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Transpacific Freight Rates Hold Elevated at $7,000 to US West Coast and $8,000-$9,000 to East Coast in Early September as Carriers Maintain Blank Sailings and Peak Season Nears Close
Sources: Freight Right (TFX Update week September 7, 2026), J.M. Rodgers Co. (September 2026 Freight Market Update), Drewry's World Container Index, Trading Economics Containerized Freight Index, BRF Logistics (September 2026 Ocean Freight Outlook). Rate figures verified across freight forwarder market updates and index tracking services. China National Day holiday October 1-7, 2026. Blank sailing capacity reductions and Panama Canal restrictions confirmed via carrier advisories and industry analysis.
China to US ocean freight rates remained elevated in early September, with US West Coast rates near $7,000 per forty-foot equivalent unit and US East Coast rates at $8,000 to $9,000, according to freight market analysis from Freight Right and J.M. Rodgers Co. Drewry's World Container Index shows Shanghai to Los Angeles rates climbing to $7,185 per FEU, while carriers have pulled approximately 20 percent of capacity through blank sailings to support rate levels, according to J.M. Rodgers Co. reporting as of September 7, 2026. The Containerized Freight Index rose to 3,662 points on September 11, up 2 percent from the previous day and 11.8 percent over the past month, now 162 percent higher than the same time last year, according to Trading Economics. US East Coast rates remain firmer than West Coast rates as Panama Canal restrictions continue to limit effective capacity, and pressure is expected to intensify again toward the end of September as shippers move cargo ahead of China's National Day holiday from October 1 to 7, with shipments delayed by recent storms also competing for available space. Combined with blank sailings and reduced capacity, operational disruptions helped push transpacific spot rates higher in late August, and carriers have held firm through the holiday slowdown, positioning pricing ahead of Chinese New Year and upcoming contract season negotiations. Shippers should expect omitted calls, port skipping, irregular routings, and last-minute schedule adjustments to remain possible as carriers recover from recent disruptions, according to J.M. Rodgers Co. Securing space early will be especially important for late-September departures, and shippers should maintain routing flexibility and prepare for the possibility of additional general rate increases during the month. Advance booking is critical for reducing congestion risks and improving the likelihood of timely cargo movement ahead of the National Day holiday period. Rates are roughly in line with