The weekly freight rate report from the Shanghai Shipping Exchange, released on Friday, has painted a clear picture of the growing frenzy on the trans-Pacific shipping route.

Specifically, container shipping rates from China to the U.S. West Coast surged by as much as 31% in just one week, while rates to the East Coast climbed 22%, as shippers rushed to take advantage of the temporary 90-day “cooling-off” period in the ongoing tariff war between the world’s two largest economies.

The Drewry container freight index, published yesterday, also saw a sharp spike. Rates from Shanghai to New York jumped 19% (an increase of $704) to $4,350 per 40-foot container (FEU), while the Shanghai–Los Angeles route rose 16% (or $423) to reach $3,136/FEU.

“In light of the latest developments in the U.S.–China trade tensions, Drewry forecasts that trans-Pacific freight rates will continue to rise next week due to capacity shortages,” the analyst firm commented.

Starting this Wednesday, export goods from China to the U.S. are subject to a 30% tariff, down from the previous high of 145% that had been in place for the past six weeks. The two countries unexpectedly announced a sharp tariff reduction on Monday, ushering in a 90-day period of eased trade pressure.

“While we expect carriers to restore capacity and deploy larger vessels on the trans-Pacific route, the reallocation of containers and ships after such a deep capacity cut may take time,” HSBC noted in a container industry report released yesterday. The report also warned of potential port congestion and inland supply chain disruptions—similar to what occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.

HSBC predicts that the scheduled rate hikes in mid-May and early June will hold, and notes that global container shipping stock prices have now exceeded pre-Liberation Day levels, partially reflecting the market’s optimistic outlook.

SUN VN recommends that Vietnamese exporters accelerate their export activities, especially in June, as freight rates are expected to rise further.

The reason is a sharp increase in Chinese exports due to the temporary 90-day tariff reduction, which means shipping lines will prioritize Chinese cargo, likely leading to full vessel capacity. In this context, Vietnamese exporters should:

• Proactively make advance bookings based on forecasts to secure space and avoid delays.

• Trust the quotations provided by reliable forwarding companies, instead of hesitating or searching for cheaper rates, which can result in missed shipping opportunities.

• Understand that delayed decision-making may lead to fully booked vessels, affecting delivery schedules and incurring additional costs.

In summary, during this period of high market volatility and rising demand for shipping, being proactive – fast – and trusting your logistics partners is the key for Vietnamese businesses to maintain a competitive edge in exports.

Contact for more details: Gửi Hàng Đi Mỹ Giá Rẻ Nhất – Không Phát Sinh Chi Phí

michelle.huynh@suntransco.com