Skip to content
Seven Colorsourcing.center by Seven Color Trading Co Ltd · China

China desk · sourcing news

Brief

Asia-US box rates near Covid peaks: USWC $7,960 / USEC $11,259 FEU; Oct push before Golden Week

FreightWaves (18 Sep 2026), citing Xeneta data as of 17 September, reports Far East to US West Coast spot rates at $7,960 per FEU and Far East to US East Coast at $11,259 per FEU. Those levels are about 18% and 11% below Covid-era highs ($9,699 and $12,683 FEU) and more than quadruple since late February before the Hormuz disruption. Xeneta expects one more carrier rate push in early October as shippers rush cargo ahead of China's Golden Week factory slowdown, while offered East Coast capacity i

FreightWaves reported on 18 September 2026 that Xeneta spot averages as of 17 September put Far East-US West Coast at $7,960 per FEU and Far East-US East Coast at $11,259 per FEU. Xeneta chief analyst Peter Sand said those trades are up about 324% and 325% since the pre-Hormuz baseline at end-February, leaving them roughly 18% and 11% short of the Covid peaks set in early 2022.

Sand said rising bunker costs could lift fuel surcharges further and that if a new all-time high prints, the East Coast lane is the likelier candidate. Carriers have already added Far East-US East Coast capacity: Xeneta puts September offered capacity 6% to 7% above August as lines try to monetize the hot market before a possible turn in two to three weeks.

Xeneta still expects one more early-October rate push as exporters pull cargo forward ahead of Golden Week shutdowns, after which the pace of increases may slow even if absolute rates stay elevated. Parallel Xeneta lane prints in the same report show Far East-North Europe at $4,103 FEU (+84.9% since 28 Feb) and Far East-Mediterranean at $4,434 FEU (+33.2%), underscoring that the sharpest pressure remains on Asia-US trades.

Source: FreightWaves / Xeneta

Topics

  • logistics
  • freight-rates
  • transpacific
  • golden-week
  • xeneta
  • procurement

All news

Xeneta: Far East–USWC spot $8,346 / USEC $11,523; post-Hormuz peak called as Golden Week starts

Xeneta’s 2 October 2026 weekly update (Peter Sand) says Far East–US spot rates ticked up again on 1 October—US West Coast to US$8,346/FEU (+1.4%) and US East Coast to US$11,523 (+0.7%)—but with confidence that the post-Hormuz crisis peak for 2026 has been reached. Asia port congestion is easing as typhoon season winds down, while China’s Golden Week (1–7 Oct) lowers near-term exports. Far East–North Europe fell 2.1% to US$3,726 and Mediterranean 4.6% to US$4,105. Sand expects a gradual decline,

Drewry WCI: composite $4,434 (−1%); Shanghai–NY $10,428, LA flat $7,835; Asia–Europe soft 12 weeks

Drewry’s World Container Index assessment for 1 October 2026 put the composite at US$4,434 per 40ft (−1% week on week) as China’s Golden Week began. Shanghai–New York rose 1% to US$10,428/40ft while Shanghai–Los Angeles held at US$7,835. Asia–Europe kept softening for a 12th week: Shanghai–Rotterdam US$3,399 (−2%) and Shanghai–Genoa US$3,702 (−3%). Drewry noted fewer blanks next week on both trades, rising Suez transits adding Asia–Europe capacity, and carrier attempts at higher mid-to-late Octo

Commercial Times: SCFI falls 0.66% to 3,662.3 (second weekly drop); US lanes firm, Europe soft

Commercial Times (1 Oct 2026) reports the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) fell 24.32 points on 30 Sep to 3,662.3 (-0.66%), a second straight weekly decline as China's National Day holiday begins. Shanghai-US West Coast rose 1.54% to $7,578/FEU and US East Coast 0.3% to $10,528/FEU, while Shanghai-Europe fell 4.76% to $3,378 and Mediterranean 3.7% to $3,771. Carriers paused late-September China GRI plans after USEC quotes above $10,000/FEU drew official scrutiny; market USEC levels we

Xeneta: FE–USWC $8,255 / USEC $11,445 FEU; early October may end the rise

Xeneta's 24 September weekly update puts Far East–US West Coast spot at $8,255 per FEU and Far East–US East Coast at $11,445—up 18% and 31% respectively since 1 July. Chief analyst Peter Sand says the rising trend may begin to end in the first half of October after a pre-Golden Week push, while Far East–N Europe and Mediterranean spots remain sharply lower since July.

Dated desk notes, not a news feed Updates.

Need the factory-floor read on a story?

The China desk can map a cited development to your SKU, QC, and lane, from Xiamen, with Dubai 3PL when the stock needs a hub.

Get a quote in 24hWhatsAppI have a new product idea
  • D&B registered
  • Xiamen + Dubai hubs
  • Fast WhatsApp response
  • Factory network
WhatsAppAsia-US box rates near Covid peaks: USWC $7,960 / USEC $11,2