News / Spot rates still climbing, but lack of empty boxes the prime worry for forwarders

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Container spot rates continued to climb on the Asia-Europe trades this week on the back of strong demand and extremely tight capacity, in terms of both vessel and equipment availability.

Today’s Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI) published a rate of $1,508 per teu for Shanghai-North Europe, an increase of $262 per teu on last week, up 21%.

The Shanghai-Mediterranean rate grew $310 per teu to finish the week on $1,674 per teu, a rise of just under 23%.

And the Ningbo Shipping Exchange ...