News / 'Aggressive' blanking brings capacity crunch, cargo rolling and rocketing rates

Gantry cranes in Northport Malaysia Wharf container terminal. Pelabuhan, Klang, Malaysia. © Igor Groshev

Container spot rates from Asia to the US soared this week as the aggressive blank sailing programmes of transpacific carriers resulted in a capacity crunch and container rollovers.

The US west coast component of today’s Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI) leapt 25% to $2,097 per 40ft, 42% higher than the same week of last year and the highest rate recorded for the tradelane for some 18 months.

The SCFI also recorded a 7.4% increase on rates to US east coast ports to ...