A new wave of sea freight price increases is coming! Freight rates for major air routes have been comprehensively increased, with the reopening or addition of new routes on the US route
Date：2025-05-30 09:44:00 View：
In June, the maritime market will usher in a comprehensive wave of price increases that will affect major shipping routes.
According to reports, the 90 day suspension of tariffs between China and the United States has stimulated a significant increase in cargo demand on the China US West route, significantly boosting the demand for trans Pacific shipping capacity. In view of this, shipping companies resumed old routes and opened new routes in June, and transferred and allocated capacity from routes with relatively low profits.
This series of measures has caused a change in the supply and demand pattern of transportation capacity on other major routes, and freight rates have also risen in line with the changes in supply and demand.
1. Shipping Company Price Increase Notice
At present, several well-known shipping companies such as MSC (Mediterranean Shipping), Maersk Line, and CMA CGM have issued notices of freight rate increases for June.
MSC (Mediterranean Shipping) Freight Adjustment Situation
MSC's freight adjustment this time involves multiple routes, including the Far East to Europe route, the Far East to sub Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean route, as well as the Far East to Mediterranean (covering the Adriatic Sea), Black Sea and North Africa routes. The following is detailed information on freight changes for the Far East to Europe route:
Starting from June 1, 2025, the new freight rates for all shipments departing from Far Eastern ports to ports in Northern Europe, the Mediterranean (including the Western Mediterranean, Eastern Mediterranean, Adriatic Sea, and North Africa), and the Black Sea will officially come into effect.
This freight standard will continue to be implemented until the company issues another notice (however, the implementation period of this standard will not exceed June 14, 2025).
Far East to Mediterranean (including Adriatic Sea), Black Sea, and North Africa routes
Starting from June 7, 2025, a Peak Season Surcharge (PSS) will be levied on all goods and commodities shipped from the Far East to the Mediterranean (including the Adriatic Sea), Black Sea, and North Africa regions, with a specific standard of $550/TEU.
This surcharge applies to all types of containers, including refrigerated goods and special equipment, and will remain in effect until further notice is issued by our company.
Far East to sub Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean routes
Starting from June 1, 2025, all goods departing from Far Eastern ports to ports in sub Saharan Africa and the Indian Ocean will be subject to new freight rates, as follows. This freight standard will remain in effect until further notice from the company (however, the implementation period will not exceed June 14, 2025).
MSK (Maersk)
Maersk's adjustments mainly include peak season surcharge PSS and heavy load surcharge.
Among them:
1. Starting from June 6, 2025, a peak season surcharge PSS will be levied from China/Hong Kong/Macau to Argentina/Brazil/Paraguay/Uruguay
$500 for a 20 foot dry box;
$1000 for 20 foot refrigerated containers, 40 foot and 40 foot high containers, and refrigerated containers.
2. Starting from June 5, 2025, adjust the peak season surcharge PSS from China/Hong Kong, etc. to the United Arab Emirates/Bahrain/Iraq/Jordan/Kuwait/Oman/Qatar/Saudi Arabia: $600 for all types of containers.
3. Starting from June 1, 2025, a levy of $500 will be imposed on all types of containers from East/South China, Hong Kong, China, etc. to Pakistan; A peak season surcharge PSS of $200 is applicable for all types of containers to the Middle East and South Asia.
4. Starting from June 6, 2025, a peak season surcharge PSS will be levied from the Far East to Central America and the Caribbean/South America West Coast:
$1000 for a 20 foot standard container;
$2000 for 40 foot and 40 foot high cabinets.
(The peak season surcharge to Cuba is calculated separately from the effective date.)
5. Starting from June 5, 2025, a heavy load surcharge will be implemented from Far East Asia to the west coast of South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The specific fee is $400 per 20 foot dry container for loads greater than 20 tons (metric tons), but the implementation date varies in different regions.
CMA CGM (Dafei)
1. Starting from June 1, 2025, a peak season surcharge of PSS $400/TEU will be levied from the Far East to West Africa; Starting from June 7th, 2025, a peak season surcharge of PSS 800 USD/TEU will be levied.
2. From the Far East to South Africa, the previous announcement has been cancelled, and the latest announcement is: from June 1, 2025, a peak season surcharge PSS of $250/TEU will be levied.
3. Starting from June 1, 2025, the new FAK rates will be adopted for Asia to Northern Europe until further notice (but not exceeding June 15, 2025).
New FAK rates:
20 foot standard container costs $1750;
40 foot standard container/high container/refrigerated container costs $3100.
4. From Asia to the Mediterranean and North Africa, the new FAK rates will apply from June 1st to June 14th, 2025; Starting from June 7th, 2025, a peak season surcharge will be levied.
Peak season surcharge PSS:
$500 for a 20 foot standard container;
$1000 for 40 foot and 40 foot high cabinets.
New FAK rates:
2. Restarting the US route and adding new routes
In terms of restoring transportation capacity on the US route, according to relevant news, multiple shipping companies have taken actions to restart or add trans Pacific route services.
Specifically, the Empire/Zim North Star (ZNS) route jointly operated by MSC (Mediterranean Shipping) and ZIM (Yixing Shipping), as well as ZIM's ZX2 route, have resumed operations after a 6-week suspension; China United Shipping Company Limited (CUL) also plans to officially open the Trans Pacific West Coast Route 1 (TP1) from June 7, 2025.
In addition, the Gemini Alliance formed by Maersk and Hapag Lloyd recently announced the addition of a trans Pacific express service to the western United States - the TP9/WC6 route. The first flight of this route will depart from Xiamen on June 24th, with TP9 being the route label under Maersk and WC6 being the route label under Hapag Lloyd.
