Tradlinx published on 28 September 2026 an October Transpacific risk note using Freightos Baltic and its own Port Congestion Index (data through 20 September). China-US West Coast spot was $8,446 per FEU on 23 September, nearly double the 12-month average of $4,381. China-Mediterranean fell to $3,591 per FEU, less than half its July peak, even as SONAR bookings from Shanghai, Ningbo, and Yantian into major Med ports rose 38% year on year. Carriers rejected 8.3% of West Coast bookings versus 10.1% a year earlier, which Tradlinx reads as space rationed by price. Nine blank sailings were announced in a single week ahead of Golden Week (1-7 October).
At Chinese hubs, Shenzhen (four terminals) two-week average pre-berth wait was 11.5 hours, down 8.8 hours versus the prior period, with the last three days at 8.7 hours. Yantian's last-three-day wait fell to 12.4 hours from a one-month average of 31.3. Qingdao and Tianjin moved toward low waits. Shanghai stayed busy at 8.8 hours two-week average, rising to 12.2 hours over the last three days. Ningbo moved into congested at 10.7 hours (+3.6 hours).
On the US West Coast, Los Angeles and Long Beach two-week averages were 9.7 hours (up 24%), while last-three-day waits hit 18.6 hours. Vancouver and Tacoma did not show the same short-window spike. SONAR shows China-West Coast bookings up about 50% year on year, with most growth into Long Beach. August rail-bound imports at the two ports already spent 6.75 days at terminal before moving inland. Tradlinx advises berth-adjusted ETAs, blank confirmation, and free-time checks against actual availability for October plans.