News / USEC dispute end comes too late to stop transpacific spot rate climb

Container spot freight rates on the main east-west trades continued on divergent paths this week, with gains on the transpacific routes offset by declines on Asia-Europe.

This week The Loadstar reported that signs of a new freight rate war on the Asia-Europe trades had kicked off at the beginning of 2025, as the year’s first indices showed prices on the wane at north European and Mediterranean ports.

“Maersk has again adopted an aggressive pricing strategy, quoting less than $4,000 per 40ft container ...