Date: January 8, 2026 Source: Shanghai Shipping Exchange
Market Overview
In December 2025, China’s export container transport market maintained a steady and positive trend. The China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) averaged 1,126.09 points, representing a 2.4% increase compared to the previous month. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), which reflects the spot market, saw a more significant monthly average increase of 6.4%, reaching 1,528.33 points.
Key Route Performance
The maritime transport market showed varied performance across global trade lanes during the traditional contracting season:
Europe & Mediterranean: These routes saw sustained support in spot booking prices. The freight index for Europe rose by 4.6% (1,477.77 points), while the Mediterranean index jumped by 12.9% (1,846.47 points). Average spot rates to European and Mediterranean base ports surged by 11.8% and 32.0% respectively.
Southeast Asia: This region experienced the most dramatic shift, with the freight index rising by 17.8% to 1,061.08 points.
North America: The market remained relatively balanced with a “dip followed by a rebound” pattern. Monthly averages for US West Coast and US East Coast indices fell by 4.7% and 8.5% respectively, despite a late-month recovery in spot prices.
Persian Gulf & Red Sea: Demand continued to grow steadily, driving the freight index up by 8.3%.
Australia & New Zealand: This route underwent an adjustment phase due to lack of growth momentum, with the index decreasing by 5.3%.
Port and Chartering Market Trends
Throughput Growth: Port container throughput showed strong momentum. In November 2024, China’s ports handled 30.52 million TEUs, an 8.7% increase year-on-year. Coastal ports accounted for 26.81 million TEUs, up 8.9%.
Vessel Chartering: The charter market remained stable. While rental rates for smaller vessels (1,000 TEU) dropped by 1.8%, rates for larger vessels (4,250–6,500 TEU) saw slight increases of up to 0.8%.
Strategic Procurement Advice
Due to the significant rise in spot rates for the Mediterranean (+32%) and Southeast Asia (+17.8%) routes, we advise clients in these regions to finalize orders for heavy metal materials and valves promptly to avoid further spikes in landed costs. The robust port throughput ensures that supply chain capacity from China remains reliable for the upcoming quarter.
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