Xeneta puts Asia-US East Coast rates above $11,000

The Global Trade Brief · 24 September 2026

Five minutes to understand what matters in global trade.

The Big Move

Xeneta puts Far East-US East Coast rates above $11,000/FEU

Why it matters: Asia–US shippers face sharply higher spot costs, with further increases possible if bunker costs lift carrier fuel surcharges, Xeneta says.

Far East–US West Coast spot rates reached $7,960/FEU on 17 September.
Both trades have more than quadrupled since late February.
The East Coast rate is 11.2% below its 1 January 2022 record of $12,683/FEU.
Xeneta’s Peter Sand says the East Coast trade is likelier to set a new record.

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The Route

DHL says global port congestion is nearing 4m TEU

Why it matters: Congestion is reducing effective vessel capacity and extending Transpacific peak conditions, raising delay risk and weakening schedule reliability.

DHL says Asia–North America peak season began early and is lasting longer than expected.
Typhoons temporarily closed major Chinese ports in July and August, delaying vessels.
Northern Europe faces high yard use and reduced inland waterway connectivity.
About 18% of relevant Asia–Europe services are now planned via Suez, DHL says.

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The Number

Maersk orders 26 container ships for delivery in 2029 and 2030

26 ships

Why it matters: Scheduled deliveries would give Maersk substantial fleet-renewal capacity and flexibility between conventional marine fuels and LNG.

Each vessel will have capacity of 18,600 TEU.
The order equals approximately 10% of Maersk’s current operating capacity.
Dual-fuel engines can run on LNG.

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The Risk

CBP begins purging US importers of record

Why it matters: Registration-data errors can put companies’ US import access at risk.

CBP issued a Federal Register notice on 19 August.
The notice addressed importers and customs brokers.
CBP said it would scrutinize the accuracy of Form 5106.
Form 5106 is required to import into the US.

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Also Today

Three tanker attacks hit the Strait of Hormuz

Why it matters: Operators face renewed vessel and cargo risk on Hormuz routings as Saudi Arabia is forced to send more oil back through the waterway.

Iran said it attacked a Togo-flagged tanker in the strait.
Maritime Executive reports the IRGC Navy is exploiting incidents to assert total control.

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What to Watch

German port workers are voting through 1 October on a possible indefinite strike after rejecting the employers’ offer.
Quality Forwarding’s weekly Valencia–Tripoli LCL service is due to start 25 September.
ICTSI’s 12 hybrid straddle carriers for Batangas are due in the third quarter of 2027.

The full day in global trade

Today’s Headlines

FedEx group completes $8.9B InPost buyout
Three airlines complete first joint cargo shipment
FedEx adds US import surcharges for peak season
CMA CGM raises emergency fuel surcharges from October 1
Analyst sees container overcapacity worsening through 2028
Costco expands same-day delivery across US platforms
FleetCor and CEO agree $100m hidden-fee settlement
Catalonia approves freight terminal strategy
Mexican truckers seek talks over revoked visas
Senator seeks 250-ship US-flag fleet in defense bill
Rail experts question durability of US intermodal boom
Long Beach targets 20m containers by 2050 with rail
US sanctions exchange tied to Iran’s Hormuz transit payments
Marine insurers widen Black Sea high-risk zone
US state packaging rules raise exporter compliance costs

Today’s Analysis

📦 FedEx and Costco expand delivery networks as peak-season import fees raise parcel costs

Why it matters: Parcel shippers gain broader delivery coverage but face additional charges on US imports during peak season.

A FedEx-led group completed an $8.9 billion buyout of Poland’s InPost.
The InPost transaction gives FedEx a foothold in Europe’s out-of-home delivery market.
FedEx announced demand surcharges on US imports from Canada, Europe and other markets.
FedEx will also apply higher fees to China-to-US volume.
Uber expanded Costco delivery coverage to 47 US states from 17 states.
Nearly 600 Costco locations are available through Uber Eats.
Costco also launched US delivery through DoorDash.

✈️ Three airlines test an integrated cargo network that will span more than 400 destinations

Why it matters: The planned joint business could give airfreight customers more routing options across six continents.

IAG Cargo, MASkargo and Qatar Airways Cargo completed their first joint customer shipment.
The trial moved 11 tonnes of copper foil from Kuala Lumpur to Chicago O’Hare.
The cargo travelled through Doha and Dublin.
The carriers expect their combined network to cover more than 400 destinations across six continents.
The Global Cargo Joint Business is planned to launch later in 2026.

🚢 CMA CGM raises fuel fees as container overcapacity threatens future pricing power

Why it matters: Shippers face immediate emergency charges even as additional vessel supply could weaken rates over the next two years.

CMA CGM will update its Emergency Fuel Surcharge from October 1, 2026.
Head-haul charges will be US$265 per TEU for dry cargo and US$320 per TEU for refrigerated cargo.
Return and intraregional charges will be US$75 per TEU for dry cargo and US$90 per TEU for refrigerated cargo.
Maersk added emergency fees for cargo linked to ports in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, excluding Salalah.
Maersk set the charge at US$1,800 per dry 20-foot container and US$3,000 per dry 40-foot container.
Analyst Lars Jensen said container overcapacity is nearly inevitable unless four major factors align.
Jensen expects the overcapacity problem to worsen over the next two years.

⚖️ US enforcement actions widen cost and compliance exposure across transport and imports

Why it matters: Fuel-card billing, cabotage, sanctions and state packaging rules create separate liabilities for SMEs operating in the US market.

FleetCor and its CEO agreed to pay $100 million to resolve Federal Trade Commission litigation over hidden fuel-card fees.
The FTC said unauthorized fees harmed tens of thousands of small-business customers.
Mexican truckers are seeking diplomatic talks over revoked visas.
US cabotage enforcement increased after the Department of Transportation shared three years of violation data with border authorities.
The US sanctioned an Iranian cryptocurrency exchange that the Treasury linked to Hormuz transit payments.
US packaging obligations vary by state and can include producer registration, reporting and recycling-system funding.
California finalized its extended producer responsibility regulation for packaging and specified single-use plastics in May 2026.

🚆 Catalonia and Long Beach prioritize rail while US intermodal growth depends on service reliability

Why it matters: Rail investment can expand inland capacity, but shippers will shift freight only if operators deliver consistent service.

Catalonia approved a freight-terminal strategy covering Empordà, Penedès, Terres de l’Ebre and Lleida.
Rail held approximately 4% of Catalonia’s inland freight market in 2024.
Spain’s 10/30 objective targets a 10% rail freight share by 2030.
North American rail experts said continued intermodal growth depends on service, reliability and consistency.
Port of Long Beach aims to double annual cargo volume to 20 million containers by 2050.
The port identified the Pier B On-Dock Rail Support Facility as its most critical ongoing investment.
Long Beach handled a record 919,992 TEUs in August, up 2% year on year.
Long Beach volume reached 6,678,078 TEUs through August, up 1.3% year on year.

🛡️ US fleet legislation and a wider Black Sea risk zone reshape maritime capacity and insurance

Why it matters: Proposed fleet expansion could redirect public spending toward US-flag shipping while broader risk designations increase insurance exposure in the Black Sea.

A US senator is seeking provisions for a 250-ship US-flag fleet.
The Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act is a possible legislative vehicle.
London’s marine insurance market widened the Black Sea area it classifies as high risk.
The insurance change followed an increase in shipping attacks linked to the Ukraine-Russia conflict.

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CargoAnalytica filters hundreds of daily stories down to what actually moves cargo, costs and compliance.

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