Container freight rates from Asia to Europe have fallen significantly since July, but shipping delays remain a challenge for importers in Europe, according to Sogese’s October Europe Container Market Update.
Drewry’s Shanghai–Genoa spot rate fell from $6,463 per 40-foot container to $3,702, a reduction of around 43%.
“For importers, the good news is that shipping rates are much lower than they were in July. The problem is that deliveries are still being delayed. Businesses need to look at both the price they pay for shipping and when their goods are likely to arrive,” says Andrea Monti, CEO and managing director of Sogese.
Key takeaways:
· One factor putting pressure on rates is the return of shipping services to the Suez Canal, rather than routing vessels around Africa. The shorter journey allows ships to complete rotations more quickly, increasing the effective capacity available on Asia–Europe routes.
· The recovery in Suez traffic is significant, but remains uneven. According to the Suez Canal Authority, container-ship net tonnage rose 54.2% year on year in January–August to 72.1 million net tons. The Authority also reported that 166 medium-sized and mega container ships transited the canal in the third quarter, compared with 16 in the same period of 2025.
· Congestion at major Chinese ports has also affected vessel schedules. ICIS reported that approximately 135 vessels were waiting at Shanghai and 100 at Ningbo, up from 107 and 78, respectively.
· The return of services through the Suez Canal can shorten voyages to ports such as Genoa, La Spezia and Vado Ligure, but the actual benefit depends on vessel schedules, port operations, inland connections and container availability.
