News / Carriers aiming to hang on to spot rate gains as Year of the Pig trots in

© Atomazul

Container spot rates on the two major tradelanes, Asia to the US and Asia to Europe, are showing some signs of softening, just over a week before the Chinese New Year holiday starts on 5 February.

Today’s Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) recorded a 1% fall in rates to North Europe, to $960 per teu, and a 2.1% fall for rates to Mediterranean ports, to $957 per teu.

Headhaul liftings on the route have been very strong this month, for example this ...