GLOBAL DEMAND
Global demand dipped 3.4% MoM in June 2025 to 16.1 million TEUs but remained 2.6% higher YoY, with H1 volumes up 4.5% driven by Far East exports, especially to Europe, ISC, South & Central America, and Africa. Trade flows were shaped by tariff shifts. While China-U.S. trade saw a June rebound after a tariff truce, broader U.S. tariffs from August 7 are expected to cool overall demand.
CAPACITY
As of August 11, 2025, the global container fleet hit 32.6 m TEUs, up 7.9% YoY. African routes absorbed 23% of new capacity, driven by MSC’s redeployment of mega-ships. The charter market is tight, and newbuild orders remain strong, led by MSC, Yang Ming, and Sinokor, pushing the orderbook ratio to its highest level since 2010. Blank sailings from the Far East fell 18% MoM, with the Trans-Pacific still leading cancellations.
PORT CONGESTION
As of mid-August, global port congestion has intensified. Asia faces delays from typhoon season and critical backlogs at Chittagong, while Northern Europe braces for peak-season bottlenecks driven by high import demand, vessel diversions, and inland disruptions. North American inland flows remain strong but face risks from market volatility. In Mediterranean, inland and access constraints persist in parts of Italy and Slovenia.
RATE LEVELS
As of week 32, Drewry’s WCI dropped 3%, stabilizing after tariff-driven swings earlier this year. The SCFI fell 3.9% WoW, its ninth straight drop, with transpacific eastbound rates back to pre–Red Sea levels and most routes under pressure from soft demand. North Europe, Mediterranean, and U.S. trades all saw significant rate declines, with oversupply, high inventories, and postponed U.S. tariffs shaping near-term market dynamics.
BUNKER AND SUSTAINABILITY
Global bunker prices declined in Week 32, 2025, across all main fuel types, with slight signs of recovery toward the end of the week. Most major ports continue to offer fuels below benchmark values, a trend likely to persist. The global Scrubber Spread narrowed further, staying well below the breakeven point, making VLSFO more economical than HSFO with a scrubber. LNG bunkering capacity, boosted by floating LNG growth, is projected to triple by 2030, while Europe’s gas storage remains high.
SCHEDULE RELIABILITY
Global schedule reliability reached 67.4% in June 2025, the highest since November 2023, with average delays improving to 4.50 days. Maersk led the top carriers at 81.0%, while Yang Ming ranked lowest. In East/West trades, Gemini Cooperation achieved 91.0% reliability. Schedule reliability improved in 30 of 34 trade lanes MoM, led by South America–North America while Asia–ECSA saw the largest drop.