International shipping conditions across the Asia–Pacific region are becoming increasingly challenging, with vessel capacity tightening, port congestion worsening and freight rates continuing to rise.
While conditions have not yet reached the extremes experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the market is again approaching comparable levels of disruption on some routes. Shipping lines are also managing contracted capacity more tightly, reserving space for higher-priced spot cargo and limiting the flexibility available to contracted shippers.
The Shanghai Containerised Freight Index reached 3,687.83 on 18 September 2026 and continues to trend upwards, reflecting the pressure across major international shipping routes.
Australia: capacity remains constrained
Shipping from North Asia to Australia is particularly difficult.
For cargo destined for Adelaide and Fremantle, additional FOB capacity is extremely limited until at least mid-November. Suppliers that are already experiencing difficulty securing bookings are likely to remain constrained over the coming weeks.
Capacity into Australia’s east coast is somewhat more accessible, although bookings typically need to be secured four to five weeks before departure. Shipments originating from Qingdao are facing especially significant delays and capacity restrictions.
Conditions from Southeast Asia are comparatively better, but remain far from normal. Cargo continues to be rolled between sailings, and securing a booking does not necessarily guarantee that a container will be accepted onto the nominated vessel. Congestion that was initially concentrated in Singapore has also spread to other major ports throughout the region.
Spot freight rates into Australia are currently approximately US$2,700–US$3,300 per twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU).
New Zealand freight costs rise above Australia
Space from North Asia into New Zealand remains reasonably available, but prices have increased sharply. Spot freight rates now exceed those into Australia and are commonly above US$3,500 per TEU.
Redox’s contracted freight arrangements provides an important competitive advantage for our customers, particularly in markets where freight represents a significant proportion of the delivered product cost.
United States also facing additional freight pressure
The US is also dealing with some additional pressure from broader global shipping disruption. Recent reporting shows Shanghai–New York spot rates above US$10,000 per 40ft container, with fuel costs, Panama Canal constraints and limited effective capacity all contributing.
Severe congestion around Shanghai and Ningbo
The Shanghai, Ningbo and Yangtze River port region is experiencing particularly severe congestion. Some vessels are waiting more than seven days to load, while others are omitting the region entirely.
These disruptions have flow-on effects across the broader shipping network. Port omissions, delayed vessel rotations and blank sailings reduce available capacity and make shipping schedules increasingly difficult to predict.
Booking earlier can help, but it is not always enough. A supplier’s ability to prepare cargo on time, obtain confirmed bookings and meet documentation deadlines is becoming just as important as the original order date. Suppliers with a consistent record of on-time shipment are currently much more likely to secure and retain vessel space.
Will conditions improve after October?
Market expectations suggest that freight rates and congestion may begin to ease after China’s October holiday period, with a more noticeable improvement potentially emerging from November.
However, this outlook remains uncertain. Geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, port congestion and changes to shipping routes could continue to affect capacity and pricing with little notice. Customers should therefore be cautious about delaying essential orders solely in anticipation of lower freight rates.
Redox’s logistics teams work closely with suppliers, shipping lines and freight partners to monitor capacity and identify potential delays as early as possible. Customers planning purchases from Asia are encouraged to speak with their Redox representative about expected lead times and product availability.