Middle East Situation Boosts Freight Rates, Shipping Industry Sees Promising Peak Season in 2026
The shipping industry anticipates a positive outlook for the global container shipping market in 2026, primarily due to the Middle East situation pushing up freight rates, disrupted Red Sea routes slowing capacity release, cargo owners making early shipments, and shipping companies actively striving to stabilize prices. A promising performance in the traditional peak seasons of Q2 and Q3 is expected.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 29, 2026 at 12:59
- 🔍 Collected: April 29, 2026 at 13:31 (32 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 29, 2026 at 13:34 (2 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Taipei, April 29, Central News Agency reporter Chiang Ming-mao) The shipping industry points out that the outlook for the global container shipping market in 2026 has turned positive. After the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict, shipping companies' original plans to resume Red Sea routes were interrupted, capacity release slowed down, and shipping companies became more active in stabilizing prices. In addition, cargo owners' concerns about future supply chain instability and rising oil prices led to early shipments, contributing to strong freight rate performance in the traditional peak seasons of Q2 and Q3.
Shipping industry insiders estimate that after the US-Iran war, shipping companies' plans to resume Red Sea routes were interrupted, coupled with increased geopolitical risks, shipping companies' willingness to stabilize prices has become more active. Cargo owners' concerns about supply chain uncertainties are also favorable for shipments after May 2026, which in turn supports the trend of freight rates in the Q2 and Q3 peak seasons.
Looking ahead to 2026, according to international research institutions' forecasts, the annual growth rate of container shipping market capacity supply will decline from 7.2% in 2025 to 3.8% in 2026, and the annual growth rate of demand will decline from 3.5% in 2025 to 2.5%. The degree of oversupply will be eased compared to 2025.
The shipping industry points out that in the first quarter of this year, due to market expectations of the Suez Canal reopening, the trend of long-haul freight rates was unfavorable. However, starting from late Q2 2026, the traditional peak season for demand will begin, coupled with limited potential capacity release in the market, which is conducive to supporting the trend of freight rates. Rising oil prices are expected to start reflecting in Q2, and it is estimated that both prices and volume will rise in Q3.
In addition, US route freight rates are rising. Yang Ming has announced that it will impose a GRI (General Rate Increase) of US$2000, expected to take effect in mid-May. Evergreen anticipates that cargo owners are making early shipments in response to supply chain instability, and other peers will follow suit in raising freight rates, leading to a positive outlook for Q2 and Q3 freight rates.
Evergreen stated that the long-term contract prices in 2026 met expectations. Although the basic fee is lower than last year, with the fuel surcharge added, the freight rate is higher than last year, indicating that cargo owners are still more cautious. The industry considers that the vessel execution rate is still relatively low, especially for the PA Alliance, which Yang Ming belongs to, with only 83%. It believes that the increase in US online prices starting in April is largely affected by capacity control. (Editor: Chang Chun-mao) 1150429
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(Taipei, April 29, Central News Agency reporter Chiang Ming-mao) The shipping industry points out that the outlook for the global container shipping market in 2026 has turned positive. After the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict, shipping companies' original plans to resume Red Sea routes were interrupted, capacity release slowed down, and shipping companies became more active in stabilizing prices. In addition, cargo owners' concerns about future supply chain instability and rising oil prices led to early shipments, contributing to strong freight rate performance in the traditional peak seasons of Q2 and Q3.
Shipping industry insiders estimate that after the US-Iran war, shipping companies' plans to resume Red Sea routes were interrupted, coupled with increased geopolitical risks, shipping companies' willingness to stabilize prices has become more active. Cargo owners' concerns about supply chain uncertainties are also favorable for shipments after May 2026, which in turn supports the trend of freight rates in the Q2 and Q3 peak seasons.
Looking ahead to 2026, according to international research institutions' forecasts, the annual growth rate of container shipping market capacity supply will decline from 7.2% in 2025 to 3.8% in 2026, and the annual growth rate of demand will decline from 3.5% in 2025 to 2.5%. The degree of oversupply will be eased compared to 2025.
The shipping industry points out that in the first quarter of this year, due to market expectations of the Suez Canal reopening, the trend of long-haul freight rates was unfavorable. However, starting from late Q2 2026, the traditional peak season for demand will begin, coupled with limited potential capacity release in the market, which is conducive to supporting the trend of freight rates. Rising oil prices are expected to start reflecting in Q2, and it is estimated that both prices and volume will rise in Q3.
In addition, US route freight rates are rising. Yang Ming has announced that it will impose a GRI (General Rate Increase) of US$2000, expected to take effect in mid-May. Evergreen anticipates that cargo owners are making early shipments in response to supply chain instability, and other peers will follow suit in raising freight rates, leading to a positive outlook for Q2 and Q3 freight rates.
Evergreen stated that the long-term contract prices in 2026 met expectations. Although the basic fee is lower than last year, with the fuel surcharge added, the freight rate is higher than last year, indicating that cargo owners are still more cautious. The industry considers that the vessel execution rate is still relatively low, especially for the PA Alliance, which Yang Ming belongs to, with only 83%. It believes that the increase in US online prices starting in April is largely affected by capacity control. (Editor: Chang Chun-mao) 1150429
Choose to stand with facts. Every sponsorship of yours is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.