Panama Canal Authority

Transpacific Container Rates Hold Near 2024 Peak as Fuel Costs Climb

Global – October 17, 2026 -- Transpacific container rates remain at about $7,600/FEU to the US West Coast and $9,500/FEU to the East Coast, matching levels last seen in the 2024 peak season, even as weekly Freightos Baltic Index readings slipped 1% to 3% across major lanes.

Ocean indexes ease 1% to 3% on all four tracked lanes

Asia-US West Coast prices (FBX01) fell 1% and Asia-US East Coast prices (FBX03) fell 3%. Asia-N. Europe (FBX11) dropped 3% and Asia-Mediterranean (FBX13) declined 1%. The transpacific cooldown points to no further rate increases in what is likely the final weeks of peak season, though elevated demand since late May has held prices at peak levels since early July.

Transpacific Rates Hit $8,400/FEU as US-China Truce Extended

Washington – October 17, 2026 -- Container rates from Asia to the US West Coast rose 4% last week to $8,400/FEU, a new high for the year, according to the Freightos Baltic Index. East Coast prices held level at about $9,600/FEU, $200/FEU below the late-August peak. Resilient demand kept pressure on rates through month-end.

US-China truce extended two months, with tariff cuts on $30B of goods

The Trump-Xi meeting in Washington extended last year's US-China trade truce by two months. The truce was set to expire on November 10. The leaders also agreed to two more meetings before year-end. The deescalation likely postpones US port call fees on China-linked vessels, though the USTR has not yet issued anything official.