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Asia-US Container Rates Surge Past $7,900 as Peak Season Demand Overwhelms Supply

Container shipping rates on major transpacific routes have climbed sharply. East Coast pricing reached $7,998 per forty-foot equivalent unit following an 8% weekly increase, while West Coast rates rose to $6,175 per FEU. The rally stems from early peak season demand rather than Middle East disruptions, which have receded as a market driver despite ongoing Iranian assertions of control over Strait of Hormuz traffic. Since mid-May, East Coast rates jumped 85% while West Coast pricing climbed 120%. Carriers including Zim and Hapag-Lloyd have reshuffled network capacity toward high-demand east-west lanes, diverting resources from secondary routes. Current East Coast rates now exceed last year's summer highs by $1,000 per FEU, signaling robust importer confidence in consumer spending. Asia-North Europe and Mediterranean routes have similarly surged, climbing 70% and 85% respectively over the same period.