On 2 October 2026, Xeneta published its weekly ocean container market update assessing 1 October spot averages. Far East to US West Coast stood at US$8,346 per FEU (+1.4% or +US$115 week on week); Far East to US East Coast at US$11,523 (+0.7% or +US$78). Far East to North Europe was US$3,726 (−2.1%); Far East to Mediterranean US$4,105 (−4.6%); North Europe to US East Coast US$2,893 (−2.2%).
Chief Analyst Peter Sand said the market has reached its post-Hormuz crisis peak for 2026 with a level of confidence, even though Transpacific prints still rose slightly into Golden Week. Versus the 28 February 2026 pre-Hormuz baseline, Far East–USWC remains up about 344% and Far East–USEC about 335%. The US East–West Coast spread was US$3,177 per FEU on 1 October versus about US$772 pre-Hormuz.
Sand linked the turn to easing Asian port congestion as typhoon season winds down, plus China’s Golden Week and national holidays lowering exports in the first week of October. He stressed demand is not strong and rates have peaked, but will not collapse—so shippers should expect elevated freight costs for the remainder of the year. His three-month sketch puts USEC roughly in the US$6,000–7,000 range and USWC around US$4,500–5,500, with the East Coast likely falling harder from a higher starting point.
For China-origin importers, the practical split is unchanged from other October notes: Transpacific stays a high-base, gradual-ease story into the reopen week; Asia–Europe already softened into October on Xeneta’s prints. Confirm named post-holiday voyages and all-in surcharges rather than waiting for a waterfall in China–US ocean rates.