Ports

Carriers Deploy Blank Sailings to Shore Up Weakening Container Rates

Container lines are blanking sailings across major east-west trades to defend freight rates as the market enters November. Spot rates on Asia-Europe, transpacific and transatlantic routes climbed this week, with Shanghai-Rotterdam jumping 3% to $3,632 per 40ft and Shanghai-Genoa rising 5% to $4,152 per 40ft. Eight blank sailings were announced for next week, up from two previously, signaling carriers' efforts to tighten capacity. MSC introduced freight-all-kinds pricing of $4,500 per 40ft on Asia-North Europe and $5,000 on Asia-west Mediterranean effective November 1, while CMA CGM set rates at $4,900 on Asia-west Mediterranean and $5,200 on Asia-east Mediterranean. Despite the rate push, spot market offers from Chinese forwarders remain below published indexes, suggesting pricing pressure persists beneath headline figures.