LOGISTICS | Feb 12, 2025

Ocean Rates Finally Show Steady Retreat from 2024 Highs

  • Ocean container rates from Asia to Europe continued to slide last week and at $3,386/FEU are 40% lower than in early January during the lead up to Lunar New Year, per Freightos data.
  • The Trump administration has temporarily reinstated the de minimis exemption for parcels from China.  The exemption allows parcels valued below $800 to enter the US duty-free.   This is supporting air cargo rates, per Freightos Air Index.
  • HSBC forecasts that Suez Canal transits may not return to normal until mid-2025, introducing further volatility as carriers struggle to fill capacity amid declining demand.
  • The Suez Canal Authority (SCA) has requested the major shipping lines to resume their routes via the Suez as the region returns to a stability. Major carriers are taking a ‘wait and see’ approach and will continue to go around Africa – for now.
  • The “China-Europe Express,” a direct sea route connecting Ningbo, China, and Wilhelmshaven, Germany, now offers point-to-point service without intermediate stops, cutting shipping time from 45 to 26 days, per UPS

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