With One Final Message

Elon Musk has officially resigned from his government role under Donald Trump,...

Trump 1
World News & Politics

Trump Fires Back After Elon Musk Criticizes ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’

President Donald Trump responded publicly after Elon Musk criticized his administration’s spending...