Xeneta: US Container Rates Peak, No Sharp Drop Expected

Xeneta Says US Container Rates Hit Peak, But Steep Drop Not Expected

Xeneta: US-bound container rates peak, but sharp collapse unlikely Asia–U.S. container spot rates have likely peaked following the Hormuz crisis, but will remain elevated through 2026, an analyst says. The post Xeneta: US-bound container rates peak, but sharp collapse unlikely appeared first on Frei

By Priya SharmaPublished 07 Oct 2026, 05:32 IST2 Min Read

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{ "articleTitle": "Xeneta Says US Container Rates Hit Peak, But Steep Drop Not Expected", "articleDescription": "Asia-U.S. container spot rates have likely reached their peak following the Hormuz crisis, according to Xeneta Chief Analyst Peter Sand, though sharp declines are not anticipated through 2026.", "articleBody": "

Spot Rates Reach Post-Crisis High

Market-average spot rates for containers traveling from Asia to the United States edged higher on Oct. 1, reaching $8,346 per FEU to the U.S. West Coast and $11,523 per FEU to the East Coast, according to FreightWaves.

These figures represent increases of 1.4% on the West Coast route and 0.7% on the East Coast route compared to Sept. 24 data, Xeneta stated. The current pricing levels are more than four times their Feb. 28 pre-crisis baseline.

Xeneta Chief Analyst Peter Sand indicated that Asia-U.S. container spot rates have likely reached their post-Hormuz crisis peak in 2026. Despite this peak, Sand cautioned that a sharp collapse in prices is unlikely, and shippers should expect to pay elevated freight costs for the remainder of the year.

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Market Factors and Regional Disparities

Sand attributed the current market turn to easing port congestion in Asia as the typhoon season winds down. Additionally, China’s Golden Week and national holidays are reducing export volumes during the first week of October.

A steeper decline on the Asia-U.S. East Coast trade than on the West Coast route is expected, reflecting the East Coast’s higher starting point. On Oct. 1, East Coast rates stood $3,177 per FEU above West Coast rates, a significant widening from the $772 premium observed before the Hormuz crisis.

Sand stated that the gap between East and West Coast rates is expected to narrow as rates retreat through the rest of the year. Xeneta forecasts East Coast spot rates in a range of $6,000 to $7,000 per FEU and West Coast rates around $4,500 to $5,500 over the next three months.

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Global Route Comparisons

The anticipated turn in U.S.-bound rates follows an earlier reversal on routes from the Far East to Europe. Asia-North Europe spot rates declined 2.1% to $3,726 per FEU, while Mediterranean rates fell 4.6% to $4,10

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