Trends in US-bound trades
The current stability in U.S.-bound rates comes after substantial drops since the beginning of the year. Average spot rates on these routes have decreased by 52% to the West Coast and 44% to the East Coast since Jan. 1. The only increase observed in 2025 occurred on April 1, with rates jumping 16% to the West Coast and 10% to the East Coast on frontloading by importers looking to get ahead of President Donald Trump’s tariffs that took effect April 9.
“Carriers reacted to the drop in exports out of China in the immediate aftermath of reciprocal tariff announcements by the U.S. government at the start of April by increasing blanked sailings – just as they did so successfully in the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic,” said Xeneta Chief Analyst Peter Sand, in a release.
Sand said these blanked sailings, combined with indications of demand recovery from China in the latter half of April, have helped maintain current rate levels. However, he cautions that the stability may be temporary.
“If higher prices of goods subdues U.S. consumer demand in Q2 and this impacts container shipping volumes out of Asia, carriers will have their work cut out keeping rates elevated. The current flat spot market is probably a fairly brief interlude before the downwards trend continues.”
Read more here (Source): https://www.freightwaves.com/news/shippings-mission-impossible-boost-rates-as-china-exports-plunge